Following the news that Rom the Spaceknight run in omnibus form, the company has announced plans to release a collected edition of several issues featuring his earliest encounters with the mutants of Earth – both the X-Men and their dark counterparts, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

According to Marvel's official announcement, Rom and the X-Men: Marvel Tales #1 collects four issues of Rom the Spaceknight from 1979, featuring the titular space hero encountering first the X-Men, and subsequently, Mystique's Brotherhood.

The reissue collects the work of Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema, from their classic Rom series, and features a new cover by artist Nick Bradshaw.

Marvel Wants People To Rom

Earlier this year, Marvel announced the release of Rom Omnibus Vol. 1, collecting the first twenty-nine issues of Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema's cult hit Rom run. Beginning in 1979, the series lasted eight years and seventy-five issues in total, with Steve Ditko replacing Buscema as artist in 1984, well into the run – meaning readers can anticipate at least two more omnibus collections to follow. Ahead of the official confirmation of Rom Omnibus Vol. 2, fans of the Spaceknight will have the opportunity to revisit his class run-ins with Earth's mutants in a single collection. Rom and the X-Men: Marvel Tales #1 collects issues #17-18, and #31-32 of Rom.

Marvel May Be Preparing Readers For Rom's Return

While familiar to many of Marvel's greatest heroes, and could return in a number of titles, if not his own.

As the official announcement for Rom and the X-Men: Marvel Tales is careful to note, "Rom the Spaceknight proved to be a pivotal figure in the Marvel Universe." The release mentions that his battle against the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, led by Mystique, marks a major character moment for Rogue, functioning as, "a startling turning point towards her journey towards heroism." With mutantkind currently at its most dire hour, Rom could return to play a pivotal role once more, as an ally to Rogue and the X-Men. It would make sense, given the timing of Rom and the X-Men's release.

Rom and the X-Men is set to hit shelves in December, while Marvel has announced Fall of the House of X for January, which is seemingly set to bring the Krakoan age to a close. Perhaps in its aftermath, a vital ally will appear from the cosmos to help mutantkind enters its new era. Beyond the character's possible impact on existing series, a Rom sequel book would be a great fit for Marvel's contemporary line-up. An ongoing series, written by one of the company's many exciting writing talents, could sustain itself with endless space adventures, set in the years since the Rom the Spaceknight's last appearance in the pages of a Marvel comic book.

Source: Marvel

Rom and the X-Men: Marvel Tales #1 arrives in December, 2023 from Marvel Comics.