IDW - Rom and the Micronauts #2

Title: Microspace Knight

Writer: Christos Gage

Artist: Paolo Villanelli

Colourist: Alessandra Alexakis

Letterer: Shawn Lee

Editors: Carlos Guzman & David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Plot

In Microspace, an energy depleted Rom fights off a swarm of Reptos, when he discovers that they have been turned into Dire Wraiths. He tries to take them out, but in his weakened state he is overwhelmed. Before he can be defeated however, the Micronauts arrive and fight off the Repto-Wraiths, ultimately letting them escape so they can take Rom back to their ship for healing.

In their ship's med-bay Rom is placed on a rejuvenator unit and slowly healed. In the meanwhile he tells the Micronauts all he learned about Karza's plan during the Enerchange with him. The Wraith's god, The Presence, is in another dimension, but is stuck sleeping for several millennia to come, regardless on how much energy is fed to her, however the Entropy Cloud inside Microspace is able to warp time, allowing her to wake up much earlier. They determine that the Wraiths must be using another portal to send the Entropy Cloud to The Presence, so they hook up Rom's Analyzer to the ship to detect them.

Later, Acroyear takes Rom to see Larissa to learn about Enerchanging to help in the battle, but he notices that Acroyear and Phen have a bit of sexual tension between them. He brings it up with Acroyear, which he confirms, but knows nothing can happen due to him being mostly mechanical now, and also looking monstrous under the mask. Rom can relate due to him being stuck in his armour too, and misses being intimate with Livia as he used to be, but assures him that if they both love each other then looks or disabilities shouldn't matter

In the lab, Larissa explains the process of Enerchanging to Rom, and begins teaching him simple weapon summoning skills, and plans to show him more advanced processes in the future. Larissa confides in him that she is worried about using a powerful Centaur form that she shows him in battle, because it reminds her of one of her father, Baron Karza's, forms. Rom however assures her that she is nothing like her father and should give herself more credit.

Later still, the Micronauts and Rom arrive at the location the Analyzer has led them to, where they come across a Hornetroid that has been infected with a Wraith. Acroyear goes in for a close attack, and gets caught in it's pincers, however the group soon subdue the monster and Rom destroys it with his Neuatralizer.

Afterwards the team locate the portal, situated on top of a Wraith-infected asteroid. The team decide to take Acroyear back to the ship for some healing so they can fight at full strength, however Acroyear attacks Phen and starts sprouting Wraith-matter, revealing that he was infected by the Hornetroid, leaving Rom to conjure a sword of his own, and promises to end his misery....

Characters

Micronaut

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear Infected with Wraith-Matter

Biotron

Microtron

Oziron Rael (Mentioned) Now a Time Traveler

Solstar Order

Rom

Livia (Flashback Only)

Orphion (Flashback Only)

Maur (Flashback Only)

Butin (Flashback Only)

Q'b (Flashback Only)

Dire Wraith

Wraith Hornetroid Killed by Rom

Wraith Asteroid

Repto Wraiths

The Presence (Flashback Only)

Scylla (Flashback Only)

Wraith Sorcerer (Flashback Only)

Wraith Soldiers (Flashback Only)

Other Microspace

Possible Future Larissa (Flashback Only)

Baron Karza (Mentioned)

Other

Elonians (Flashback Only)

Rom's Family (Mentioned) Dead

Notes

• The Reptos are mentioned as scorning individuality. This would explain why most times we've seen them, they've been in swarms
• I assume that the Micronauts entered Microspace through one of the permanent space bridges created by the Time Travelers. I mention it here because it's not clear in the comic itself.
• It's mentioned that the Entropy Cloud is not quite gone yet, but it is lessening, and will currently take 1.4 years to destroy the Microspace. That might sound bad, but considering it was imminent destruction before now, it is getting better!
• And we finally get a full explanation of Karza's plan! He plans to send the Entropy Cloud into the Presence's dimension to speed up her awakening, which in turn removes it from Microspace allowing it to be saved from it's effects.
• So apparently people from outside of Microspace can learn how to Enerchange as well! Granted it takes organic beings years of training, but it is possible. And supposedly robots can download a code to learn to do it...GIVE IT TO THE AUTOBOTS!!!
• Larissa's centaur form was previously seen with her potential future self in the Micronauts Annual, but as she mentions here, she doesn't like to use it due to her father using a similar form, and worries that she'll end up like him.
• The Micronaut's ship changes appearance a couple of times in this issue...I'm just gunna pretend that it's a shape-shifting ship just so I don't get a continuity headache.
• You might be wondering how the Wraiths can now infect Micronauts despite the First Strike issues implying that they are incompatible, but it's logical to assume that Karza has shared samples of their biology with the Wraiths, which has allowed them to bond better with them.
• Oh no! Acroyear has been infected with Wraith-taint! I wonder if this will end up being removed, or even used to fix his appearance?