Summary
- Rom the Space Knight played a significant role in Rogue’s transformation from a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to the X-Men.
- Rogue experienced a change of heart after attempting to drain Rom’s powers, overwhelmed by his goodness and decency.
- Rom’s influence on Rogue set her on the path to becoming a valued member of the X-Men, providing her with a sense of worth and leadership.
A shocking hero started Rogue down the path to redemption before she joined the X-Men. Although Rogue is now rightfully regarded as a pillar of the X-Men, she started as one of their enemies. A few years after her debut, Rogue had a change of heart and joined the X-Men, and one unlikely hero was responsible for her turn to the side of good: Rom the Space Knight!
Rogue’s transition to a good mutant began in issues 31 and 32 of Rom’s early 1980s solo title, written by Bill Mantlo and drawn by Sal Buscema. The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, is being transported to a new holding facility in West Virginia when they escape. Rom, in the area to tie up loose ends from a previous battle, runs afoul of the Brotherhood, and Rogue tries to kiss him to drain his powers.
Instead, Rogue is overwhelmed by Rom’s goodness and decency, experiencing these concepts deeply.
While Rogue does not immediately forsake the Brotherhood, the issue ends hinting a turn to good is on the horizon.
Rom is Rogue’s Unlikely Savior
Rom Has a Storied History at Marvel Comics
Rogue’s transformation from the Brotherhood to the X-Men was a major moment in Marvel history, and Rom was instrumental in the process. Based on a toy created by Parker Brothers (now owned by Hasbro) in the late 1970s, Rom was the subject of a tie-in book from Marvel that outlived the toy by several years. Rom regularly interacted with other Marvel characters, including the X-Men. Despite Rom’s role in Rogue’s face turn, the character was out of print for many years due to licensing concerns. However, Rom has returned to Marvel–sort of, in a series of omnibus editions.
Acclaimed writer Bill Mantlo was instrumental in developing ROM for comics.
Rogue is one of the most popular members of the X-Men, and has appeared in nearly every animated and live-action adaptation of the franchise. First appearing as a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in 1981’s Avengers Annual #10, Rogue eventually turned her back on them and joined the X-Men. This would turn out to be the best thing to ever happen to Rogue: joining the team gave her a sense of worth that was sorely missing from her time in the Brotherhood. She would grow into a leader, as well as meet her soulmate Gambit.
Rogue Was Cut Out of TWO of X-Men’s Biggest Stories Ever
Though she may be a crucial X-Men in both popularity and importance, Rogue has missed out on two storylines that have impacted the mutants heavily.
Rogue Owes Rom a Debt of Gratitude–And So Do the X-Men
Rogue’s Trajectory Changed After Meeting Him
All of these great accomplishments would not have been possible without Rom the Space Knight. Rom was chosen to be a Space Knight for the goodness that was within him and for an unwavering moral compass. These were qualities that Rogue had never really experienced, and were not being fostered in the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, despite the familial connections with Mystique. Rogue’s brush with Rom changed the course of her life, even if she and fans did not realize it at the time, setting her on a path to the X-Men.
