NEWS: ROM The SpaceKnight Trademark Update

Earlier this month we brought you the news that Hasbro had filed a number of trademarks pertaining to the ROM The SpaceKnight IP and speculated on whether we'd be seeing some new toys or if it was simply a matter of protecting trademarks. Now we may have an answer.

NEWS: ROM The Spaceknight to Return?

It may come to nothing, or it could be one of the most exciting bits of news we've heard for a while but there's a rumor that the awesome 70s electronic action figure ROM The Spaceknight may be making a comeback.

VIDEO VIEW: Pixel Dan's Flashback Friday: ROM the Spaceknight

OK, so it's from Flashback Friday (and not 'Member Back Monday) and I'm late posting it, but given ROM first appeared way back in 1979, I don't think a delay of a few days is going to spoil your enjoyment too much, is it?

FAN ARTICLE: Bill Mantlo Tribute by Andrew Cosson

Today's Fan Article contribution comes from Andrew Cosson and is his tribute to comicbook legend, Bill Mantlo.

Sadly Mr. Mantlo - one of Marvel's most influential modern writers - was injured in a hit and run incident some years ago and was left with brain damage that resulted in him requiring constant care and attention. Oregon-based store Floating World Comics host regular fund-raising drives for Mr. Mantlo, where professional and amateur artists are invited to donate works for their auctions - such as this one - based around Rom The Spaceknight, the toy-turned-comicbook character Mantlo was instrumental in translating to the printed page (as he did with Marvel's other toy-based property, The Micronauts.)

As well as including the Spaceknight also features characters from the Micronauts series, plus - from ''mainstream'' Marvel - The Hulk and Alpha Flight's Box and Snowbird.

FAN ARTICLE: ROM and the Micronauts by David H.

Today's offering comes from Fan Article regular, David H. and depicts ROM the Spaceknight and The Micronauts, two toy lines that received their own comicbooks from not only Marvel, but also from creative genius, Bill Mantlo.

The story goes that Mantlo's son, Adam, received a number of Micronaut toys for Christmas and - as Adam sat assembling and then playing with the toys - Mantlo was immediately taken with the micro-scale figures and persuaded Marvel to pursue the licence.

Sadly, Bill Mantlo was injured in a hit-and-run accident almost a decade ago and suffered irreparable brain damage. He now lives in a care home where he requires full-time care. Over the years, numerous comicbook creators have helped support Mantlo through a variety of projects. You can see more of these projects here.

If you're an artist who'd like to see your work featured in an upcoming Fan Article, please email us your work, along with your on-screen credit/name, along with links to your other work, background on the piece or any other information you'd like to share.

FAN ARTICLE: ROM The Spaceknight by David H.

Today's Fan Article comes from previous contributor David H, who this time has chosen ROM the SpaceKnight as the subject of this very cool piece. Although ROM himself was a fun toy, he was built around his electronic features and so wasn't what you'd call well-articulated. It's good then to see him in a more dynamic role!

If you've an illustration, custom figure or other piece of artwork you'd like to see featured here, you can email your submissions to us. Just remember to include your on-screen credit and any links to your work you'd like to share.

VIDEO VIEW: ROM the Spaceknight Toy Fair Promo

A recent visitor comment set me off thinking again about this awesome toy.

For those who never experienced it, ROM the Spaceknight was a 12''-tall electronic action figure, which although quite limited in terms of articulation, had a number of cool electronic tricks up its sleeve. He was also the subject of his own Marvel Comicbook, which ironically outlasted the toy (which didn't exactly set the world on fire, sales-wise.)

On a separate note, there will not be any That Figures updates today. I'm off on a toy-hunting expedition and may not be back for some time...