Rom 40 (Mar 1983) NM- (9.2)

Piper of Peril!

Script: Bill Mantlo (credited)

Pencils: Sal Buscema (credited)

Inks: Ian Akin (credited as Akin); Brian Garvey (credited as Garvey)

Colors: Barry Grossman (credited as Sean)

Letters: Jim Novak (credited as Novak)

Characters: Brandy Clark; Doctor Dredd (villain, revealed as a Dire Wraith); Dweller on the Threshold (villain); Steve Jackson; Namor (flashback); Rom; Shang-Chi (flashback); Starshine; Terminator (flashback) (cameo); Torpedo; Dire Wraiths (villains); Wraith Piper (villain); Ancient Sleeper (cameo flashback); Kaaris'a (cameo flashback); Ray'na (cameo flashback)

Synopsis: In Scotland, Rom tracks down a Wraith Piper who has ensorcelled an entire village of children to follow him. With Earth and the Dark Sun of the Black Nebula aligned, the Piper opens a portal to Wraithworld and invites the Dweller on the Threshold to come through and make the children his Wraith slaves. Rom drives the Dweller back, but the portal to Earth closes with Rom on the other side of it. Meanwhile, Steve and Torpedo discover that, not only is Doctor Dredd a Wraith who has merged Brandy and Starshine, but has also forced her to commit to serve him.