Rom 54 (May 1984) NM- (9.2)

The Blood-Trail!

Script: Bill Mantlo (credited)

Pencils: Sal Buscema (credited) (artist)

Inks: Mel Candido (credited) (artist); Kelley Jones (credited) (artist)

Colors: Barry Grossman (credited as Ben Sean)

Letters: Janice Chiang (credited)

Characters: The Avengers [Captain America [Steve Rogers] (flashback) (cameo); Giant-Man [Hank Pym] (flashback) (cameo); Iron Man [Tony Stark] (flashback) (cameo); Thor [Thor Odinson] (flashback) (cameo); Wasp [Janet Van Dyne] (flashback) (cameo)]; Captain Marvel [Mar-Vell] (flashback) (cameo); Nick Fury; Rick Jones; Merriwether Locklin; Rom; Starshine; Doctor Strange [Stephen Strange]; SHIELD; Dire Wraiths (villains)

Synopsis: Rom and Starshine discover a cadre of Wraiths draining people of their blood. When Wraiths are able to mentally attack SHIELD Esper agents, Dr. Strange shows up and mystically helps them boost their defenses. The Esper agents are able to point Rom to a hospital where Wraiths have gathered en masse. In the selfsame hospital, Rick Jones prepares to receive his first blood transfusion to combat his radiation induced cancer, little knowing that the blood has been tainted by Dire Wraiths.