Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Comics, entertainment, idw, rom, transformers

Will IDW Bring Back Rom The Space Knight… As A Transformer?

Published Mon, 17 Feb 2014 21:00:11 -0600

So there used to be this comic called Rom. Created by Marvel and Parker Bros to go alongside their release of the sci-fi action adventure doll in question. The toy flopped, relatively, but the comic did not, running for years. Even when cancelled, Rom was still part of Marvel continuity and would pop up now and then.

But eventually, trademark issues put pay to that. And appareances Rom, the rights now possibly owned by Hasbro, seemed to fade, with Marvel doing some storytelling gymnastics to try and keep telling Rom-like tales.

But Hasbro are doing something with the trademark to Rom. Detailed by Lee Seitz.

So, there are currently three trademarks Hasbro has applied for. The first is for comic books and was granted in April 2013. They've already used the first of their five possible extensions to use it in commerce (i.e. publish a ROM comic book). Extensions are required every six months if Hasbro doesn't have proof of use. Five extensions give them three years to do so.

The second trademark is for "toy action figures and toy robots convertible into other visual toy forms," which leads to the already existing rumor that Hasbro is going to make Rom part of the Transformers toy line. It, too, was granted in April 2013 and has had one extension filed against it.

The final trademark is for "entertainment services, namely an on-going animated television series for children." This one was only granted in June 2013 and, because I've gotten lazy, is new to me. It would seem to contradict Hasbro making Rom part of the Transformers, unless such a TV series would be a spin-off of Transformers: Prime or something. The first extension was just granted last month.

It's a popular thought. The Transformers Wiki page has a listing for Rom for, as they say,

What he's doing here is anyone's guess.

With details of leaks for a Transformers character called Rom The Space Knight from Hasbro.

And IDW continue to tease the possibility of Romness in their future.

Why am I mentioning this all now? Because I've been told by a good comics source that something is up. And to look to IDW to resolve it all, possibly in the fashion alluded to in the article above.

Do note, that Marvel still owns the rest of the Space Knights, Dire Wraiths, et al…

I wonder if anyone will say anything at the Toy Fair?

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