A grotesque Dire Wraith rises from a swamp and takes over human hosts.
With these issues, Rom takes a strange turn into horror. The story is even called “One Man’s Toys Are Another Man’s Terror,” emphasizing the movement of this book from a toy spin-off into a “real” story aimed at the typical comic book reader: A male early teenager, not a person who plays with action figures.
The female Dire Wraiths are introduced as emerging from a swamp and having mouth-tentacles that puncuture humnas’ foreheads and “feed on their brains.”
It’s pretty badass. The new design was courtesy of Walt Simonson, just as he was landing his gig on Thor. A very important creator trying to help upgrade a very unimportant comic, ROM. Above is the clip from Marvel Age Magazine, a 25 cent promotional comic that was basically one long Bullpen Bulletins.
The horror motif continues to the cover of #49, which appears to be dripping in blood (it’s actually rock formations in a cave, colored red for effect).
The story ends with a tease for #50, as a mysterious spacecraft lands in the wrath-infested town of Clairton. It’s full of skrulls.
Also across these issue, Starshine and ROM continue to develop their romantic relationship.