Roma (comics)

Roma is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is the daughter of Merlyn. Roma is the Omniversal Guardian, charged with the safety of the Omniverse. She is assisted in her task by Saturnyne (the Omniversal Majestrix), and the Captain Britain Corps.

Roma first appeared in Marvel UK's Captain Britain, in the first issue in October 1976, and subsequently appeared in the second volume of Captain Britain's series. The second volume was reprinted in the U.S. in the Captain Britain trade paperback.

In 1978, Chris Claremont introduced Captain Britain to an international audience, fully integrating him into the Marvel Universe via a story that starred Captain Britain and Spider-Man, with Roma in a small role. Initially published as a black & white story in the UK's Super Spider-Man & Captain Britain comic, this was then coloured and reprinted in an American title, Marvel's long-running Marvel Team-Up series, issue #65.

Brian Braddock, a research assistant at the Darkmoor Research Centre nuclear complex, is attacked by Joshua Stragg (the Reaver), who chases him over a cliff. Roma, then calling herself "the Lady of the Northern Skies", appears to Braddock, along with Merlyn, and offers him the chance to become a hero. Roma offers Braddock a choice of weapons: the Sword of Might or the Amulet of Right. He chooses the Amulet, earning Roma's gifts.

Roma and her father exist in a dimension called Otherworld and operate out of Roma's Starlight Citadel. When a battle with Lord Hawk leaves Captain Britain in a coma, his spirit meets them in this dimension.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Roma gves Captain Britain great physical strength and a quarterstaff that could be used for direct attack or emit a protective force field. Merlyn eventually replaces the staff with Captain Britain's Star Scepter.

Believing that Merlyn has died, Roma takes his place as the Omniversal Guardian and ruler of Otherworld. In fact, Merlyn had faked his death so he could manipulate events while being safe from his enemies.

Roma appears in human form while reaching out to Colossus, who is recovering from his battle with the Marauders shortly after the events of "Mutant Massacre". Roma approaches him and asks him to draw a sketch of her; she offers to pay him by telling him his fortune. When Colossus finishes his sketch, Roma hints at things that would happen in the X-Men's future, but remains vague enough to anger him. She disappears from the scene, leaving behind a figurine of Colossus in his steel form.