Tom Strong, Book 1

Tom Strong #1

by Alan Moore

In a first volume featuring a popular physical and mental super-human, Tom battles with the Nazi super-woman Ingrid Weiss and her pre-human monster called the Pangean. A Graphic Novel. Original.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Science Fiction, Comic Book, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Alan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.

As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great comics. Nostalgic without being corny. Nothing huge, political, meta, or ponderous. Just fun stories exceptionally well executed.

And unlike some comics that call back to that early pulp era, this comic doesn't require that you know a bunch of obscure literature from that era to understand what's going on, or get a bunch of in jokes.

Nope, this is one of those great stories that captures the feel of a genre, without relying on the traditions that made the genre obsolete.

Highly recommended for pretty much anyone. Even people that don't read comics.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Moore's ABC era was great in that Moore was just having fun with superhero/comic deconstructions, long since his unfortunately more famous 80s dark era.

Tom Strong works well with the trademarked invented history style (like Supreme and Miracleman and so much more), including "past" chapters throughout different ages of Tom Strong many of which take place even before the Golden Age.

That makes Tom Strong feels fully formed, complete with a family and colorful villains. The first volume is a successful introduction to what became a pretty long-running title. Just plain good stuff.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so good again omg!

So we basically see the origins of Tom strong and his family and I love how each issue is self contained and like a full story in itself and you get like 7 stories over the course of this volume ad its really well done! Starting from his insane origins to him arriving in Millenium city with his family and then becoming the hero of that city and then fighting villains like Modular man, Aztech empire, Swastika girls and weird time travel adventure in Pangea! It gets so insane and that end twist with Ingrid Weiss and maybe the return of his arch-nemesis Paul Saveen?!

Its like one of the most fun books I have read in quite a while and its so different from all the stuff that Alan moore wrote before like this is less dark and more fun and in a way shows the fun of comics ad just sci-fi adventures with ideas of family and learning science at its core. The villains are over the top like from Golden age/silver age and maybe thats the sweet thing about it like you can follow these insane villains but Moore does a good job of giving them some humanity that they leave an impression with you.

The character of Tom strong is so fascinating and the fact that he is a century old and most things he is facing now has been faced before by him is perfect and then the flashback scenes or panels are like some of my faves and they are really creative done like by using art of that time period in comics when it talks about those times is perfect ad like shows Moore's attempt at bringing something new and old at the same time.

I loved this one and I highly recommend it for sure!

[Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely mothaf****ng OUTRAGEOUS! This: What a singular piece of work!

Alan Moore is such a fabulist, but this is so out of the box, with so much prestige following the deftly-named but entirely studly Tom Strong, stories of his origins, side-tales, and incredibly creative adversaries, this may be my favorite comic series. Need to acquire Book 2!

[Jedhua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story Synopsis: *Issue #1*: Timmy Turbo is a young boy from a futuristic city (Millennium City) who is a very big fan of Tom Strong. During his commute to school via cable car, Timmy reads from a Tom Strong magazine outlining the hero's origins. But while he reads, and unbeknownst to Timmy, Strong foils an attempted raid on the car by carried out by Blimp Bandits. When the two meet face-to-face following the incident, Timmy can hardly believe it. The following story of Tom Strong's early life was told within Timmy's magazine: Strong was born at around the start of the twentieth century to two ingenious inventors (Sinclair and Susan Strong) who set out for a remote island – free from the influences of the outside world – where they could raise their children, as well as conduct their research. This island was called Attabar Teru, and it was home to a mysterious tribe called the Ozu. The chief of the Ozu became very close to Mr. and Mrs. Strong, and after an earthquake killed his parents, Tom was taken in by the tribesmen. Due to his parents earnest efforts since he was born, Tom was endowed with super strength and exceptional intellect. Also, due to his strict diet of a root called Goloka, Tom gained increased longevity. In a few years following the deaths of his parents, Tom was able to implement vast technological advancements to the island's infrastructure, and greatly modernize the Ozu's standard of living. When he reached his early twenties, he and Pneuman – an android created by Sinclair that's had a hand in rasing Tom since he was born – leave the island for the first time and set out for America. After spending long enough to make a name there, fight crime for a while, as well as battle the likes of Saveen and Ingrid Weiss, Tom decides to return to Attabar Teru so that he can marry Dhalua – the chief's daughter. Very many years later, Tom has reached an age of a little over one hundred years, but due to the effects of the Goloka root, he doesn't look "a day over fifty." Together, Tom, Dhalua, Telsa (Tom and Dhalua's daughter), King Solomon (a vastly intelligent gorilla), and Pneuman, make up the Strongmen of America. King Solomon has been reviewing applications for a new member of the group, and Timmy is ultimately selected.

*Issue #2*: Upon his realization that he was terminally terminally ill, scientist Temple Baldry came up with a way to achieve digital immortality; he was able to break down his consciousness into self-replicating modules, granting him intellect and consciousness proportional to the size of the mechanical mass constructed by his ever-growing modules. This growth can reach at least as large as a city block or neighborhood. In his mechanical form, Baldry became the Modular man, and has been defeated by Tom Strong several times in the past. After almost two decades, the Modular Man is able to make his return with the inadvertent help of two twin computer nerds (Fortnum and Mason Funt). With Tom occupied on Venus, Tesla works to confront Baldry on her own, but as the Molecular Man continues to grow, she soon becomes trapped in an apartment with the Funt twins. City evacuation procedures commence, and as soon as the remaining members of Strongmen of America realize they're helpless to save Tesla, Tom Returns to Earth on the Hyper Saucer. He is then successful in making a deal with Baldry, which ensures Earth's safety in return for the Hyper Saucer and Venus' coordinates. The Modular Man has now found a place where his consciousness can grow unfettered, and where he hopes he could live on far into the future. The twins are enlisted into Strongmen of America.

*Issue #3*: With the help of an A.I. deity in the digital form of a serpent (Quetzalcoatl-9), a technologically-advanced Aztec civilization from an alternate Earth has already conquered 2,057 versions of earth, and has now set it's sights on the Earth upon which Tom Strong resides. Upon their arrival to the planet, giant and dense gold ziggurats begin to appear all over Millennium City. Using a molecular agitator, Tom enters on of them so that he may discover exactly what he's up against. Inside, he's met with vast and intricate golden architecture that is consistent with traditional Aztec artifacts. He soon finds himself surrounded and attacked by golden warriors equipped with electric staves, all floating on flying chariots. He proves no match for them, and is knocked unconscious. When he comes to, he finds that Moctecuzoma (the civilization's ruler) has selected him for a ritual "sacrifice" to Quetzalcoatl-9, where the intention is for his brain's neuron's to be violently stripped of all information via lasers. Fortunately for Tom, Quetzalcoatl-9 spares his life, and in return, Tom agrees to free the serpent from his digital cage by removing the master program responsible for holding him captive. This task proves to be quite challenging, but due to Tom Strong's battle prowess and his considerable capacity for pain tolerance, he is successful. As a result, Quetzalcoatl-9 is able to take physical form, and immediately blinds many of Moctecuzoma's men before killing the ruler. Further repaying Tom for his assistance and trust, Quetzalcoatl-9 orders that all future annexations of alternate Earths be halted, and past ones reversed. Finally emerging from the ziggurat, Tom is greeted by his relieved teammates.

*Issue #4*: In the year 1945, at the end of WWII, Tom Strong – who was fighting for the Allies at the time – was tasked with finding and arresting a female Nazi war criminal. Her name was Ingrid Weiss, and due to selective breeding experiments, she was significantly more physically enhanced than even Tom. The two battle, and the fight concludes with Weiss' underground bunker exploding. Tom survives, and mistakenly assumes that Weiss perished in the explosion. At the present time, a white rose is delivered to The Stronghold (i.e. the residence of Strongmen of America), and as Tom reads the note left by Weiss commemorating the anniversary of their first encounter, two WWII fighter planes attack the building. Tom rushes out to protect his wife, daughter, and other team members from attack, and uses his Heli-Vest to outmaneuver his attackers, eventually commandeering one of their planes. Tom has had difficulty assigning the present date to an important event in his life, but when he recognizes one of Weiss' female soldiers, he realizes she's the one behind the attack. Following another fighter plane into the dense black clouds above, he reaches a flying aircraft carrier, and confronts the unaged Ingrid Weiss once again. Tom is able to fend off Weiss' soldiers with relative ease, but is bested by Weiss, who causes Tom to fall through a trap door and into a chamber that sends him back in time. But before the tachyon accumulator (i.e. time travel mechanism) activates, Weiss explains that she has been working with some of Tom's "old acquaintances," and, to his horror, intends to send him back to endure the perils of Pangea.

*Issue #5*: Tom Strong once again finds himself in Pangea – the Earth's first supercontinent. For a recorded diary entry, Tom recounts his first expedition to this ancient land. Back in the 1950's, Tom's inventor friend (Professor Fingel Parallax) allowed Tom and Dhalua to use his time travel device to explore Pangea. They note the lack of complex lifeforms, as well as the toxic atmosphere that surrounds them. Then suddenly, Tom and Dhalua are separated. When Tom finally finds what appears to be his wife, he embraces her, but is shocked to find that a gigantic, shape-shifting slime-mold creature (The Pangaean) has taken her form. When Tom locates the real Dhalua, the two battle the creature for a while, before being returned to their time by Professor Parallax. Unexpectedly, a piece of the giant creature had latched on to the two explorers as they traveled forward in time, and after numerous conflicts through the years, Tom decided enough was enough; he trapped the Pangaean, and sent it back to its own time (two to three million years into the past). Back in the present, Tom re-encounters the slime creature, and finds its intellect and language ability had grown due to its time in the twentieth century. It explains that an alliance had been forged between itself, Weiss, and an unknown male associate, with the intent of keeping Tom occupied in the past while Weiss and the man prepare a "surprise gift" for Tom's 100th birthday. The Pangaean recants on its end of the deal, and attacks Tom, rather than let him return back to his own time. However, the other two conspirators foresaw his betrayal, and situated the confrontation so that it would coincide with asteroid storm, seemingly killing the creature, and allowing Tom to escape in a time-capsule. Back at his own time, he is confronted by what appears to be his mysterious male antagonist.

*Issue #6*: The mysterious man allied with Weiss is revealed to be Paul Dorian Saveen – one of Tom's most dangerous foes, who was thought to have died during one of their previous encounters. But Tom isn't entirely surprised, since when the two first met in the late 1920's, the encounter supposedly ended with Saveen fatally falling victim to his own philogisten accumulator – a device that distills the thermal fluid philogisten. At the present time, Tom explores Saveen's lair, and, put on display, Tom notices models of his former foes, as well as familiar weapons and gadgets Saveen has invented over the years. As Tom walks through the exhibit, using some kind of intercom, Saveen wistfully recounts their numerous battles, and explains that this time, he and Weiss have found a way to severely wound him emotionally. Meanwhile, the Strongmen of America battle Weiss' female soldiers, and after overcoming them, discover details concerning the plot against Tom. Back at Saveen's lair, one of the inanimate models proves to be Weiss in the flesh. Her battle with Tom is interrupted when Saveen introduces Albrecht Strong – the son Tom unknowingly fathered (while unconscious) with Ingrid Weiss back in 1945.

*Issue #7*: Dhalua, Telsa, and Solomon fly towards Saveen's lair to rescue Tom. Meanwhile, Tom struggles with the idea of Albrecht's existence, and is horrified to witness evidence of his Nazi indoctrination. When his son violently rejects Tom's offer of rehabilitation under his wing, Tom activates Parallax's Time Viewer, which he sets to the year 2050. It shows a future where although Tom has aged considerably, he remains in fighting shape due to regular Goloka balm infusions, as well as other advanced medical procedures. After defeating Telsa, Pneuman, and Augustus (Solomon's son), Albrecht faces his father in battle. Although his weaponry is based on Saveen's superior photon technology, the juvenile Albrecht proves to be no match for his father in the end. When the future transmission ends, Albrecht smashes the machine in anger. Due to information gleaned while watching, Tom is able to deduce that Saveen didn't actually survive their last encounter, and it was his old face-changing enemy Denby Jilks impersonating him. Tom further deduces that he must have been hired to assume Saveen's identity and fortune after his passing. Before Weiss and Albrecht can abandon Jilks, Tom's three teammates finally arrive, and Dhalua puts the fear of God into Weiss, who vows never to return. Tom takes Jilks to his laboratory to study the mechanism that allows him to change his face, and the Strongmen of America celebrate the turn of the century.

If You Enjoy This, Check Out...: Planetary , Agents of Atlas , Doom Patrol

Book Info: This collection contains Tom Strong issues #1-7.


ABSOLUTE RATING: {3+/5 stars}

STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 2 out of 5]

A send-up of the super-hero comic, complete with Victorian-style adventure story where Tom's parents raise him on a tropical island under circumstances designed to make him a strong, completely rational human. The knowledge of the islander natives gives him long life and a wife, as well as an English ape that talks in broad Englishisms. Oh, and there's a robot butler.

Anyway, the parody is on in full, as Tom Strong speaks classic comic dialogue explaining his actions and reactions as he fights whatever foe is in his path. Aztechs, Swastika Girls--I mean, come on, this isn't a serious super-hero comic. The line was too thin, so the parody isn't stellar and it doesn't work as a super-hero comic either.

Points for the first story where a young boy gets his Tom Strong Club packet and engrosses himself in the origin story comic book while totally missing his hero save his transport from bandits. That was clever.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Next to Alan Moore's greatest works (Watchmen) and his sploshiest stinkers (Neonomicon), Tom Strong sits pretty squarely in the middle. It's a fun pulp romp with little to object about it but also little that's truly remarkable.

[arjuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely send-up of (and homage to) traditional comics and adventure literature - witty, idiosyncratic, respectful of the genre while taking the piss, but still finding room for originality and Moore's particular style. The one word people seem to keep using is playful, and that's exactly right. It's fun to read, and you get the feeling it was fun to create, too - it has the feel of a loving creation in the Dan Dare mould... a happily married clean-living superhero who happens to be a thoroughly decent chap could fall very flat indeed, but Tom is a lively, rounded figure and his family are all interesting and growing in their own right. Oddly appealing characters, wonderfully silly stories, good stuff all round.

[austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Strong is a super hero comic that's really a love letter to the fans of the genre with the many ways it pays homage and plays with cliches. It's fine, nothing groundbreaking. I think Moore has a tendency of being a little overly wordy sometimes but this is only a slight discrepancy. The writing is top notch and exactly what you come to expect from a writer of his caliber. He is often full of original ideas and philosophy that go beyond the typical comic book fair and I was impressed with the clever way he found to resolve conflicts between his heroes and villains

[Jim Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Strong is a misty-eyed and comparatively simple nostalgic pastiche. Breezy fun until the surprisingly depressing final issue of the Moore era. Then after a fill-in run by others Moore pops back to wrap the whole thing up, tying it into his Promethea mythos and leaving the audience in relaxed awe.

[Andrew Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely fun read! Tom Strong reminds me of a grittier Mr. Incredible, but not too gritty. Highly recommend!

[Jacob A. Mirallegro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Off to a really fun start. You can tell Alan Moore had fun with it too. It's very loving to the traditional adventure serial and feels so inspired from Fantastic Four and Superman. I'm excited to read more.

[Variaciones Enrojo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reseña de David Fernández para Zona Negativa:
http://www.zonanegativa.com/tom-stron...

Watchmen, V de Vendetta, From Hell, Miracleman o Batman: La Broma Asesina, son títulos por méritos propios escritos con letras de oro en la Historia del “noveno arte”. Obras que atestiguan el talento y la imaginación de Alan Moore, un individuo peculiar, extraño, extravagante, atípico y provocador, como sólo los genios pueden serlo.
No contento con haber ejercido de cabeza más visible de una generación de autores que desde el Reino Unido revolucionó el mundo del cómic norteamericano durante los años ochenta del pasado siglo, una década más tarde se propuso romper de nuevo con las tendencias imperantes para recuperar el estilo lúdico y aventurero perdido. Así, bajo el cobijo de DC / Wildstorm, y la nada humilde denominación de America’s Best Comics (ABC Comics), fundaría un subsello donde dar cabida a colecciones como Promethea, Tomorrow Stories, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen o Top Ten. Uno de los títulos que ejerció como abanderado de esta nueva hornada de ocurrencias del veterano guionista natural de Northampton fue Tom Strong, cuya primera entrega se publicaría durante el mes de abril de 1999. Ilustrada por Chris Sprouse, con quien Moore coincidió durante su estancia en Supreme (Awesome), no tardó en llamar la atención de lectores y medios especializados, hasta el punto de hacerse acreedora de las críticas más entusiastas.
Transcurridos ocho años, y una edición en grapa por parte de Planeta DeAgostini Cómics, Norma Editorial ha decidido recuperar esta colección en forma de lujosos y atractivos tomos, pretexto que sirve para que desde Zona Negativa le prestemos la atención, sirviendo el que sigue como el primero de los artículos que tratará de analizar esta obra de forma integral. Sin más dilación, comencemos…

(...)

Valoración personal:
Ignoro si del carácter indudablemente disperso y divagatorio de las líneas precedentes se puede intuir la admiración que siento por el trabajo realizado por Alan Moore y Chris Sprouse, pero por si queda alguna duda al respecto, trataré de despejarlas con rotundidad. Este tomo recopilatorio representa un brillante comienzo para la colección. Un bullicio de ideas, ocurrencias y homenajes, que tendría una continuación digna, aunque carente de la inspiración apreciable en estas siete primeras entregas.
Especialmente interesante y eficaz resulta el modo en que Alan Moore combina tres factores claves a la hora de enjuiciar como sobresalientes las más de doscientas páginas que integran este tebeo: por una parte, los recursos utilizados para justificar la grandeza de Tom Strong. Es decir, el modo en que mediante la alternancia entre flasbacks y flashforwards, alimenta la leyenda del héroe de Millenium City, construyendo una “continuidad discontinua”, si se me permite la utilización del término, realmente coherente, fluida y consecuente.

Por otra parte, la apuesta firme y decidida por una combinación entre los géneros de aventuras y ciencia-ficción, alejados del tono trágico y supuestamente épico imperante en los cómics mainstream contemporáneos. No soy de los que opinan que cualquier tiempo pasado fue mejor, pero de cuando en vez, es de agradecer que algún creador nos devuelva los orígenes y la esencia de la aventura apta para todos los públicos. Aunque no es menos cierto que afrontar tal reto resulta menos intimidatorio si te llamas Alan, y tienes como apellido Moore.
Por último, aunque no por ello menos importante, es de justicia reconocer el mérito de un notable Chris Sprouse, poseedor de un trazo elegante, limpio y sin artificios, que tras su aparente sencillez esconde grandes dosis de talento. En este punto, también cabe destacar la aportación de Gary Frank, Arthur Adams, Dave Gibbons, y Jerry Ordway como dibujantes invitados, encargados de ilustrar los pasajes pretéritos y futuros de la vida de Tom Strong. Pese a la disparidad estilística, desempeñan un papel determinante en la tan oportuna como fluida delimitación visual de dichas disrupciones narrativas.
Todos estos elementos, orquestados por la mágica batuta de Alan Moore, parecen ayudar al lector a recorrer el camino de vuelta del viaje que junto al autor británico iniciaron hace años. Un viaje hacia la oscuridad, hacia la seriedad y el lado más sombrío y adulto reflejado por este excepcional guionista en algunas de sus más famosas obras. Así, este inesperado giro de ciento ochenta grados, nos permite atisbar la otra cara de la moneda: la despreocupación, la aventura, y la diversión que, en última instancia, nos recuerdan las razones por las que comenzamos a leer tebeos.

(Reseña completa en http://www.zonanegativa.com/tom-stron... )

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Moore is a comic book writing GOD! If you want to argue that with me, knowing something of his resume, then I can only assume the level of graphic novels or comic books you can handle ranks only as intelligently stimulating as Archie or Daffy Duck. With such great tales as The Watchmen and V for Vendetta, Moore has made his books socially relevant as well as entertaining. But compared to those one may think Tom Strong to be tame and subdued. But if you think that then you aren't paying attention.

Tom Strong is a superhero that is as much scientist as he is super strong. Tom is born to parents stranded in Africa after a shipwreck. His parents are scientists and remarkably intelligent. They create a special chamber to raise Tom in with a robotic valet to serve him named Pneuman. His other companion is an enhanced ape named King Solomon. Tom's parents die while he is still a boy and he is taken in by the local tribe. With his intelligence and strength he creates a paradise in his new home. He takes the daughter of a might chieftain; Dhalua to be his wife and together they have a brave but impetuous daughter; Tesla.

With his abilities Tom and his family fight evil wherever they encounter it. In Africa, in New York, in other times and other worlds.
What one would consider to be pretty standard stuff in the comic book world. But then you are missing the obvious.

Tom Strong's origins mirror two pop culture heroes of our time. Tarzan and Superman. People misplaced from their natural worlds into a different world and culture. But with glaring differences. Tom is shipwrecked in Africa and befriended by an African tribe. He is white, they are black. But unlike Tarzan, he does not automatically consider the dark skinned people to be violent or primitive or his enemies. Tom befriends them and becomes part of them. He does not wait for the first white girl to show up before he falls in love, but falls for the daughter of a chief. Their different racial pigmentation never is a factor. In fact, Moore basically passes it over as if this is how it should happen. In Tarzan, you get the impression that it would have been far more acceptable for Tarzan to mate with an ape before he would ever take an African princess for a wife. Thank goodness Jane came along or those poor apes might not have been safe! But in Tom Strong, the racially mixed marriage that produces a child is the most natural of all happenings. Why should he wait for some random lost English lady to get shipwrecked?

Unlike Superman, Strong does not consider his strength as an entitlement of superiority over others. Especially his wife and daughter. Though genetically enhanced to be superior, its a position he fights against. Never more so than when he is attacked and captured by Nazis who want Tom for their experiments in created the perfect white race. It is in this one storyline that Tom faces racism in its rawest form. Moore handles it superbly.

While the comics of Tom Strong are not as striking in their social activism as others in the Alan Moore library; don't be fooled. Moore does not stray far from his beliefs and he presents them in a truthful and entertaining fashion.

And unlike the parade of politically charged and correct comics coming out from the two major publishing houses, there is no pandering here. This is simple honest writing. Which is what makes it so good.

[Emma Lindhagen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gosh what an odd book. Maybe more of a 3.5 for me because I did think it was overall very cleverly executed (particularly the art style changing for flashbacks and that sort of thing, which I really enjoyed).

This book uses such a lot of trite or outdated tropes, but it also lampshades most of them them hard.

I feel like there's a lot of racial stuff in this book I'm not really the right person to talk about. There's a white savior trope, which isn't really lampshaded so much as it is a bit of a parody of itself and mainly exists as backstory. And then of course there's the cartoony nazi villains which I'm honestly not sure how I feel about except that it was very gratifying to see Dhalua kick the nazi lady's ass.

It may be a silly thing, but I sort of wish this book had called out parental fuckery more. Tom's upbringing is so screwed up but that's barely mentioned, and then there's how he's just like "oh, I have a son by a nazi and she's brainwashing him to make him into a pawn in her twisted games? Oh well, not my problem, let her have him!" which felt rather callous to me.

So on the balance I am very torn, did enjoy it but didn't enjoy some of the premise. The humor is quite good, as is the art style, and a lot of the characters are charming in an exaggerated way. I'm curious if the actual stories in further volumes are more interesting.

[Miguel Ángel Alonso Pulido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Strong es una fascinante vuelta de tuerca al cómic de superhéroes, en el que Alan Moore elimina toda influencia de los universos DC y Marvel e inventa un universo nuevo con firmes raíces en la literatura pulp. En otras palabras, todos los cómics de superhéroes tienen en su ADN a los personajes de la Edad de Oro como Superman y Batman o los héroes con problemas introducidos por Stan Lee en los 60; en cambio, los antepasados de Tom Strong son los personajes clásicos del pulp, desde La sombra, Spider, el Vengador o muy especialmente Doc Savage. La diferencia entre ambas herencias es muy evidente, y Moore juega con ella como un maestro, para darnos una serie de entretenidas historias ejecutadas de forma impecable, tanto en el guión como en el dibujo, con Chris Sprouse haciendo uno de los mejores trabajos de su carrera. Un cómic increíble que deberías leer sin importar tus gustos; seguro que te encantará.

[Nenad Vukusic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Moore's take on nietzschean superman is a beautiful play on superhero comic genre, right from the first page, where little Timmy (I might have forgotten his name, please forgive me) is so engrossed in his Tom Strong comic that he misses the real Tom Strong action happening during his journey to school. Book is full of touching references to golden age comic heroes, in writing and drawing and is a great fun to read. A lot lighter and happier than many Moore works, this one is great for everybody.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Moore at his peak. A masterfully written series which will entertain anyone with a love of the golden age of comics, obscure references, or pastiche.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

my fave science hero. Solid stories, fine art. met the artist at a convention once (nice guy, by the way), and gave this a shot. Glad I did.

[Kapitol Tank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Los siete primeros números del gran cientihéroe del universo ABC en con un prólogo envolvente.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

sometimes I hated this and sometimes I actually liked it.

[tony dillard jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Tom Strong. The Alan Moore creation is a combination of Superman, Doc Savage, Tarzan and Flash Gordon. I've previously read the 2 hardcover volumes that comprised the entire run of Tom Strong's Terrific Tales. While the series wasn't entirely filled with adventures starring Tom, there were enough of him to make me a fan; desiring to complete a run of his regular series.

I swear that I've read the first issue before. Maybe the premiere issue of Terrific Tales reprinted some of Tom Strong's origin story. Maybe I've committed that legend to memory just as I have with the debuts of Batman, Spider-Man and dozens of other superheroes. But I doubt it.

7 issues are reprinted in this volume. The first 4 issues are self-contained. I love that. You get a full compliment of 30 some pages of action, adventure and a smattering of sci-fi, set in the year 1999. Within is also a glimpse of Tom's past adventures, which are pretty extensive considering that he's nearly 100 years old. I think each flashback had had something to do with the current predicament, which often sees a long-thought vanquished for returning from the dead. You might think that Alan Moore is stuck on a comic book trope. But in reality, he's eviscerating how often publishers love to bring characters back from the dead instead of letting sleeping dogs lie.

The last 3 issues all involved cliffhangers. If I was buying Tom Strong, when it was new,on a monthly basis and the pacing went from one-and-done tales to cliffhangers with a 30-day wait for the conclusion, I would have been pissed. Chalk it up for collected trades and hardcovers!

The second half not only sees the return of a World War II era foe, it also introduces a new foe that while I knew what was coming, I was shocked that Moore managed to do it. Tom is essentially raped and his DNA is used to make an Über Tom who really hates dad. Add in that Tom's wife is a black African princess and their child is mixed, the conflicting superiority complex and family loyalty of Tom's son makes for a very intriguing look at Tom Strong's future.

The original series of Tom Strong ran for 33 issues. There's 5 more volumes out there. Out of print, but not exactly something that collectors are scrambling to add to their collections, I should not have very much trouble getting my hands on them. Unfortunately, I have so much stuff on my ever growing wish list, it might be a while before I find volume 2. But rest assured, if I found the concluding editions on an amazing deal, they'll definitely be coming home with me.

[Alexander Lisovsky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ностальгия по комиксам Серебряного века, без явной развесёлой пародии, но сюжеты столь же безудержно-дурашливые. Самореплицирующиеся нано-роботы, ацтеки из параллельной вселенной, генно-модифицированные тёлочки-нацистки, путешествия во времени к первобытным ктулху - фонтан идей бьёт через край. Картонные персонажи-вывески без грамма души (разительный контраст с Top 10, который выходил в те же годы). Автор временами едва-едва заигрывает с четвёртой стеной, подмигивает деконструкции жанра (ныряя и выныривая их вложенных, ещё сильнее стилизованных историй), но всё это едва заметно и не окупает затраченное время.

Честно говоря, я здесь вообще ничего от Алана Мура не заметил. На обложке мог запросто быть указан и Дарвин Кук, и Марк Миллар, и, прости господи, Каллен Банн, и ровным счётом ничего бы не изменилось (но у последнего хотя бы временами было смешно). В общем, задумку автора, если она тут была, я не уловил. Иногда комиксы - это просто комиксы?

[Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Alan Moore pulp pastiche”—That’s all I knew about Tom Strong until a few days ago. Now I can’t believe I’m 20 years late to the party. HOLY CRAP, THIS COMIC WAS MADE FOR ME.

Co-created by Moore and artist Chris Sprouse, Tom Strong was released by Moore’s “America's Best” line beginning in 1999. In issues 1-7, which are collected in this volume, we plunge headlong into a Golden Age alternate universe that already feels fully formed. Raised in a laboratory and gifted with extended life, Tom Strong is a massively muscled “science hero” who battles Nazis and mad inventors, travels through time to Pangaea, and outwits interdimensional invaders in stories that ping-pong across his 100-year life. Whew!

Doc Savage is the obvious inspiration here, but Strong and his family of adventurers (including Tom’s island princess wife, their biracial daughter, a Victorian-era robot, and a talking ape valet) also borrow from Tarzan, Little Nemo, EC Comics, racy “men's adventure” mags, and many other bits of 20th Century pop mythology. Moore transmutes these base elements into pure gold, subverting tired old tropes and giving us a world that’s entirely new, thrilling, and above all, FUN.

SO… MUCH… FUN!

Tom Strong continued for 36 issues in its original run and the character has popped up a few times since. I look forward to reading it all.

[Courtney Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of Tom Strong before being introduced to it by my boyfriend who LOVES this series. I have to say, I'm not really a big Alan Moore fan, but I really enjoyed this one! The way this began, structured as a kid who idolizes Tom Strong reading his stories in a comic book, was genius and immediately made me interested in the plot. We get our first glimpse of Tom Strong through the eyes of an excited child and thus know this guy is super cool and inspirational.

After that initial introduction we get the origin story of Tom Strong and how he came to be the superhero Timmy knows him as. This is a pretty fun, fast-paced romp with a fun main character and a super cool squad including his wife, teen daughter, a gorilla and a Victorian robot. How could you not love this? Also he fights Nazi's so Tom Strong rules in my book. The Pangea issue is creepy as hell and creative, and I loved how Tom Strong is sort of a Superman man who can do everything without coming off as a huge boring loser.

I think this was a pretty fun comic and probably my favorite Alan Moore title.

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[Nate]

America’s Best Comics was Moore’s avenue to explore genre and pulp. Tom Strong was his send-up of the Golden Age strongman, wherein a century old science-hero protects his metropolis and beyond with the help of his family, plus robot and ape sidekicks. There’s nothing deep or flashy here, just well-crafted, fun pastiche. From the covers to the stylized flashbacks, Tom Strong encapsulates comics from a simpler time before grim ‘n’ gritty realism became mainstream (for which, you know, Moore is partially responsible). The Golden/Silver Age throwback has been done before and since, and Tom Strong is a welcome addition to the genre.

Honestly, though, I was expecting more. These stories are almost too simple. It could be that I just read Top 10 and was anticipating another wildly inventive world with witty dialogue left and right. Tom Strong isn’t that. It’s meant to be simple, I suppose, or at least straightforward in its storytelling. Fun to read, yes, but I don’t see this first crop of issues being too memorable down the road.

[Raul Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aside from the Nazi storyline which I didn’t like, most stories were pretty good. Although, not that remarkable, the way they made us learn more about Tom was pretty clever tho, and they were entertaining. Now, as to why I didn’t like the last storyline. First, we never actually get to see how Tom was affected after learning that he was basically raped, the only conflicting feelings they show us that he has is the fact that his son is a fascist, not the fact he exists in the first place. I’m baffled as to why Moore decided do include this element if he wasn’t going to follow through with the consequences. Then, for some reason, there was a strange emphasis on beauty and the bodies of people, after Tom sees the blonde Nazi leader he says that she was beautiful, Tom’s son mentions that Tesla was beautiful, and it was all really weird. Also, why did they make the nazi girls wear leather outfits? I think it’s just another case of promiscuity being used to highlight the evilness of a woman, which is unfortunate.

[Ostrava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I loved this.

In a lot of ways, this is Moore's most unpretentious comic book I've read to date. So, there's this interview where Moore talked about regretting the publishment of the Killing Joke, and how he would have preferred, retroactively speaking, to write Batman being as classy and corny as you would expect him to be. The Adam West Batman, not the Frank Miller Batman.

We never got to see that for obvious reasons... except we did. This is it. Moore writing pulp hero comics with no hidden agenda or deeper meaning, no deconstruction, no rambling, no nothing. Just Tom Strong beating the shit out of some Nazis.

I adore that! Yes, I love Moore's From Hell or Watchmen, but I also like his Top Ten, and now especially, his Tom Strong.

I wish I had Strong's capacity to finish off things with a great quote, but I guess a "check it out if the premise interests you" will have to do for now...

[Mariano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es una lectura muy linda, muy rara para estas épocas. Es un producto de su momento, creo que tiene puntos en común con Astro City. Moore se saca las ganas de toda la onda pulp retro futurista y cómo de ahí salen muchos tropos del mundo superheroico.

En general me resultaron más interesantes las historias del "presente" que las del pasado, pero son divertidas de leer cuando toman estéticas de distintas épocas (la EC, la silver age de DC, etc).

Creo que en su momento pegaba más fuerte que ahora, pero porque es un concepto que fue repetido hasta el hartazgo desde que salió. Vamos a ver cómo sigue.

[Alan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been going through some of the lesser-known Alan Moore stuff and this was a pleasant surprise. Moore is so celebrated for his subversion of superhero tropes in books like Swamp Thing and the one with the smiley face, that it's easy to forget that he has genuine fondness for those tropes and the types of stories that can be created with them. (That's part of why Watchmen is so much more rewarding than stuff like The Boys IMO.)

Anyway, these are Golden Age-type stories with enough depth and fun structural twists for a modern reader (or at least a modern reader in 1999).