I enjoy Tom Strong in the same exact way that I enjoy the earlier seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's fun, it's got high enery and it's well written but just like with Buffy I don't spend all day with it. I see Tom Strong as something that every comic geek needs to read. It's the story of a pulp hero redefined as a superhero. It feels both innovative and iconic at the same time. The book's appreciation of the forerunner of the comic, the pulp novel, alone earns it a look and the fact that it's being worked on by such talent individuals means it deserves an even closer look. The stories have a wonderful momentum to them and Sprouse's super clean look complements it well. However, this is not anyone involved's best work and shouldn't be put at the top of any must-read lists.
The character of Tom Strong has a deep and rich history that is explored in the book through a series of flashbacks. These flashes are further proof of Moore's genius as well as the talent of the guest artists (Jerry Ordway, Art Adams, Gary Frank and Dave Gibbons). The flashes are drawn in the style of comics from the past ad the tone of the writing also shifts to the likes of a bygone era. And if you need more proof of Mr. Moore's master intellect: he created a language for the Ozu people of the island of Attabar Teru. It's not complex, in fact you can decipher it based solely on context clues (trust me, Guy Ryder keeps showing me his notes) but it's there. This is a great book to pick up and read in a quick sitting. It's quick, clean and fun.
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