Worth mentioning is the fact that Moore avoids the typical flaws of the superhero genre with his use of accurate characterisation, fantastic settings, cunning villains and even a plot twist or two, which in the end make reading this book a truly fun experience.

With Tom Strong Alan Moore evokes the energy of the classic Jack Kirby run on Fantastic Four. This work truly helps revitalize the comic book medium.


TOM WEAK   July 25, 2000
 4 out of 15 found this review helpful

Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE Alan Moore fan, that I've been a reader of his for over ten solid years now and that I count some of his work (WATCHMEN, SWAMP THING and FROM HELL) as the best comic art ever produced. That said, I have to tell you that this collection was almost a PAINFUL read for me. As much as I hate to admit it, Moore has lost his edge. There is nothing new or exciting in the tales presented here. The charcters are flat and one deminsional; the dialogue is strained at times; and, worst of all, I felt no emotional involvement in the stories whatsoever. Simply put, these are comics for kids. If you're over the age of 12, you'll find Tom Strong's adventures pretty weak indeed.


Born of Savage and Greystoke   August 13, 2000
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

TOM STRONG is Alan Moore's intelligent take on Tarzan and Doc Savage, melding the Jungle Lord and the scientific superhuman into a new pulp hero. Mr. Strong is a fully-functional character with an astounding and unpretentious history as a brilliant inventor and a two-fisted crime-fighter. But Tom Strong is also about scientific endeavor, using the pulp fiction conventions of, say, the theory of time travel, to explore Strong's incredible history as a man who, through science and the hidden knowledge of ancient cultures, has lived 150 years worth of adventures (perhaps, though the future of Tom Strong is still conjecture at this point in the chronicles.) From Tom's World War II conflicts with genetic Nazi supermen, to his encounter with the first, and most dangerous, life form in Earth's primordial past, this book covers a mere sampling of intriguing, fascinating, and extremely heroic moments in Tom Strong's life. A completely engrossing book, whose ideas are just as powerful as the slug-fests within its pages. A great writer's addition to the lore of immortal pulp heroes.


"A true masterpiece" ,or,"Alan Moore latest GN"   September 15, 2001
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

This, next to Watchmen, is one of the greatest comic books I have ever read because it has one key element that many comics lack ever since the grim and gritty age. It starts out with an interesting premise: what if a man wanted to make his son a perfect human being by educating him in the far-off island of Attabar Teru, away from societies influence.
By raising him in a low gravity enviroment with his robot nanny, Phneuman and feeding him lots of the goloka root, which gives longevity and physical prowess, he becomes as it seems throughout the book, to become a human version of superman. When Tom turns 11 a quake hits Attabar Teru, and both his parents are killed so he is raised by the Attabar Teru trbe(not very unlike peacful indians.)When he grows up, he heads off to Millenium city and becomes a super hero, or science-hero as their universe calls them.And while the story is incredible, so is the art. Chris Sprouse is the perfect guy to draw Tom Strong because Tom Strong is supposed to be an incredibly smart and, well...,strong version of the BFG, a big guy who makes us all feel safer. I also liked the brief reuniting of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons in the sixth chapter. Overal, this is one of the best graphic novels of all time,suitable for all ages, and something you should read right now!


Great Idea But Only Average Execution   May 6, 2003
 2 out of 5 found this review helpful

Tom Strong is a tip of the hat to many classic comic book heroes and cliches. Tom Strong is based on Doc Savage, Solomon is based on the intelligent apes that populate the DC Universe, Tom's wife is like a cross between Wonder Woman and Storm of the X-men and so on. Having said that, there is a lot of originality in the book too. Without giving anything away, there are at least two characters in this book that are truly unique. I can't think of any other like them. I think all the characters in it are interesting but I don't think the story is as well executed as it could be. It starts off well but the collection seems to become less fun as you reach the end, although its never bad. Its not the best of Moore's ABC line (according to my experience that is A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and its no where near his classic works, but its worth checking out if you are a fan. I will buy the next collection, but I don't have very high hopes for it.