TOM STRONG

no.16

Writer: Alan Moore

Penciller: Chris Sprouse

Inker: Karl Story

"Some Call Him the Space Cowboy"

      Tom Strong's back on track again. Coleman Grey, the Weird Rider - A space cowboy. A visit to the Modular Man - lord of Venus (I'd forgotten all about him!). Generally nice, reasonable, interesting - if improbable - people. So what if what Moore knows about Venus would fit in a footnote and most of it would be wrong? Besides, maybe the Modular Man's been terraforming Venus like mad since he got there?  Either way, different titles, different standards. When someone's writing characters he created in a universe he also created, I'm very willing to lean heavily on a fairy tale vibe where necessary, provided the ride's fun.

      Anyway, alien ants are on the way, and defending Earth from the invasion should be fun. I'm hoping for some fun guest stars.

     A fun mix of concepts and genres. A tad squeaky clean? Holy socks, yes. I wouldn't want a diet full of this, but it's fun material in these small bites. When I look around and see a medium that can bring me this and the latest issue of The Authority in the same box o' comics, it brings a smile. That's a nice, healthy range -- and that's without even moving out of the super-adventurers section of the medium.

     Chris Sprouse's artwork is equally clean and pleasant, reminding me at every turn that Tom Strong and his world were co-created by Moore & Sprouse.

     Comments? Drop me a line or post something for all to see on the messageboard.

                                                                                                                                          ---Mike Norton