My favourite is definitely The Ballad of Halo Jones. I think many of his other works are better, but I'm more invested in that one. I live with the wish that it both gets finished one day, but also never does.
I have not read it but there is some questionable comics with Wendy, of Peter Pan, Alice of Wonderland and Dorthey of OZ that I don't think I will touch. That is least. Fave would have to be "For the Man who has Everything" Superman getting the black mercy.
I LOVE Tom Strong, it’s like the heroes of The Golden Age, the fantastical elements of the Silver Age, and the storytelling of the Modern Age all rolled into one… the best of all worlds
*Fun fact:* Alan Moore used when writing Tom Strong the artistic style of his childhood idol Charles Clarence Beck as a heavy influence. For those who don't know him, Beck is one of the co-creators of Captain Marvel, being the guy responsible for the famous cartoon style Billy Batson's first comics had.
I've read the whole Tom Strong series. I don't remember how I found it, but I was immediately drawn in by a nostalgic feeling. It reminded me of my summers spent at my grandparent's home in the early 70s, reading all the silver age comics from the news stand and going through all the Tom Swift Jr. adventure books. Tom Strong manages to capture that feeling, instead of crapping all over it, which is what most story-tellers seem to want to do.
I discovered Tom thanks to The Terrifics, and I was surprised to see he was an Alan Moore creation. I was able to score the 2 deluxe hardcovers and instantly fell in love with the characters and world. Tom Strong is criminally underrated, so please give it a read!
If you enjoyed Tom Strong I highly recommend Alan Moores run on Rob Liefeld's Supreme. It's Alan gushing over how much he loves Superman with so many cool villains. It'd be a prime choice for a animated series.
@@ToonGrin YES! I actually sought out his Supreme run after Tom Strong, and yeah it's awesome too. I also found Moore's work on Captain Britain to be a lot of fun as well.
Tom strong was one of my favorite things Alan Moore has done. I think that fact that it was “simple “ made it even better because it reminded why I loved comics. There’s beauty in its simplicity. You’re right. Alan Moore needs to give himself more credit for this one.
I found hardcovers of Tom Strong many years back. It was a blast reading those books. As a 40-plus-year comic fan, I am bored to tears with the grim/dark. There should be more books like Tom Strong. Stories that remember these are for young readers and the young at heart.
Tom Strong is one of my favorites. It shows you can update classic pulp, comic, and science fiction heroes in a thoughtful fashion. Like many of Moore’s works, it has more depth if you are familiar with early 20th century pulp and science fiction. Tom’s childhood isolation is reminiscent of Philip Wylie’s Gladiator.
The most useful thing Moore's done for society is to help encourage people to look back at the gems of the pulp era - and earlier, in a few cases. Plenty of Victorian influence in his work as well, although he tends to be more unkind to those.
I picked this series up when it was coming out. Moore’s ABC titles and Morrison’s X-Men kept me coming to the comic shop in the early 2000s. I haven’t re-read these in a while, but Tom Strong was a really fun series. It was essentially an original mutation of the classic sensibilities that Moore had been exploring in Supreme.
I’ve been a fan of Tom Strong since day 1, it’s one of my favorite books of all time and is absolutely perfect. The way he captures the feel of classic comics but makes it feel like those adventures could ACTUALLY happen is amazing!
Overlooked is an understatement! People on RUclips and comic fans don't talk enough about Tom Strong. So happy you took the chance and covered it. Made my morning!
I love the Tom Strong books. Don't be afraid to launch into that big video on the themes, his father, etc. I'd love to hear your takes. I always loved how Tom was such a mix of early comics, pulp heroes, and the whole trope of a super man but everything was just a bit different from what you'd normally expect. I feel like he is one of those characters that is really important and I wish more people knew about him.
Never actually read Tom Strong, but from all you've said, he gives me Venture Bros vibes in the best way (I love that show). So I think I would love Tom Strong as well.
Yay! Tom Strong! Uhhhh never read it or heard of it but so glad to learn about it! Lord I need some optimism in my stories and it's neat that alan moore managed to create something that seems to be the epitome of fun and hope.
I always loved Tom Strong. It had the feel of a mix between Doc Savage and pre-flight Golden Age Superman and you can never go wrong with a robot butler and a talking gorilla. Julius Schwartz taught us the latter. I'd love to hear your take on Top 10. It was my favorite of the ABC comic universe.
I love Tom Strong. Its been so long since I've even heard anyone talk about him. It's been so long since I've read his stories. More, give us more Tom Strong, and more Alan Moore videos. I have good memories of reading those stories back in my early twenties. Ahh, nostalgia. This country needs the optimism, courage and joy of those stories now.
ABC was such a great line of comics. Promethea is a mind-blowing work by Alan and JH Williams. Top Ten with Gene Ha and Zander Cannon…just an awesome series full of brilliant Easter eggs (Meester Easter?). Tomorrow Stories had its moments, like Jack B Quick with Kevin Nowlan. And, like the video says, Tom Strong was great.
Me: "Mr. Moore, would you sign my DVD of The Killing Joke? Which part of the Batgirl prologue was your favorite?" 😃 Alan Moore: *"Mad World" begins to play*
I read and loved Tom Strong in his original ABC run, but didn’t know about the appearances in Terrifics. I’d love to watch more videos getting into the depths of Tom’s universe and story. ❤
Tom Strong forever. This "simple" comic showed me as a kid what comics can be outside of superheroes. It took trouples I loved and fused them with science. It continues to impact my work. I will forever pay homage to this series.
I’d love to see you cover more of the Tom Strong material. Where Watchmen seemed to tear down a lot of classic comic book tropes to show how silly they could be is applied to the real world, Tom Strong seemed to be a reaffirmation of why those tropes could be so much fun. I’d love to see you cover Strong’s relationships with his parents, especially how it was explored when parallel universes became part of the storyline. Speaking of parallel universes, I think it’d be fun if you explored how Tom Strong became involved with the America’s Best Comics universe of characters and explore how it contrasted with the JLA’s meetings with the JSA. Plus, any reason to showcase the delightful artwork of Chris Sprouse would be welcome too! Thank you for such a fun episode!
Hell yeah! I’m always stoked to see Tom Strong getting some love, and I agree with your analysis re: the value in simplicity. I’d love to see more videos diving into the specifics, and I’m excited to explore this channel! Rock on.
You should do some other titles on the ABC imprint, Sasha. I'd love to see you do a deep dive into "Top Ten". That's my particular favorite, one I've read almost all the available material. 👍♥️🙂
I'll 3rd that. I'm not sure if there is an annotated Top 10 book out there but there should be if there isn't. I was going through an old issue of Wizard (#121, Oct 2001) and it had an article on Top 10 with the 10 best references. But outside of the references it was such a fun, well written book that tackled many ideas often deftly, including both gay and lesbian characters. But unlike the hamfisted charactures we get today these were characters with their own personalities who just happen to be gay. Some of their thoughts or decision making would be influenced by their choices, but it didn't define who they are.
Sasha, if you like Tom Strong, may I recommend Planetary? It has many of the same elements , including their takes on pulp, golden and silver age characters. An intriguing read that, while not cancelled, ran for 26 issues with three crossovers. As their tagline says, “It’s a strange world…let’s keep it that way.”
Tom Strong is one my Favorite Characters, I always enjoy reading his adventures and always find something new to love when ever I read them. Thanks Sasha for Spotlighting this wonderful character.
SOLD $$$ …I need Tom Strong ( didn’t know it , but now I do) … I Hope you eventually do a video on Shock Gibson The Human Dynamo …Keep Up The Outstanding Work Sasha 🖖🏾
I'm genuinely glad you're covering this character. He's been one of my favorites since I discovered him in my early 20s. More people should get into him.
Tom Strong is WONDERFUL!!!! Also do the other ABC titles including Promethea, Tom 10 and the anthology Tomorrow Stories, or whatever the exact title was. I was managing a comic store at the time and was loving them and reordering ABC titles constantly.
First off I will absolutely support a reading and analysis of Top 10. The original series is so much fun, it might be the best use of a multi-verse concept. The easter eggs and nods are so fun to find. Gene Ha's art has tons of detail in it that you can get lost in for days.
When I discovered Tom Strong, I absolutely devoured everything I could find. Printed comics, digital comics, online retrospectives--I loved it all. And a brilliant main character & set of characters. I don't know why I have a soft spot for science heroes (Tom Strong, Doc Savage, Flash Gordon, Adam Strange, and such), but I enjoy leaning into them and their stories.
I enjoyed Tom Strong. I liked that it referenced characters and stories I liked but put its own spin on them. It was nice to see Moore do something a little "lighter". Also, thanks for mentioning Doc Savage. It's always appreciated.
I absolutely love Tom Strong. I found the books in my local library some years back and devoured them. The best thing is, it doesn't really matter what order you read them in.
I bought ABC from day 1. Loved every title in differing degrees. Tom Strong was probably my favorite of the ongoing titles. Not only was Tom Strong the character so well written, Moore created one of the best comic book/hero marriages in recent time. Both his wife and daughter had their own agency and yet his portrayal of a loving marriage was second to none. One of my favorite genres for lack of a better word, is the positive, futuristic world of tomorrow or alternate world that might have been. This is one of the best. If you love comics and heroes, pick this up and read at least a couple of issues.
I loved Tom Strong ! It was creative, simple seeming, yet innovative in melding and adapting some comic tropes that might be outdated and even offensive to modern sensibilities, but handled with a deft and creative touch that made the recast material relatable, enjoyable, and satisfying reading.
I like Tom Strong. It's always interesting how Alan Moore's more positive works aren't as popular. I didn't realize DC owns Tom Strong. I was surprised to see him be mentioned in the terrifics
Jim Lee has funny story about how, only AFTER he sold to DC, someone pointed out to him that that meant he was effectively *forcing* Moore to work with them again, something he vowed he'd never do. Lee personally flew to England to talk it out with him directly, and jokes about how scared he was to see Moore show up with all these sharp looking rings on his fingers! Of course, that's just how Moore rolls...he was fine with the sitch, so long as he did not have to *directly* interact with DC himself!
One of the characters that appeared during the Terrifics that made me immediately go, “who is that?” and I forgot about him again since I stopped reading comics in single issues. Nice to see this video on him pop up.
One of my first comics was Tom Strong! I loved how zany and wholesome most of his adventures are, and re-reading it now when I’ve read so many golden and silver age comics as well as a lot of Doc Savage, I appreciate it more.
I read the original Tom Strong and loved it! I like simple. As someone who reads a lot of Russian and Victorian lit I love a good Nancy Drew. Same with Tom. It was good, clean fun. Oh and may I say I like the newer, further-away look.
Tom Strong is legit my favorite work by Alan Moore. The pencils my Chris Samnee's pencils were amazing. He reminds me so much of Mike Weringo. I bought every single issue and series where Tom Strong was featured. Just an AMAZING series.
I was so excited to see Tom Strong! When I was a kid our library would get in random trade papers and man when Tom Strong came in what a treat. I loved how he fleshed out his family, and really his entire world. It was like all the best parts of fantastic four and Johnny quest all wrapped into one. It was just serious enough to keep your attention, but light enough to let you escape into that ideal world and go on an adventure with the Strong family. Also, loved that they were a mixed family and that his daughter got to have awesome adventures at a time when it wasn’t flavor of the month and was, despite Moores comments to the contrary, really well thought out.
YES PLEASE! TOP 10 is one of the most overlooked comics ever. Basically NYPD Blue, but super scifi and fantasy! Some of the relationships and stories in there are just amazing.
Yes, I bought every issue of _Tom Strong_ back in the day. It was a terrific combination of throwback superheroes and inventive storylines. I also loved the ever-changing cover logo that reflected the type of story inside.
Tom Strong is extremely underrated! I’ve been reading Alan Moore comics since the early 80’s , he can write short stories or epics! In my opinion,Moore set the bar very high for writing in comics and the results are to our benefit! Tom Strong was absolutely a pleasant surprise along with Top Ten🎯❤️!! I recommend for anyone who really tired of the current bumpercrop of empty uneventful comics to please give Tom Strong and all the ABC comics a look sooner than later! This is what comics can aspire to! 😎👍❤️🎯👋
I haven’t read a lot of Tom Strong, but I hope to eventually collect the entire series. He also seems to be inspired by the pulp magazines, especially the pulp character Doc Savage.
One of my favorite comics ever by my all-time favorite writer. Agree with your take here and definitely feel like the series is an underappreciated classic
You brought me back to Astro City and your video helped me to give the first 36 issues of Tom Strong a try. I enjoyed this very much, so thank you! I do think that it's simplicity gives the series its strength and found the ending even more emotional than Moores original world shattering ending in Promethea. Because at the end Tom is for all his references a real character with failings and strengths (no pun intented), that wants to live his life. And he does enjoy it. There's real joy in this comic. Where in other works of Moore it feels more like a phrase, here I believe it. Life is good and Tom Strong enjoiys it, even if it gets dark at times. My favorite character has to be Paul Saveen though. We learn not much about him, but what we see is enough. It's an art to create an character who is dead for such a long time, but his shadow felt everywhere. Moore was able to create fascvinating villains when he wanted.
I loved hearing about Tom Strong! I never had before. I think Alan Moore is exactly the kind of writer by whom I’d want to read this kind of book. His more deconstructive works have inspired too many copycats for my taste, but that’s hardly his fault, and his work stands head and shoulders above many other attempts. One of the things that made it so masterful was a deep knowledge and understanding of the tropes he was examining. And it seems here too, though from the other side of the mirror. I can’t wait to get a collection! And I would love to hear more from this channel about Tom! What is up with his dad? Or the mad scientist villain?
I've been WAITING for you to review/discuss TOM STRONG. I just got the Compendium for my 50+th birthday, and I've been a fan, since the comic was first published, way back. It's one of the greatest comic book series, ever written.
I was with TOM from the jump, a daft smile on my face as this bright, wondrous world unfolded before my eyes. Moore, Sprouse, et al, brought their individual bits of joy to Tom and his family. TOP 10 would be awesome, but even better would be SMAX. Keep the Casualness comin! 🖖♾
TOM STRONG was, by far, my favorite of the ABC books. I saw traces of Superman, Doc Savage, Tarzan, the Fantastic Four and even Popeye in the series (Think about it: Goloka was the Strong family's spinach!). I enjoyed it as a continuation of the superhero REconstruction that Moore began in SUPREME.
I remember when Image started , AM publicly dissed them as being all sound and fury (his exact metaphor was how the coca leaf can be refined into cocaine, which was Marvel and DC, and then crack, which was Image!); the Image guys responded by basically inviting long time professionals to show them how it was done. Moore, along with Dave Sim, Frank Miller and Neil Gaiman wrote a single issue of one of Image's original line up (this is where Gaiman created Angela for Spawn, which led to...a lot). Anyway, I *think* this is what made AM return to superheroes to start that reconstruction you mentioned. I think he (and Miller) felt bad that the younger writers seemed to take all the wrong lessons from Watchmen and TDKR, and he, at least, wanted to correct course in comics...
I rarely watch videos on comics as the vast majority seem to be always gushing about the aspects of modern comics that drove me away from being a voracious reader of the medium in the first place. A hero is supposed to be a bearer of the light, however he or she may be personally flawed, not a dark and angry, rage-filled dweller in the darkness. Even Batman is supposed to represent hope for a better future. That's what motivated him in the first place. He may dwell in the darkness, but he fights to shine light upon that darkness. Modern writers seem to have forgotten all of this. I saw your Tom Strong title and knew I had to watch. Thank you. I was working a side job in a comic shop when the ABC imprint first came out and Tom Strong immediately caught my eye. In the same way that Sky Captain was a brilliant movie, I saw so many wonderful aspects of the TS story that I was hooked from the first issue. With nods to so many earlier characters - Tarzan, Doc Savage, Tom Swift, Magnus Robot Fighter, Fantastic Four, even to the little known Philip Wylie novel, Gladiator - Tom and his family immediately appealed to me. Even a favourite, The Rocketeer, could have existed in Tom's world and, by that character's stories' extension, The Shadow. Yet Tom was also written with a modern style and feel. I gave up on comics by the mid-1990s, beaten by the dark and gloomy hopelessness into which most of the industry's stories had fallen. Having been buying well over 100 titles monthly, my only way out was to go cold turkey on all of them. It wasn't easy to say goodbye to Tom and the family Strong but, like Andy off to college, Woody and Buzz were wonderfully fond memories who would stay with me. I sold off the majority of my collection several years ago, making a profit from a reading joy whose only real value to me was in the escape from the real world for a few short minutes. I do miss a lot of my collection, dozens of Golden Age, a few thousand Silver and many thousands of Bronze through to the time I quit. I have no regrets, but I do miss the complex innocence of Tom Strong. He was proof that comics could still be interesting, thought provoking, and just plain fun without the need for excessive violence, intolerance, and overbearing and oppressive darkness. Again, thank you. ♥
Ooooh- this is very exciting! I was clearing up under my bed at the weekend and fund a box full of old comics that I'd forgotten were there. Not too exciting in itself but one of them is a trade paperback of Tom Strong by Alan Moore! I was literally having a quick look at youtube while wondering what to read when I clocked this video. I remember very little of the book having only read it when it came out all those years ago so my decision on what to read in bed tonight is now on the shoulders of this video and therefore your shoulders too, Sasha. You've never given me a bum steer so far so I trust you. If I follow whatever recommendations you make in this video I'm about to watch though and have a crappy time, then you'll be hearing from my representatives in your area. (In reality that would be my retired landscape gardener cousin, so you needn't fret overly much.) I'd better get onto watching the vid rather than havering like a blatherskite or I'll be here all night...
I really loved Tom Strong. Among all the deconstruction its nice when once in a while we get a series that reconstructes and modernises some tropes and adds that nice pulp aesthethics, it was great fun. Also generally nice experience of reading something more laid-back by Moore
I'll be sure to check out Tom Strong since he did make an impact in Terrifics and seeing how much it embraces where the Silver Age went with their stories sounds like a fun read.
I love Tom Strong and his crossover with the Terrifics is about as close to the Doc Savage teaming with the Fantastic Four as I can hope to see. AND he's on the T-Council with Ted Kord, the Atom and Man Bat. With Tesla!😊
Tom Strong is amazing,i read it month by month when it first came out(along with the other ABC comics)and still return to it(and the others)to this day
I imagine in the alternate crossover universe where the Tom Strong and his family teaming up with the Fantastic Four, that would be fun to read! Which's funny that Tom Strong did team-up with a pastiche of Fantastic Four, the Terrifics (remember Dark Matter/New Age of DC Heroes? yeah it was weird line)
I was only vaguely aware of Tom Strong but it sounds up my Alley. I bet I would love it. Getting an Astro City vibe and that's always a good sign. I've now added it to the wishlist.
I found Tom Strong when I was doing a paper about the Doc Savage pulps. They both have these large than life, science hero feel that I really enjoy. Tom Strong really does feel like a fresh and interesting take on pulps
Oh, please, do more analysis on Tom Strong. I love the idea of it. And seeing you talk about it is delightful. In fact, I think this video is an amazing presentation of the idea of wonder it invokes, since we can see its effect on the way you present it. It was a delight... so, please, more Tom Strong for us!
Everything Alan Moore did with ABC is GOLD. Tom Strong, Top Ten, Promethea, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Tomorrow Stories, SMAX, Forty-Niners, ALL OF IT IS COMPLETE GOLD. Also his run on Supreme is GOLD GOLD GOLD take it all to the bank because it’s GOLD
Alan Moore's comments about the simplicity in Tom Strong tbh is completely valid. Tom Strong was, in my opinion, the ideal, of how to treat a character and world with these interconnected features and a living history, in a way that isnt just lore or bookkeeping. It's lived in, it's honest...and turns out, yeah it's easy. This book was came out in the '99 and into the new Millenium. Why would a mixed couple be groundbreaking? But those fans werent wrong, it was for the medium and thats digraceful. Aside from that we also had well over 60+ years of comics at this point, Tom Strong plays itself completely straight in a way that puts so many other writers TODAY to shame, in a way Moore just never really did again. Becuase more often then not, playing it straight isnt very interesting in superhero space cause I think most ppl dont know what to do with these ideas past either playing with their toys or appealing to theurge to create fan-brained lore-works. I like Dick Grayson but most Nightwing comics (all of them, since like day one) arent worth reading, and I might even be generous with that statement, theyre comics that exist to exist and just be "Nightwing comics" over complete competent works.
I always thought of Alan Moore's work on ABC to be his attempt at reconstructing comics, after spending so much time deconstructing them. Tom Strong felt like taking those pulp heroes and ideas that inspired the creation of the superhero and Moore was trying to play with other possibilities could have sprung from those concepts. My favorite Moore work is From Hell (with Watchmen a close second). My least favorite is the stuff he did for Avatar Press dealing with the Lovecraftian mythos.
I always recommend the whole abc line. Top Ten especially. I always read the horse issue once a year, especially hit harder after my parents death. For me Alan Moore was never about being just dark, he was about doing it all. Tom Strong is a wonderful work that stays with you.
I collected Tom Strong when it first came out, not sure how many issues I have. He's a great golden age hero, love all the tropes in his books. I will be picking up the compendium you were holding.
Tom Strong is fantastic. I'd love to see more videos on him and related subjects. I find the series quite reminiscent of Moore's excellent _Supreme_ run, specifically the handling of Silver Age tropes in a manner that's more homage than parody.
Idk if it’s true, but in the episode of JLU “Legends” the character Tom Turbine was supposed to be Tom Strong. And the Timmy character had psychically reanimated him and his team after the Apocalypse from the comics.
I’m glad DC has been reprinting some of these old and forgotten comics through their recent compendiums. I got into both this and Sandman Mystery Theatre because of them.
This video has me so interested in Tom Strong now. Didn't really know about him before, so this was great. I kinda wish this was one that we discussed on a live stream, the old bookclub streams, where Sasha would take a vote a month or so before so we'd all get a chance to go out and read it. Then have like a 2 hour discussion about it. That felt so good to me, like really needing out with a community, and it got me to read things I'd never have thought to pick up. Love the video
What is your favourite Alan Moore work...or least favourite?
I’ve always had a soft spot for his work with Voodoo in the Wildstorm comics
Swamp thing his Tom strong work his Superman stories his supreme stories 1963 v for vendetta and miracle Man
My favourite is definitely The Ballad of Halo Jones. I think many of his other works are better, but I'm more invested in that one. I live with the wish that it both gets finished one day, but also never does.
I have not read it but there is some questionable comics with Wendy, of Peter Pan, Alice of Wonderland and Dorthey of OZ that I don't think I will touch. That is least. Fave would have to be "For the Man who has Everything" Superman getting the black mercy.
Mogo is my favorite Moore character easy and my least favorite is Constantine. I just don't have fun with him in stories.
I love that her hair looks like it's slowly going to super Saiyan
She might have a wig for that, Sasha has a wig for everything
I now need to see a set of videos where she's changing her wigs to go from Ss1-Ss2
I love coming just to see what colour she’ll be wearing.
It does. I love how see the different wigs every video
@@akiraishin7141 Yes we need a compilation
I LOVE Tom Strong, it’s like the heroes of The Golden Age, the fantastical elements of the Silver Age, and the storytelling of the Modern Age all rolled into one… the best of all worlds
*Fun fact:* Alan Moore used when writing Tom Strong the artistic style of his childhood idol Charles Clarence Beck as a heavy influence. For those who don't know him, Beck is one of the co-creators of Captain Marvel, being the guy responsible for the famous cartoon style Billy Batson's first comics had.
Beck's a noticeable influence in parts of Miracleman as well, for obvious reasons.
I have the impression that is more related to Chris Sprouse's artwork. Other artists of Tom Strong didn't follow CC Beck as closely.
One of the last TOM STRONG stories before the original series ended was definitely a tribute to classic Captain Marvel comics.
That explains why I was getting strong Captain Marvel vibes from Tom Strong.
Tom Strong looks like Adam Strange, Reed Richards and Shazam had a baby together. A truly improbable throuple.
I've read the whole Tom Strong series. I don't remember how I found it, but I was immediately drawn in by a nostalgic feeling. It reminded me of my summers spent at my grandparent's home in the early 70s, reading all the silver age comics from the news stand and going through all the Tom Swift Jr. adventure books. Tom Strong manages to capture that feeling, instead of crapping all over it, which is what most story-tellers seem to want to do.
I like it when Moore lightens up a bit. Tom Strong hits all the right notes for me.
I discovered Tom thanks to The Terrifics, and I was surprised to see he was an Alan Moore creation. I was able to score the 2 deluxe hardcovers and instantly fell in love with the characters and world. Tom Strong is criminally underrated, so please give it a read!
If you enjoyed Tom Strong I highly recommend Alan Moores run on Rob Liefeld's Supreme. It's Alan gushing over how much he loves Superman with so many cool villains. It'd be a prime choice for a animated series.
@@ToonGrin YES! I actually sought out his Supreme run after Tom Strong, and yeah it's awesome too. I also found Moore's work on Captain Britain to be a lot of fun as well.
Tom strong was one of my favorite things Alan Moore has done. I think that fact that it was “simple “ made it even better because it reminded why I loved comics. There’s beauty in its simplicity. You’re right. Alan Moore needs to give himself more credit for this one.
I found hardcovers of Tom Strong many years back. It was a blast reading those books. As a 40-plus-year comic fan, I am bored to tears with the grim/dark. There should be more books like Tom Strong. Stories that remember these are for young readers and the young at heart.
Love _Tom Strong._ All the ABC era work is great and the range demonstrates Moore's GOAT status. Very much agree that simple does not equal easy.
Tom Strong is one of my favorites. It shows you can update classic pulp, comic, and science fiction heroes in a thoughtful fashion. Like many of Moore’s works, it has more depth if you are familiar with early 20th century pulp and science fiction. Tom’s childhood isolation is reminiscent of Philip Wylie’s Gladiator.
The most useful thing Moore's done for society is to help encourage people to look back at the gems of the pulp era - and earlier, in a few cases. Plenty of Victorian influence in his work as well, although he tends to be more unkind to those.
The world of comics need more heroes like Tom Strong
MY BOY TOM!! I LEARNED ABOUT HIM FROM THE TERRIFICS!!🤩🤩🤩🤩
THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO SASHA!!
I picked this series up when it was coming out. Moore’s ABC titles and Morrison’s X-Men kept me coming to the comic shop in the early 2000s. I haven’t re-read these in a while, but Tom Strong was a really fun series. It was essentially an original mutation of the classic sensibilities that Moore had been exploring in Supreme.
I’ve been a fan of Tom Strong since day 1, it’s one of my favorite books of all time and is absolutely perfect. The way he captures the feel of classic comics but makes it feel like those adventures could ACTUALLY happen is amazing!
Overlooked is an understatement! People on RUclips and comic fans don't talk enough about Tom Strong. So happy you took the chance and covered it. Made my morning!
You are so right!! Tom Strong is awesome. It has depth, adventure and fun. It can be serious and lighthearted. DO MORE ABOUT TOM STRONG!
8:43 Mr. Moore may not have a great reverence for superheroes but he sure knows his comics history.
I love the Tom Strong books. Don't be afraid to launch into that big video on the themes, his father, etc. I'd love to hear your takes. I always loved how Tom was such a mix of early comics, pulp heroes, and the whole trope of a super man but everything was just a bit different from what you'd normally expect. I feel like he is one of those characters that is really important and I wish more people knew about him.
Never actually read Tom Strong, but from all you've said, he gives me Venture Bros vibes in the best way (I love that show). So I think I would love Tom Strong as well.
Yay! Tom Strong! Uhhhh never read it or heard of it but so glad to learn about it! Lord I need some optimism in my stories and it's neat that alan moore managed to create something that seems to be the epitome of fun and hope.
I always loved Tom Strong. It had the feel of a mix between Doc Savage and pre-flight Golden Age Superman and you can never go wrong with a robot butler and a talking gorilla. Julius Schwartz taught us the latter. I'd love to hear your take on Top 10. It was my favorite of the ABC comic universe.
I never heard of Tom Strong, but I might look into it. Thanks, Casually Comics!
Tom Strong is a wonderful concept, well executed. Modern comics could certainly benefit from having more of this.
I love Tom Strong. Its been so long since I've even heard anyone talk about him. It's been so long since I've read his stories.
More, give us more Tom Strong, and more Alan Moore videos. I have good memories of reading those stories back in my early twenties. Ahh, nostalgia. This country needs the optimism, courage and joy of those stories now.
ABC was such a great line of comics. Promethea is a mind-blowing work by Alan and JH Williams. Top Ten with Gene Ha and Zander Cannon…just an awesome series full of brilliant Easter eggs (Meester Easter?). Tomorrow Stories had its moments, like Jack B Quick with Kevin Nowlan. And, like the video says, Tom Strong was great.
Me: "Mr. Moore, would you sign my DVD of The Killing Joke? Which part of the Batgirl prologue was your favorite?" 😃
Alan Moore: *"Mad World" begins to play*
I don’t even want to know what sort of poetic insult he’d throw at you in this scenario.
Yes please more on ABC, Tom Strong and Top Ten. I read all those books when they first came out.
I read and loved Tom Strong in his original ABC run, but didn’t know about the appearances in Terrifics. I’d love to watch more videos getting into the depths of Tom’s universe and story. ❤
I absolutely loved this series and never realized the character came back years later. Thanks for covering this!
Tom Strong forever. This "simple" comic showed me as a kid what comics can be outside of superheroes. It took trouples I loved and fused them with science. It continues to impact my work. I will forever pay homage to this series.
I’d love to see you cover more of the Tom Strong material. Where Watchmen seemed to tear down a lot of classic comic book tropes to show how silly they could be is applied to the real world, Tom Strong seemed to be a reaffirmation of why those tropes could be so much fun.
I’d love to see you cover Strong’s relationships with his parents, especially how it was explored when parallel universes became part of the storyline.
Speaking of parallel universes, I think it’d be fun if you explored how Tom Strong became involved with the America’s Best Comics universe of characters and explore how it contrasted with the JLA’s meetings with the JSA.
Plus, any reason to showcase the delightful artwork of Chris Sprouse would be welcome too!
Thank you for such a fun episode!
Hell yeah! I’m always stoked to see Tom Strong getting some love, and I agree with your analysis re: the value in simplicity. I’d love to see more videos diving into the specifics, and I’m excited to explore this channel! Rock on.
You should do some other titles on the ABC imprint, Sasha. I'd love to see you do a deep dive into "Top Ten". That's my particular favorite, one I've read almost all the available material. 👍♥️🙂
Seconded.
I'll 3rd that. I'm not sure if there is an annotated Top 10 book out there but there should be if there isn't. I was going through an old issue of Wizard (#121, Oct 2001) and it had an article on Top 10 with the 10 best references. But outside of the references it was such a fun, well written book that tackled many ideas often deftly, including both gay and lesbian characters. But unlike the hamfisted charactures we get today these were characters with their own personalities who just happen to be gay. Some of their thoughts or decision making would be influenced by their choices, but it didn't define who they are.
Sasha, if you like Tom Strong, may I recommend Planetary? It has many of the same elements , including their takes on pulp, golden and silver age characters. An intriguing read that, while not cancelled, ran for 26 issues with three crossovers. As their tagline says, “It’s a strange world…let’s keep it that way.”
Your love for the golden age is much appreciated! This is something I would never have heard of if not for you. Thanks!
FINALLY! A video on Tom Strong. There aren't enough videos on this great series so it's great to see one talking about it.
Tom Strong is one my Favorite Characters, I always enjoy reading his adventures and always find something new to love when ever I read them. Thanks Sasha for Spotlighting this wonderful character.
I love Tom Strong! Would love more videos on the subject.
SOLD $$$ …I need Tom Strong ( didn’t know it , but now I do) … I Hope you eventually do a video on Shock Gibson The Human Dynamo …Keep Up The Outstanding Work Sasha 🖖🏾
I'm genuinely glad you're covering this character. He's been one of my favorites since I discovered him in my early 20s. More people should get into him.
Tom Strong is WONDERFUL!!!! Also do the other ABC titles including Promethea, Tom 10 and the anthology Tomorrow Stories, or whatever the exact title was. I was managing a comic store at the time and was loving them and reordering ABC titles constantly.
Tom Strong is awesome! Definitely one of my favourite Alan Moore creations.
First off I will absolutely support a reading and analysis of Top 10. The original series is so much fun, it might be the best use of a multi-verse concept. The easter eggs and nods are so fun to find. Gene Ha's art has tons of detail in it that you can get lost in for days.
When I discovered Tom Strong, I absolutely devoured everything I could find. Printed comics, digital comics, online retrospectives--I loved it all.
And a brilliant main character & set of characters. I don't know why I have a soft spot for science heroes (Tom Strong, Doc Savage, Flash Gordon, Adam Strange, and such), but I enjoy leaning into them and their stories.
I enjoyed Tom Strong. I liked that it referenced characters and stories I liked but put its own spin on them. It was nice to see Moore do something a little "lighter". Also, thanks for mentioning Doc Savage. It's always appreciated.
I absolutely love Tom Strong. I found the books in my local library some years back and devoured them. The best thing is, it doesn't really matter what order you read them in.
I had never heard of this series but you’ve peaked my interest and I’m excited to read it
I bought ABC from day 1. Loved every title in differing degrees. Tom Strong was probably my favorite of the ongoing titles. Not only was Tom Strong the character so well written, Moore created one of the best comic book/hero marriages in recent time. Both his wife and daughter had their own agency and yet his portrayal of a loving marriage was second to none. One of my favorite genres for lack of a better word, is the positive, futuristic world of tomorrow or alternate world that might have been. This is one of the best. If you love comics and heroes, pick this up and read at least a couple of issues.
I loved Tom Strong ! It was creative, simple seeming, yet innovative in melding and adapting some comic tropes that might be outdated and even offensive to modern sensibilities, but handled with a deft and creative touch that made the recast material relatable, enjoyable, and satisfying reading.
I like Tom Strong. It's always interesting how Alan Moore's more positive works aren't as popular.
I didn't realize DC owns Tom Strong. I was surprised to see him be mentioned in the terrifics
Jim Lee has funny story about how, only AFTER he sold to DC, someone pointed out to him that that meant he was effectively *forcing* Moore to work with them again, something he vowed he'd never do. Lee personally flew to England to talk it out with him directly, and jokes about how scared he was to see Moore show up with all these sharp looking rings on his fingers! Of course, that's just how Moore rolls...he was fine with the sitch, so long as he did not have to *directly* interact with DC himself!
One of the characters that appeared during the Terrifics that made me immediately go, “who is that?” and I forgot about him again since I stopped reading comics in single issues.
Nice to see this video on him pop up.
One of my first comics was Tom Strong! I loved how zany and wholesome most of his adventures are, and re-reading it now when I’ve read so many golden and silver age comics as well as a lot of Doc Savage, I appreciate it more.
I read the original Tom Strong and loved it! I like simple. As someone who reads a lot of Russian and Victorian lit I love a good Nancy Drew. Same with Tom. It was good, clean fun. Oh and may I say I like the newer, further-away look.
Tom Strong is legit my favorite work by Alan Moore. The pencils my Chris Samnee's pencils were amazing. He reminds me so much of Mike Weringo. I bought every single issue and series where Tom Strong was featured. Just an AMAZING series.
I was so excited to see Tom Strong! When I was a kid our library would get in random trade papers and man when Tom Strong came in what a treat. I loved how he fleshed out his family, and really his entire world. It was like all the best parts of fantastic four and Johnny quest all wrapped into one. It was just serious enough to keep your attention, but light enough to let you escape into that ideal world and go on an adventure with the Strong family. Also, loved that they were a mixed family and that his daughter got to have awesome adventures at a time when it wasn’t flavor of the month and was, despite Moores comments to the contrary, really well thought out.
"Success in the simple is also worthy of celebration." That's so well said! I'm definitely going to quote that in the future.
Tom Strong is one of my favourite characters of all time. We need more Tom Strong and his family.
YES PLEASE! TOP 10 is one of the most overlooked comics ever. Basically NYPD Blue, but super scifi and fantasy! Some of the relationships and stories in there are just amazing.
Yes, I bought every issue of _Tom Strong_ back in the day. It was a terrific combination of throwback superheroes and inventive storylines. I also loved the ever-changing cover logo that reflected the type of story inside.
Tom Strong is extremely underrated! I’ve been reading Alan Moore comics since the early 80’s , he can write short stories or epics! In my opinion,Moore set the bar very high for writing in comics and the results are to our benefit! Tom Strong was absolutely a pleasant surprise along with Top Ten🎯❤️!! I recommend for anyone who really tired of the current bumpercrop of empty uneventful comics to please give Tom Strong and all the ABC comics a look sooner than later! This is what comics can aspire to! 😎👍❤️🎯👋
I like Tom Strong so much that I would love to listen to you do an essay about his relationship with his Father.
I haven’t read a lot of Tom Strong, but I hope to eventually collect the entire series. He also seems to be inspired by the pulp magazines, especially the pulp character Doc Savage.
Loved his Tom Strong series. Writtwn so well and dun in an old fashion way
One of my favorite comics ever by my all-time favorite writer. Agree with your take here and definitely feel like the series is an underappreciated classic
You brought me back to Astro City and your video helped me to give the first 36 issues of Tom Strong a try. I enjoyed this very much, so thank you!
I do think that it's simplicity gives the series its strength and found the ending even more emotional than Moores original world shattering ending in Promethea. Because at the end Tom is for all his references a real character with failings and strengths (no pun intented), that wants to live his life. And he does enjoy it. There's real joy in this comic. Where in other works of Moore it feels more like a phrase, here I believe it. Life is good and Tom Strong enjoiys it, even if it gets dark at times.
My favorite character has to be Paul Saveen though. We learn not much about him, but what we see is enough. It's an art to create an character who is dead for such a long time, but his shadow felt everywhere. Moore was able to create fascvinating villains when he wanted.
I loved hearing about Tom Strong! I never had before. I think Alan Moore is exactly the kind of writer by whom I’d want to read this kind of book. His more deconstructive works have inspired too many copycats for my taste, but that’s hardly his fault, and his work stands head and shoulders above many other attempts. One of the things that made it so masterful was a deep knowledge and understanding of the tropes he was examining. And it seems here too, though from the other side of the mirror. I can’t wait to get a collection! And I would love to hear more from this channel about Tom! What is up with his dad? Or the mad scientist villain?
I've been WAITING for you to review/discuss TOM STRONG. I just got the Compendium for my 50+th birthday, and I've been a fan, since the comic was first published, way back. It's one of the greatest comic book series, ever written.
I was with TOM from the jump, a daft smile on my face as this bright, wondrous world unfolded before my eyes. Moore, Sprouse, et al, brought their individual bits of joy to Tom and his family. TOP 10 would be awesome, but even better would be SMAX. Keep the Casualness comin! 🖖♾
TOM STRONG was, by far, my favorite of the ABC books. I saw traces of Superman, Doc Savage, Tarzan, the Fantastic Four and even Popeye in the series (Think about it: Goloka was the Strong family's spinach!). I enjoyed it as a continuation of the superhero REconstruction that Moore began in SUPREME.
I remember when Image started , AM publicly dissed them as being all sound and fury (his exact metaphor was how the coca leaf can be refined into cocaine, which was Marvel and DC, and then crack, which was Image!); the Image guys responded by basically inviting long time professionals to show them how it was done. Moore, along with Dave Sim, Frank Miller and Neil Gaiman wrote a single issue of one of Image's original line up (this is where Gaiman created Angela for Spawn, which led to...a lot).
Anyway, I *think* this is what made AM return to superheroes to start that reconstruction you mentioned. I think he (and Miller) felt bad that the younger writers seemed to take all the wrong lessons from Watchmen and TDKR, and he, at least, wanted to correct course in comics...
His origin is straight up Doc Savage.
Love Tom Strong! When he returned in the Terrifics the wave of joyful nostalgia was wonderful. I hope you do more Tom Strong videos!
I rarely watch videos on comics as the vast majority seem to be always gushing about the aspects of modern comics that drove me away from being a voracious reader of the medium in the first place. A hero is supposed to be a bearer of the light, however he or she may be personally flawed, not a dark and angry, rage-filled dweller in the darkness. Even Batman is supposed to represent hope for a better future. That's what motivated him in the first place. He may dwell in the darkness, but he fights to shine light upon that darkness. Modern writers seem to have forgotten all of this.
I saw your Tom Strong title and knew I had to watch. Thank you.
I was working a side job in a comic shop when the ABC imprint first came out and Tom Strong immediately caught my eye. In the same way that Sky Captain was a brilliant movie, I saw so many wonderful aspects of the TS story that I was hooked from the first issue. With nods to so many earlier characters - Tarzan, Doc Savage, Tom Swift, Magnus Robot Fighter, Fantastic Four, even to the little known Philip Wylie novel, Gladiator - Tom and his family immediately appealed to me. Even a favourite, The Rocketeer, could have existed in Tom's world and, by that character's stories' extension, The Shadow. Yet Tom was also written with a modern style and feel.
I gave up on comics by the mid-1990s, beaten by the dark and gloomy hopelessness into which most of the industry's stories had fallen. Having been buying well over 100 titles monthly, my only way out was to go cold turkey on all of them. It wasn't easy to say goodbye to Tom and the family Strong but, like Andy off to college, Woody and Buzz were wonderfully fond memories who would stay with me. I sold off the majority of my collection several years ago, making a profit from a reading joy whose only real value to me was in the escape from the real world for a few short minutes. I do miss a lot of my collection, dozens of Golden Age, a few thousand Silver and many thousands of Bronze through to the time I quit. I have no regrets, but I do miss the complex innocence of Tom Strong. He was proof that comics could still be interesting, thought provoking, and just plain fun without the need for excessive violence, intolerance, and overbearing and oppressive darkness. Again, thank you. ♥
Ooooh- this is very exciting! I was clearing up under my bed at the weekend and fund a box full of old comics that I'd forgotten were there. Not too exciting in itself but one of them is a trade paperback of Tom Strong by Alan Moore! I was literally having a quick look at youtube while wondering what to read when I clocked this video. I remember very little of the book having only read it when it came out all those years ago so my decision on what to read in bed tonight is now on the shoulders of this video and therefore your shoulders too, Sasha.
You've never given me a bum steer so far so I trust you. If I follow whatever recommendations you make in this video I'm about to watch though and have a crappy time, then you'll be hearing from my representatives in your area. (In reality that would be my retired landscape gardener cousin, so you needn't fret overly much.)
I'd better get onto watching the vid rather than havering like a blatherskite or I'll be here all night...
I would love a video essay on his dad or anything. I always enjoy your videos obscure or not and this sounds like a run I would really love!
I really loved Tom Strong. Among all the deconstruction its nice when once in a while we get a series that reconstructes and modernises some tropes and adds that nice pulp aesthethics, it was great fun. Also generally nice experience of reading something more laid-back by Moore
I have never heard of Tom Strong before, but I would watch every single video you make about him; his adventures sound fascinating.
He is an incredable character with great stories
I'll be sure to check out Tom Strong since he did make an impact in Terrifics and seeing how much it embraces where the Silver Age went with their stories sounds like a fun read.
You have really sold me on this and I absolutely will check him out! I'd love to hear more about him from you.
I love Tom Strong and his crossover with the Terrifics is about as close to the Doc Savage teaming with the Fantastic Four as I can hope to see.
AND he's on the T-Council with Ted Kord, the Atom and Man Bat. With Tesla!😊
Tom Strong is amazing,i read it month by month when it first came out(along with the other ABC comics)and still return to it(and the others)to this day
I feel like we need more comics like that where we can just have fun with it.
I imagine in the alternate crossover universe where the Tom Strong and his family teaming up with the Fantastic Four, that would be fun to read!
Which's funny that Tom Strong did team-up with a pastiche of Fantastic Four, the Terrifics (remember Dark Matter/New Age of DC Heroes? yeah it was weird line)
First time hearing about Tom Strong. I’ll definitely be diving in to his stories.
I was only vaguely aware of Tom Strong but it sounds up my Alley. I bet I would love it. Getting an Astro City vibe and that's always a good sign.
I've now added it to the wishlist.
I found Tom Strong when I was doing a paper about the Doc Savage pulps. They both have these large than life, science hero feel that I really enjoy. Tom Strong really does feel like a fresh and interesting take on pulps
Oh, please, do more analysis on Tom Strong. I love the idea of it. And seeing you talk about it is delightful. In fact, I think this video is an amazing presentation of the idea of wonder it invokes, since we can see its effect on the way you present it. It was a delight... so, please, more Tom Strong for us!
Everything Alan Moore did with ABC is GOLD. Tom Strong, Top Ten, Promethea, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Tomorrow Stories, SMAX, Forty-Niners, ALL OF IT IS COMPLETE GOLD.
Also his run on Supreme is GOLD GOLD GOLD take it all to the bank because it’s GOLD
Alan Moore's comments about the simplicity in Tom Strong tbh is completely valid.
Tom Strong was, in my opinion, the ideal, of how to treat a character and world with these interconnected features and a living history, in a way that isnt just lore or bookkeeping. It's lived in, it's honest...and turns out, yeah it's easy.
This book was came out in the '99 and into the new Millenium. Why would a mixed couple be groundbreaking? But those fans werent wrong, it was for the medium and thats digraceful.
Aside from that we also had well over 60+ years of comics at this point, Tom Strong plays itself completely straight in a way that puts so many other writers TODAY to shame, in a way Moore just never really did again. Becuase more often then not, playing it straight isnt very interesting in superhero space cause I think most ppl dont know what to do with these ideas past either playing with their toys or appealing to theurge to create fan-brained lore-works.
I like Dick Grayson but most Nightwing comics (all of them, since like day one) arent worth reading, and I might even be generous with that statement, theyre comics that exist to exist and just be "Nightwing comics" over complete competent works.
I always thought of Alan Moore's work on ABC to be his attempt at reconstructing comics, after spending so much time deconstructing them. Tom Strong felt like taking those pulp heroes and ideas that inspired the creation of the superhero and Moore was trying to play with other possibilities could have sprung from those concepts.
My favorite Moore work is From Hell (with Watchmen a close second). My least favorite is the stuff he did for Avatar Press dealing with the Lovecraftian mythos.
I always recommend the whole abc line. Top Ten especially. I always read the horse issue once a year, especially hit harder after my parents death. For me Alan Moore was never about being just dark, he was about doing it all. Tom Strong is a wonderful work that stays with you.
14:57 "Before the RUclips algorithm eats me"
Now I'm picturing RUclips as this giant monster dangling Sasha over its open maw.😂
I collected Tom Strong when it first came out, not sure how many issues I have. He's a great golden age hero, love all the tropes in his books. I will be picking up the compendium you were holding.
I read tom strong up to issue 7 a few months ago and loved it!
Tom Strong is fantastic. I'd love to see more videos on him and related subjects.
I find the series quite reminiscent of Moore's excellent _Supreme_ run, specifically the handling of Silver Age tropes in a manner that's more homage than parody.
Idk if it’s true, but in the episode of JLU “Legends” the character Tom Turbine was supposed to be Tom Strong. And the Timmy character had psychically reanimated him and his team after the Apocalypse from the comics.
I’m glad DC has been reprinting some of these old and forgotten comics through their recent compendiums. I got into both this and Sandman Mystery Theatre because of them.
This video has me so interested in Tom Strong now. Didn't really know about him before, so this was great.
I kinda wish this was one that we discussed on a live stream, the old bookclub streams, where Sasha would take a vote a month or so before so we'd all get a chance to go out and read it. Then have like a 2 hour discussion about it.
That felt so good to me, like really needing out with a community, and it got me to read things I'd never have thought to pick up.
Love the video
he feels more like a pulp hero than a golden age hero