Twilight of Kerberos: The Clockwork King of Orl, Mike Wild (Abaddon Books)
Kali Hooper is a treasure seeker. Beautiful and deadly she tracks down some of the rarest artifacts the Old Races left behind. With her nose for trouble and a horse named Horse she stumbles onto a secret that could lead to the complete annihilation of all life on the planet. Though Kali would like to leave this particular find unfound, the leaders of the Final Faith would like to use the Clockwork King of Orl to subjugate the people. The Anointed Lord has so decreed.
This tale unfolds like a beautiful flower at daybreak. The plot moves along flawlessly with surprises being revealed at just the right moments to spice things up. You can’t help but like (love) Kali and her friends as they journey to stop the waking of the Clockwork King and prevent the eradication of all human life. A mystery, an action-adventure and a magical thriller all bundled up in one, Twilight of Kerberos: The Clockwork King of Orl really brings it to the table. Mike Wild’s offering to Abaddon Books hits a home run and leaves the reader (you and me, that is) waiting for the sequel. Read it or forever regret your paltry excuse for a life.
Jim Dodge Jr.

Tank Girl: Armadillo (And A Bushel Of Other Stories) – Alan C. Martin (Titan Books)
She's rude, crude, and socially unacceptable. I love Tank Girl for those very reasons! Where has this murderous, foul-mouthed vixen been all my life? And why does that shiftless kangaroo Booga deserve her? I don’t know, but I have her now. And she's mine all mine. I'll just have to hope she doesn't kill me in my sleep. I know many of you are wondering where I've been hiding all these years to have missed Tank Girl, but I assure you I've been out in the open. I've heard of Tank Girl; hell they even made a movie (which I've never seen) based on her. Somehow I've just managed to unintentionally avoid reading about her for this long. That's too bad for me. Together with Sub Girl, Jet Girl, Barney, Booga, Jackie, and Zulu Dobson, Tank Girl goes on a shooting rampage in the town of Chankers. Though blowing up a church and killing all of the residents may seem harsh to some (most), this crew of friends does it with glee. Nobody is left standing in their wake, except for those who are unnaturally lucky. And they usually go back and kill them later—when they get bored again or when Booga gets himself kidnapped. Then all bets are off and the bullets fly. I have dedicated my life to crawling out of my hole and finding Tank Girl and her cohorts anywhere I can. This novel is funny and brilliant, and I wish I had come across Alan C. Martin's character years ago. ‘Armadillo’ is a must-read for people who are already fans, and a wonderful introduction for those who soon will be. Do me, Tank Girl!
Jim Dodge Jr.

Tomes of the Dead: The Devil's Plague – Mark Beynon (Abaddon)
Anybody who knows me knows that I LOVE zombie literature, movies, and anything else that is dead-yet-walks. This tendency is finally acceptable due to the brilliance of the Abaddon series ‘Tomes of the Dead.’ Every book is about the cannibalistic undead and their exploits. While not specifically all in the same world, all of the books in this series are about zombies. Some are more aware than others, but they all feast on living flesh. Bon apetit! In ‘The Devil’s Plague’ we follow our heroes as they battle Oliver Cromwell and his devilish minions, the Kryfangan. These evil, insectile creatures demolish Cromwell's enemies and help him to prevent Charles Stuart from reclaiming his rightful place on the throne of the United Kingdom. Stuart and his band fight valiantly but are slowed by the arrival of hordes of ravening undead zombies... who turn out to be their strongest allies. As it turns out, the zombies have come in order to battle the Kryfangan—who are their dire enemies. Who will win? Ambulatory corpses? Giant demonic beetles? You'll have to read the book to find out because I won't tell. As we all know, I love zombies. I also love Abaddon books! Together they make an irresistible blend. Mark Beynon has taken a piece of history, added his own twist and a few zombies, and created a book that is worth reading over and over again. I know I'm proud to be adding this one to my collection.
Jim Dodge Jr.

Twilight of Kerberos: Shadow Mage – Matthew Sprange (Abaddon)
The Final Faith is coming. The Anointed Lord has ordered the deaths of anybody who refuses to come into line under the banners of their religion or that of the Vos Empire. Do you kneel or do you join the handful of people who wish to subvert their power? In ‘Shadow Mage,’ many choose the latter. Lucius Kane, gambler, rogue and magic user, is one of them. Upon his return to his native Turnitia, Lucius decides to make himself comfortable by cheating—magically, of course—at games of chance. While trying to hide his abilities from public view, he is attacked by one of the men he's cheated and a group of his cronies. In order to escape whole, Lucius is forced to display his talent. From this point on, things only build into a bad situation. Until he joins the Night Hands, a guild of thieves, that is. Then it just gets worse. The Hands are a noble gathering of thieves who are bitterly embroiled in a war with another thieves' guild who call themselves the Guild of Coin and Enterprise. Blood is spilled, people die, and both guilds are thrown into disarray. Just for luck, a lot of bad magic and some aquatic monsters are added to the story. ‘Twilight of Kerberos’ promises to be a good series, as do all of the Abaddon series, and ‘Shadow Mage’ really dragged me into this world. Matthew Sprange has already proven himself with a previous Abaddon title, ‘Words of Their Roaring: Death Hulk.’ ‘Shadow Mage’ proves this past success to be no fluke. This man can write!
Jim Dodge Jr.

The Fairer Sex – A Tale Of Shades And Angels Vol 1 - Thomas & Smith (Candle Light Press)
The Fairer Sex – A Tale Of Shades And Angels Vol 2 - Thomas & Smith (Candle Light Press)
Freedom City, Texas, named as ironically as any lawless comic-book milieu you could think of, is not the safest place to live. With murders and violent crimes through the roof, city homicide detectives Tom and Fred have their hands full already; but when the pair are sent to investigate a killing spree in a shopping mall, suddenly everything becomes even more complicated. Perpetuated by a beautiful veiled woman known as the Madonna, it soon becomes obvious that what seemed a random spree was actually a vigilante action, and the victims were far from innocent. An additional twist, in the shape of the mysterious supervillain Fearsome Shade adds to the challenge to the sharp, grizzled detectives.
John Ira Thomas and Jeremy Smith have created a gritty, violent world in which to set “The Fairer Sex”, populated it with characters both realistic and fantastic and in the process created a comic series as powerful as it is enthralling. The scripting is keen, the storylines compelling and the illustration absolutely cutting edge. With a few shades of Frank Millers “Sin City”, but ultimately an identity all of its own, this fast paced, intelligent tale is as intense and enjoyable as any comic series I have read in years. Volumes one and two have now been compiled into (separately available) graphic novels, and I will be moving heaven and earth to lay my hands on volume 3 to find out how the tale continues. Dark, sophisticated and contemporary, the creators have set their bar high, and I expect to keep a watch out for their future endeavours.
EDDIE THOMAS.

The Prince Of The Shadow Warriors (Russell Pennwright, AuthorHouse 2007).
Korihu Kawashima leaves his ninja clan and moves to America in search of a new life, but is forced to fight once again when war breaks out between the ninja sects… This first time novel on a small press label is an enjoyably trashy read that takes a well-worn theme and runs with it. It reminds me of the kind of pulpy action books that I used to read in the 80s and would sit well alongside the likes of King Kung Fu or The Destroyer. It also comes across as the literary equivalent of the sort of movie that Golan-Globus once specialised in, the kind that starred Sho Kosugi and his hit ‘n’ miss English (sample: “I hate all this boo-cratic boo-sheet”) in the lead role. A fun way to kill an hour.
Liam Ronan

Tomes of the Dead, The Words of Their Roaring - Matthew Smith (Abaddon Books)
Guys and ghouls, put down that corpse you're chewing on and pick up Matthew Smith's newest offering, The Words of Their Roaring! Zombie literature has a great new chapter with this addition to the Tomes of the Dead series. Here we find London overrun by the shambling dead and being run by unscrupulous criminal bosses who eliminate the living and the undead alike to achieve their immoral aims. Funded by the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Gannon and his staff of scientists discover a virus that reanimates dead bodies in the hopes to create an army of undead soldiers thereby decreasing the loss of human life in times of war. As can be expected the virus escapes into the general populace and wreaks havoc. Instead of the usual day-to-day survivor bit, however, we witness the attempts of underground crime lords to overthrow their enemies and control all of London. Plans go awry, people are killed and as they resurrect a new legion of zombies emerges; self-aware and mercilessly hungry for human flesh. Though this story contains a lot of ideas borrowed from George Romero's zombie movies (and what zombie literature doesn't?) Matthew Smith has added some truly new plots and sub-plots to the genre. At first I was bothered by the striking similarity of some of the situations I was eventually overcome by the sheer fun of reading this book. If you're an anal-retentive fan who likes to pick over every story with a fine-toothed comb this 338 page novel is probably not for you and will very likely only piss you off. If you're like me, laid back with a desire to enjoy almost everything, you'll love this book! Abaddon has my attention and I'll definitely be willing to read more Tomes of the Dead.
Jim Dodge Jr.


Terra Obscura (From The Pages Of Tom Strong) : Books 1 & 2 – Alan Moore, Peter Hogan, Yanick Paquette & Karl Story (America’s Best Comics / Titan Books) Available separately
You know what? He’s only gone and done it again. Bloody Alan Moore…one day, I swear, I’ll come across a book by the man, that isn’t quite up to standard (only reaches the parts that maybe Frank Miller or Grant Morrison can…), and the thought of that one day fills me with both anticipation and horror. Thankfully though, that day hasn’t arrived, and judging by the strength of his most recent work, that day won’t arrive for a very long time. On to Terra Obscura…the alternative world story for the Tom Strong universe, with the title referring to the mirror Earth discovered by Tom Strong on the opposite side of the Milky Way, a world protected by his mirror, the equally heroic and all powerful, Tom Strange. Rather than spend a couple of issues setting the story up, we’re plunged straight into the action in Terra Obscura, a world whose Science Hero’s were exiled in suspended animation for thirty years during the alien invasion, w world set free by it's science hero’s, whom upon their return, defeated the alien, and following the deaths of several of it’s members in the ensuing battle, S.M.A.S.H, a group of hero’s for the ages, disbanded. The action in Book One, starts three years later as S.M.A.S.H are forced to reunite in order to battle the latest global scale threat, in which a mysterious, expanding force is slowly draining the planet of it’s electrical power, shutting down all technology in it’s wake. As with all of Moore’s work, death isn’t the end, and the members of S.M.A.S.H , both living and dead (returning as artificial intelligence and spirit), are once again forced to battle the mystical which seeks to defeat through conquest the encroaching threat of scientific dominance…phew! Along the way, we’re plunged headlong into the complex and fascinating relationships that exist between the members of the group and those around them (exploring love, death, mourning, the meaning of friendship and loss), whilst all the time being teased by the mirror history of Terra Obscura (and some of the touches, are just so sweet, so divine, for instance...Nah, found out for yourself, damn, I love alternate histories…), and having the whole thing tied together through Egyptian history…what more could you ask for? Just when I thought all the thrills were over, I’m plunged into book two, with the encroaching threat of scientific dominance coming ever closer, whilst the planet is plunged into chaos by time anomalies that keep getting worse and worse (imagine what would happen if the Enola Gay made another bombing run…), and to top it all off, a mysterious object has appeared on the edge of the solar system which may or may not herald the return of Terra Obscura’s greatest hero’s, and may or not be responsible for plunging the planet into chronological doom. Again, it’s Tom Strange and S.M.A.S.H to the rescue, who are once more dealing with all the everyday human preoccupations, whilst trying to defend the world. Seriously folks, both Moore and Hogan are on top form as they lead you, drooling, begging for more, from one frame to the next, you know the end has to come, but you pray that it doesn't...You don’t want it to end, and with everything captured by the incredibly intricate, detailed artwork that brings Terra Obscura to life, courtesy of Yanick Paquette and Karl Story, part of you wishes that it would last forever, that it really wouldn’t end. I’m actually pissed off that I’ve finished reading the books, which can only mean one thing. Roll on Book Three, I need to read more…
Tim Mass Movement

The Fall Of Never - Ronald Damien Malfi (Raw Dog Screaming Press)
RDM is a writer who knows how to scare you – he certainly scared me and I write intense horror myself. This is a second novel, obviously structured on a 3-act narrative the same as a feature-length screenplay and it is clear RDM intends it to be a calling card to the movie business. Much of the book is taut and crisp and the absence of too many characters, situations and settings focuses the story into its essence: a voyage of self-discovery and metamorphosis into maturity for the main character Kelly Rich/Kellow. RDM generally succeeds very well at it and brings in some harsh, genuine scares as well, although my personal feeling as a reader is that RDM could have halved the length of the book and still had a very authentic horror/psychological novel with a better pace and story flow. There is a real sense of mystery and a complicated puzzle to be solved for Kelly and although it’s not completely surprising or shocking when resolved, there is an intensity which makes the read satisfying. Kelly Rich/Kellow is a young woman in New York trying to make an independent documentary about assorted disabled people when her past and supernatural intrusions start to warp her world out of shape. Soon she goes back to a long-abandoned home where her sister, eight years younger, lies in a coma after a mysterious attack. This kicks off a series of complicated events that force Kelly to re-explore her past, admit a destructive psychic power latent within her and the evil half-living entity she has created with it that has now grown strong enough to maim and kill those in the vicinity of her former home – a home itself clearly haunted and evil in some unexplained sense. RDM is great at describing the claustrophobic fear of Kelly as she gradually learns and remembers more about her terrifying and traumatic past, but less so about the whys or how she has managed to stabilise her apparently normal life afterwards without coherent memories. In most people this kind of trauma-suppression would become a neurotic or fully psychotic condition but Kelly convincingly overcomes things and takes on the genuinely frightening ectoplasmic extension of herself she ‘gave birth’ to many years ago before being institutionalised by her parents after a series of uncontrollable psycho-kinetic episodes. Despite the action being not-too-effectively divided between her acquaintances in New York trying to psionically help out and the grim prewinter setting of upstate NY where her past violently collides with id demon-threatened present, the resolution is good and RDM ties up all the loose ends effectively; particularly with one minor character whose role is not what a usual shocker novel would employ. RDM understands the best lesson of ‘less is more’ here. The real test of a good horror novel or any good novel is ‘do you care?’ I did find myself caring about RDM’s main and supporting characters. All of them had life in them and their own voices. The monster Kelly creates and leaves to grow in her absence is nasty but nothing new; the situation owes a lot to movies like ‘The Exorcist’ (which Malfi himself admits in the story), ‘The Changeling’ and the truly scary film adaptation of James Herbert’s ‘The Haunted’ directed by Lewis Gilbert. Despite this I genuinely enjoyed and got involved with the story. RDM doesn’t need to imitate, has real talent and I look forward to his next!
Edward St.Boniface
(www.freewebs.com/bultituded)

The Killers – Vagabonds And Victims – Jimmy Ramsay (Independent Music Press)
This book baffled me to start off with for a few reasons. Firstly why was the PR people sending us a book on the Killers as we don't usually cover this type of chart pop music and secondly how the hell can you write a book about a band that have had one album out and are new to the popular music world. There is not much about his Las Vegas residing band to write about yet surely? Honestly, give it a few years and album before you print a book by them. I gave it a go anyway and must say that I was bored senseless and couldn't wait to finish it. Informative it may be but I still find it hard to enjoy a book about them and after only 1 album. Killers fans may enjoy it but don't be surprised when it's over in a few hours.
Pete

The Scrounge Wuz Here (Candlelight Press)
Written by Will Grant (sadly I am not familiar with his work) this one reminded me art wise of the Freak Brothers style from the 90's and I enjoyed that style back in the day. This is a collection of 25 episodes of a buck toothed little guy struggling to survive and make it in the big city. Some of the episodes were a bit hard to grasp and get into but most of them flowed well and had me gripped from start to end. Worth checking out and a great read.
Pete

Tomorrow Stories Books 1 & 2 – Alan Moore (Writer), Kevin Nowlan, Rick Veitch, Jim Baikie, Melinda Gebbiem Hilary Barta, Dame Darcy & Joyce Chin (America’s Best Comics / Titan Books)
There are times, when, in all honesty, a book crosses your path the you have to keep going back to, time and time again, and folks, “Tomorrow Stories” is one of those books. Well, actually, two…but who’s counting, right? Once again, Alan Moore has excelled himself with bold characterisation, and decidedly strange tales, in which the characters are taken out of the normal context that you’d expect to find them in, and flung head long into some of the strangest adventures ever conceived by a writer. Where else would you find a hero taken from the height of thirties pulp detective fiction (The Greyshirt) facing off against an army of nazi cockroaches? Where else would you find a egomaniacal boy genius born into the Midwestern US framing belt (Jack B. Quick) traversing time thanks to a pair of uranium powered, alarm clock driven shoes? Or the female equivalent of The Shadow / The Spider (The Cobweb) discovering a lost tribe of New Jersey housewives in the deepest, darkest jungle? Or super hero’s composed of comic ink (Splash Brannigan), trapped like a Djinn in a bottle? And that’s before we even get to The First American and his ever faithful sidekick the US Angel, the genetically modified, completely incompetent and arrogant to a fault hero for the now generation…As ever,. Moore’s stories are nothing short of thought provoking and often laugh out loud funny, whilst retaining a seriously satirical edge. His choice of artists is always spot on, as each brings the individual character and their supporting cast vividly to life, placing the reader in the centre of each and every tale. Looking for something a little different? Something a little “out there” that’ll keep you riveted and won’t let up for a moment? Then, people, the “Tomorrow Stories” are the books for you. Both weird and wonderful, and always thoroughly enjoyable…
Tim Mass Movement

Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales Book 2: Alan Moore, Steve Moore, Arthur Adams, Alan Weiss, Chris Weston and more…(America’s Best Comics / Titan Books)
…And I thought Alan Moore had reached a creative zenith with both “Watchmen” and “The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen”. Obviously, I was wrong. Very wrong. Tom Strong is possibly Moore’s finest creation. A hero straight from the pages of the pulp magazines, re-imagined for the twenty-first century. A mortal whose destiny was engineered by his father in order to create the perfect human. “Terrific Tales” recounts the adventures and trials of the Young Tom Strong, growing and learning, and eventually leaving the island of Attabar Teru. Although Strong is Moore’s creation, he’s handed the reigns - and Strong’s early life - over to Steve Moore (nope, no relation), who’s creates a tale of wonder, heartache, tragedy and joy whilst also managing to create a sense of realism in a story far removed from reality. The creation and history of Millennium City for instance, shot through with Steam punk ideology, a plethora of references and the occasional nod and sly wink to early twentieth century US history and a healthy dose of black humour makes this work incredibly well. Almost too well. And the artwork…. mind blowing. The realism and emotion that each panel captures…And when you top that off with the continuing adventures of Jonni Future (also written by Steven Moore – the man is a bloody revelation, and I’m puzzled as to why I haven’t heard of this fellow? I mean, c’mon, when you’re this good, how long can you stay “underground”), niece and heir to Johnny Future, a sort of arse kicking Barberella, who along with Para-man (half man, half panther, who I suspect owes a little to Alex Raymond’s “Lion Men Of Mongo”, but no matter…) companion Jermaal, hops through time and space, tracking the stolen moon, battling ancient suicide cults and saving the world from cyber-cancer infestation…again, the adventures of Jonni Future are brought well and truly to life by the simply stunning artwork of Arthur Adams and Chris Weston. Can it get any better? Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the Alan Moore scripted adventures of Tom Strong – from the dream sequence / fairy take poetry (oh, Lewis Carrol, there’s a challenger to the “Walrus And The Carpenter”) of the toddler Strong, through to the Tom Strong ode to “Wacky Races” and “Scooby Doo”, through to the Tom Strong retired in the suburbs facing the reality of retired life and all it’s woes, Moore is on top form, showcasing his wicked sense of humour as he plunges his creation headlong through all manner of strange tales. I honestly thought that hero’s like Tom Strong didn’t exist anymore, and I almost wept for joy when this book came into my life…almost, as my sense of pure, unadulterated joy overcame everything else. Alan Moore may be the name who sells Tom Strong’s Terrfic Tales, but everyone who reads it, will stay for Steven Moore. I think I’ve just re-discovered my lost youth, except this time, I’m actually happy…
Tim Mass Movement

Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales: Book One – Alan Moore, Steve Moore, Arthur Adams, Sergio Aragones, Jaime Hernandez, Leah Moore, Jerry Ordway, Jason Pearson, Paul Rivoche, Alan Weiss (America’s Best Comics / Titan Books)
Has the whole review process been flipped on its head? The victim of some nefarious scheme by arch science villain Paul Saveen? Could be, in one of the alternate worlds that exist in the limitless imagination of Alan Moore, but realistically, in the here and now? No. It’s merely circumstance the order in which something arrives, and thus the order in which it’s read and then reviewed. Hopefully this explains, why the review for Book Two appears before the review for Book One…I could spend an eternity explaining why you should read anything and everything related to Tom Strong, I could spend just as long explaining why “Terrific Tales” has suddenly become such an important part of my literary world; the sumptuous art of Arthur Adam’s which so gloriously breathes extra life into the already incredibly detailed fables of Jonni Future (Book One including the fabulous tale of her origin)m the retro-pulp fantasies of Tom Strong, and the boys own adventures of Young Tom Strong, all displayed in vivid colour, the artwork (courtesy of Paul Rivoce and Alan Weiss) leaving little to individual imagination, that often leaves you asking more questions than could ever be dreamed of, opening an endless sea of possibilities for Tom Strong and his family….the interludes featuring Tesla Strong and King Solomon, which whilst funny, and based on the everyday, can be related to by each and every reader, drawing as they do on basic human experience… I could indeed, try to convey how much the world of Tom Strong has come to mean to me, so quickly, the advent of Science Hero’s and Science villains, placing the acquisition and utilisation of powers beyond comprehension in a firm, but believable context (and for everything else there’s magic, which helps re-capture the excitement and innocence of lost youth – wouldn’t you love to be able to believe in magic again? Oh, the possibilities such belief would create…), the recreation of pulp hero’s and adventures of a time past whilst making the relevant for the bitter, cynical twenty first century of man’s recorded history...I honestly wish I could convey it, I do. But words alone, would fail me. Failing all else, forgetting all other titles, if I was forced to place my hand on my heart and recommend that you read, or follow the exploits of one Hero, it would be, beyond any shadow of a doubt, Tom Strong. I’ve tasted the future, and the future is good…
Tim Mass Movement

Tom Strong: Book Three – Alan Moore, Chris Sprouse, Karl Story, Howard Chaykin, Shawn McManus, Leah Moore (America’s Best Comics / Titan Books)
Once again, I’m plunged headlong (and more than willingly) into the world of Tom Strong…So, this time, it’s 2001, and Tom isn’t looking half bad for a one hundred and one / two year old, and once again, it’s straight back into the action as Tom, his wife and daughter, Pneuman (the original robot butler, manservant, companion, call “him” what you will) and King Solomon (Strong’s intelligent, genetically engineered ape sidekick) face the imminent threat of an alien invasion, and whilst getting ready for a pre-emptive strike, add further members to the team…Val Var Garm, the king of the Salamanders (a race of subterranean…well, lava folk) who gives up his throne for the love of Tesla (Tom’s sixty something year old daughter), The Modular Man (you have to see this guy to believe him!) and The Weird Rider, a hero in the vein of The Lone Ranger from the Old West, who was abducted and altered by aliens in order to serve as their slave…And thus into battle they ride, along with the Strongmen (members of the Tom Strong fan club!), to wage war against the insect invaders from the stars. Once again, a top notch script from Alan Moore keeps the pace at nothing less than critical velocity, whilst Chris Sprouse’s artwork is a joy to behold. Pure reading pleasure, I’m convinced that given time, Tom Strong is going is going to end up becoming not only a cult phenomena, but is also going to cross over into the mainstream – Tom Strong coffee mugs? I’m counting the days…But that’s not all folks! Just when you’re coming down from the thrill ride of the main feature, the, what would have been known as a B-feature in the grand old days (although, all too frequently, the B-feature outclassed the A) kicks in, as Leah Moore guides us through the ultimate fate of Paul Saveen (Tom Strong’s nemesis), what realign happens when a hero is drawn (quite literally) into the world of comics, and the ultimate feminist death squad facing off against our eponymous hero…And it’s all bloody brilliant! Damn, I’m gonna re-read book three…again.
Tim Mass Movement

Tom Strong : Books Two & Four – Alan Moore, Peter Hogan, Chris Sprouse, Alan Weiss, Paul Chadwick, Gary Gianni, Russ Heath, Kyle Baker, Pete Poplaski, Hilary Barta, Geoff Johns, Jerry Ordway, Karl Story & John Paul Leon (America’s Best Comics / Titan Books) Both Available Seperately
Reviewing both books together? Out of linear progression? Yeah, seems odd doesn’t it? But bear with me, as there is a perfectly good reason for doing so…You see, I figure that by now, any and al of you have reached the point of saturation as far as yours truly waxing superlative about Moore’s creation Tom Strong is concerned. I honesty, couldn’t say anything about both volumes that I haven’t already said. Both are compulsory reading, the artwork in both, courtesy of Chris Sprouse etc. maintains that incredible retro-modernist feel, that brings the best of al worlds (this and any alternate one you could imagine) together, and in the process, the characters become so life like (thanks in no small part to the dialogue and stories), that you could almost be inside each and every story, the colours so sharp that again, you could almost be a first hand observer instead of a reader, feeling every blow, hearing every footfall and reaching out to touch every incredible machine that graces the pages of Tom Strong…and so, the only way I can do each of these books justice, is in the following way… Book Two: In which Tom and Solomon discover the inhabitants of The Devils Footstool, the Old West Abductee’s who go on to play a vital role in Book Three, in which the Family Strong expands across multiple dimensions as Tesla encounters numerous versions of herself, al different, yet the same, in which we encounter Warren Strong for the first time, the Funnyland / Looney Tunes incarnation of Tom Strong, where Tom, Young Tom and Warren battle the Paul Saveen’s from the ages at the end of time for the chronological control of destiny (and the guardian of time, a man who bears an incredible resemblance to a certain American Science Hero is introduced), and the events that lead up to Terra Obscura unfold before the readers eyes. All this, and so much more… Book Four: Wherein the age-old question of “What if” is explored to it’s fullest…What if you’d turned left instead of right? What if you’d waited just a minute longer? What would have happened? In Moore’s universe, the smallest of pauses has the grandest of effects, chaos theory taken to its ultimate end. The pause that gives rise to Tom Stone and creates a world free of Science Villains, in which the Strong's greatest foe, Paul Saveen becomes Stone’s greatest ally, and arguably the greatest science hero on this or any world. But as with everything, with paradise comes purgatory, and destiny and what it means for each and everyone of us brings the new Eden crashing down on it’s creators. Where Tom’s past adventures on the Moon finally catch up with him, a past love returns to set up future adventures and in which Moore asks if we can really trust our senses and how we interpret the information the deliver, and the concept of karma and the individual is obliterated and the rebuilt. And that’s where my problem lies – how can I recommend a single volume when they’re all consistently absorbing and so far ahead of anything else in the field? I can’t...it’s impossible. Time to start saving those pennies and enter the word of Tom Strong. Once you enter, I guarantee that you won’t want to leave…Ever.
Tim Mass Movement