Tom Strong is an American comic book series created by writer Alan Moore and artist Chris Sprouse, initially published bi-monthly by America's Best Comics, an imprint of DC Comics' Wildstorm division. Tom Strong, the title character, is a "science hero", with a wife, Dhalua, and a daughter, Tesla, both with enhanced physical and mental abilities and longevity. He lives in a building called The Stronghold in Millennium City. He is also helped by Pneuman, a steam-powered robot, and King Solomon, a gorilla with human characteristics. His greatest foe is tuxedo-clad "science villain" Paul Saveen. The series explores many different timelines and universes, which are a nod to different comic genres. The primary characters are tributes to and spoofs of early pulp heroes. Spin-offs include Tom Strong's Terrific Tales, Terra Obscura, and the one-shot The Many Worlds of Tesla Strong. A limited series titled Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril was published in 2013 by Vertigo. Tom Strong appears in The Terrifics, a DC Comics series about a group of the same name formed by Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Plastic Man and Phantom Girl.

Fictional character biography

Tom is reared in a high-gravity chamber and given an intensive education by his eccentric scientist parents on the fictional West Indian island of Attabar Teru. His upbringing, plus ingesting a root used by the natives of the island for health and long life, makes him nearly physically and mentally perfect. Though born at the dawn of the 20th century, by the year 2000 he looks as if he is only in his 40s. Tom Strong frequently has adventures alongside his younger self. There is also a parallel cartoon universe where a talking bunny is a version of Tom Strong, as well as a Western universe, and even "Tom Teen", where characters are similar to those from Archie Comics.

Powers and abilities

Tom Strong has super-strength and is an inventive genius. Strong maintains his physical health and longevity through the regular consumption of a mysterious herb called Goloka Root. He is an explorer with vast personal wealth and has contributed greatly to the technology available in Millennium City.

Publication history

Issues #1–7

The following issues are collected in Tom Strong: Book One: Tom Strong #1 – How Tom Strong Got Started (7 April 1999) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse i: Alan Gordon c: Tad Ehrlich Tom Strong #2 – Return of the Modular Man (12 May 1999) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse i: Alan Gordon c: Tad Ehrlich Tom Strong #3 – Aztech Nights (8 July 1999) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse i: Alan Gordon c: Tad Ehrlich Tom Strong #4 – Swastika Girls! (1 September 1999) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse, Art Adams (untold tale) i: Alan Gordon c: Tad Ehrlich Tom Strong #5 – Memories of Pangaea, Escape from Eden! (13 October 1999) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse, Jerry Ordway (untold tale) i: Alan Gordon c: Tad Ehrlich Tom Strong #6 – Dead Man's Hand, The Big Heat? (29 December 1999) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse, Dave Gibbons (untold tale) i: Alan Gordon, Dave Gibbons c: Mike Garcia Tom Strong #7 – Sons and Heirs, Showdown in the Shimmering City (1 March 2000) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse, Gary Frank (untold tale) i: Alan Gordon, Cam Smith c: Mike Garcia

Issues #8–14

The following issues are collected in Tom Strong: Book Two: Tom Strong #8 – Riders of the Lost Mesa; The Old Skool!; Sparks (17 May 2000) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse, Alan Weiss i: Alan Gordon, Alan Weiss c: Wildstorm FX, Mike Garcia Tom Strong #9 – Terror Temple of Tayasal; Volcano Dreams; Flip Attitude! (19 July 2000) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse, Paul Chadwick i: Alan Gordon, Paul Chadwick c: Matt Hollingsworth Tom Strong #10 – Tom Strong and his Phantom Autogyro; Funnyland!; Too Many Teslas? (20 September 2000) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse, Gary Gianni i: Alan Gordon, Gary Gianni c: Matt Hollingsworth Tom Strong #11 – Strange Reunion (20 December 2000) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse i: Alan Gordon c: Matt Hollingsworth, David Baron Tom Strong #12 – Terror on Terra Obscura! (18 April 2001) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse i: Alan Gordon c: Matt Hollingsworth Tom Strong #13 – The Tower at Time's End! (16 May 2001) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse, Kyle Baker, Russ Heath, Pete Poplaski i: Alan Gordon c: Matt Hollingsworth Tom Strong #14 – Space Family Strong; The Land of Heart's Desire!; Baubles of the Brain Bazaar! (8 August 2001) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse, Hilary Barta i: Alan Gordon, Hilary Barta c: Matt Hollingsworth

Issues #15–19

The following issues are collected in Tom Strong: Book Three: Tom Strong #15 – Ring Of Fire! (4 January 2002) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse i: Karl Story c: Matt Hollingsworth Tom Strong #16 – Some Call Him The Space Cowboy (27 February 2002) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse i: Karl Story c: Alex Sinclair Tom Strong #17 – Ant Fugue! (3 July 2002) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse i: Karl Story c: Alex Sinclair Tom Strong #18 – The Last Roundup (30 October 2002) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse i: Karl Story c: Dave Stewart Tom Strong #19 – Electric Ladyland!; Bad To The Bone; The Hero-Hoard Of Horatio Hogg! (19 February 2003) w: Alan Moore, Leah Moore p: Chris Sprouse, Howard Chaykin, Shawn McManus i: Karl Story, Howard Chaykin, Steve Mitchell c: Dave Stewart

Issues #20–25

The following issues are collected in Tom Strong: Book Four: Tom Strong #20 – How Tom Stone Got Started: Chapter One (23 April 2003) w: Alan Moore p: Jerry Ordway i: Karl Story c: Dave Stewart Tom Strong #21 – How Tom Stone Got Started: Chapter Two – Strongmen In Silvertime (20 August 2003) w: Alan Moore p: Jerry Ordway i: Trevor Scott, Karl Story, Richard Friend c: Wildstorm FX Tom Strong #22 – How Tom Stone Got Started: Chapter Three – Crisis In Infinite Hearts (8 October 2003) w: Alan Moore p: Jerry Ordway i: Jerry Ordway, Sandra Hope, Richard Friend c: Dave Stewart Tom Strong #23 – Moonday (12 November 2003) w: Peter Hogan p: Chris Sprouse i: Karl Story, John Dell c: Dave Stewart Tom Strong #24 – Snow Queen (2 January 2004) w: Peter Hogan p: Chris Sprouse i: Karl Story, John Dell c: Dave Stewart Tom Strong #25 – Tom Strong's Pal, Wally Willoughby (25 February 2004) w: Geoff Johns p: John Paul Leon i: John Paul Leon c: Dave Stewart

Issues #26–30

The following issues are collected in Tom Strong: Book Five: Tom Strong #26 – The Day Tom Strong Renegotiated the Friendly Skies (5 May 2004) w: Mark Schultz p: Pasqual Ferry i: Pascual Ferry c: Wendy Fouts, Carrie Strachan Tom Strong #27 – Jenny Panic and the Bible of Dreams (8 July 2004) w: Steve Aylett p: Shawn McManus i: Shawn McManus c: Wildstorm FX Tom Strong #28 – A Fire in His Belly (22 September 2004) w: Brian K. Vaughan p: Peter Snejberg c: Wildstorm FX Tom Strong #29 – The Terrible True Life of Tom Strong, Part 1 (13 October 2004) w: Ed Brubaker p: Duncan Fegredo i: Duncan Fegredo c: Carrie Strachan Tom Strong #30 – The Terrible True Life of Tom Strong, Part 2 (29 December 2004) w: Ed Brubaker p: Duncan Fegredo i: Duncan Fegredo c: Michelle Madsen

Issues #31–36

The following issues are collected in the final volume Tom Strong: Book Six: Tom Strong #31 – The Black Blade of the Barbary Coast, Part 1 (16 February 2005) w: Michael Moorcock p: Jerry Ordway i: Jerry Ordway c: Michelle Madsen Tom Strong #32 – The Black Blade of the Barbary Coast, Part 2 (13 April 2005) w: Michael Moorcock p: Jerry Ordway i: Jerry Ordway c: Michelle Madsen Tom Strong #33 – The Journey Within (8 June 2005) w: Joe Casey p: Ben Oliver i: Ben Oliver c: Joe Mettler Tom Strong #34 – The Spires of Samakhara (31 August 2005) w: Steve Moore p: Paul Gulacy i: Jimmy Palmiotti c: Michelle Madsen Tom Strong #35 – Cold Calling (2 November 2005) w: Peter Hogan p: Chris Sprouse i: Karl Story Tom Strong #36 – Tom Strong at the End of the World (8 March 2006) w: Alan Moore p: Chris Sprouse i: Karl Story c: José Villarrubia

Additional appearances

Tom Strong's Terrific Tales

Tom Strong's Terrific Tales was an anthology spin-off from the parent title. It usually featured three regular stories in each issue: The series ran for twelve issues, and would be sporadically published over the space of a couple of years. Stories of note include:

Limited series

In 2010, Peter Hogan and Chris Sprouse produced the six-issue series Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom, followed by six-issue story Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril in 2013.

Collected editions

The Tom Strong series been collected into individual volumes: The short story Skull & Bones, the 64-page story The Many Worlds of Tesla Strong and the original one-page cameo from the ABC Preview are collected in: Limited series

Awards

The story "How Tom Strong Got Started" in Tom Strong #1 was a top vote-getter for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Story for 2000.