Sandman Mystery Theatre #1

Written by: Matt Wagner

Art by: Guy Davis

Imagine, if you will, it's 1938 in New York - prohibition was lifted 5 years ago, jazz clubs are everywhere, Action Comics #1 just came out - and a man calling himself the Tarantula is kidnapping young girls. Who will save the city with a blend of wit, sleeping gas and...origami? That's right, the Sandman will.

In this first issue of Sandman Mystery Theatre, the key players in the drama are introduced: Wesley Dodds (a rich, aloof spectacle-wearing introvert), Lawrence Belmont (district attorney) and Dian Belmont (well-off socialite daughter of Lawrence). The issue begins with Dian and her friend Catherine having drinks at a club in Harlem; they stay out all night and share a cab home. What Dian doesn't know is that her father had a rather strange visitor that same night - the Sandman.

Dian and Lawrence head to a library fund raiser and meet up with Wesley, who is newly returned to New york after the death of his father. Dian is intrigued with Wesley's non-interest in her. Before they really have a chance to talk, Lawrence tells Dian they need to leave -Catherine has been kidnapped.

Insert scene of impaled girl on fire escape and...

...Wesley heads home, cuts to scenes of a tucked in doll, weird science experiments and then to the police station. Here, Dian waits for her father and any word on her friend Catherine. Some clumsy cop spills coffee on her and she heads to the lady's room where she comes face to face with the Sandman.

To be continued...

I really like this series. Matt Wagner is a great writer; he knows how to build the suspense. That's where the charm of this series comes form. There and Guy Davis's artwork - it's kind of inked sketches. Not polished at all, no huge muscles or big boobs - just realistic people and realistic gore. This is a horror / mystery book dressed as a superhero book; all together a nice blend of the genres.

The first half of this series is really easy to find - it gets a but tougher past issue 36 (that's where my collection ends...for now). More on this series as the days go by. Until tomorrow - happy reading.

Tom Strong #12

Written by: Alan Moore

Art by: Chris Sprouse

So, the end of last issue found Tom Strong and Tom 'Doc' Strange orbiting Terra Obscura. They gawk, open jawed, at an alien monstrosity boring into the surface of the planet. What do the two strongest and smartest men in the ABC universe do?

They call in reinforcements.

'Doc' leases the hypersaucer to save his fellow S.M.A.S.H members get out of the time loop orbit they've stuck in and Tom brings everyone up to speed. The heroes have been in stasis for 30 years and have no clue what is going on. One of their own, the Terror, fell in combat against the alien and Tom has the tough job of letting the Terror's side-kick know about his mentor's death. Here we learn of the Terror's final project: a digitized version of himself contained in hard light projectors.

With a newly revived Terror in tow, S.M.A.S.H heads toward the South Pole to take on the alien. The Terror is able to enter the alien's brain and drive him into the sun.

This is a satisfying ending to a nice story - a bit heavy handed on the secondary characters, but it does give a feel that there is more to come from the world of Terra Obscura. Chris's art is perfect, as usual. Though Tom and 'Doc' look very similar, there isn't a panel where I couldn't tell them apart. And the reappearance of the Terror is one of the best panels on the series.

I think this is a good stopping point for Tom Strong - we'll revisit him again. Who knows what I'll feel like reading tomorrow. Until I decide - happy reading.

Tom Strong #11

Written by: Alan Moore

Art by: Chris Sprouse

After a couple of anthology issues, Tom Strong is back with an issue (or 2) long story about a distant planet that resembles our own - but things there aren't quite the way they should be.

The issue opens with a meteor crash; Tom is on the scene and quickly finds out it's no meteor that crash in the center of Millennium City - it's Tom Strange (Terra Obscura's version of Tom Strong). Tom Strange, or Doc as he likes to be called, ran across the entire Milky Way to reach Earth and Tom Strong because his home is in danger. Apparently, a meteor hit Terra Obscura in its formative years that housed a giant alien being. It attacked Terra Obcura and S.M.A.S.H ( the Society of Major American Science Heroes) was defeated. Doc escaped and ran for 30 years to get help.

Tom and Doc suit up the Hypersaucer and head for Terra Obscura; along the way Tom talks about "ghost particles" and Golden Age comics. They finally reach Doc's world and find the fallen Science Heroes trapped in orbit and the invader mining away at the South Pole.

To be continued...

Now this is a comic book adventure. Alan Moore asks the reader to let him take the reigns and is treated to one heck of a ride. No guns, no anti-heroes, no multi-part, dollar sucking crossovers. Just science fiction pulp at its best. Chris's art is stunning as always. This issue and the one that follows put Tom Strong on my list of all time favorite comic series. This story is like fresh squeezed orange juice - pulpy and refreshing.

Go buy it - until tomorrow, happy reading.

Tom Strong #10

Written by: Alan Moore

Art by: see below

Three more short adventures in Millennium City with Tom Strong.

Tom Strong and his Phantom Autogyro - Gary Gianni

Tom ventures into the realm of the dead to learn a bit more about his parents - but the past is often better left dead. A good little tale that sheds a bit more light on the relationship between Tom's mother and Father. Gianni's art is wonderfully spectral; his ghosts seem like they are made from ether on the page. Nice little tale that is a nod to the hero's journey in general.

Funnyland! - Chris Sprouse

Tom invents a searchboard that allows him to jump between parallel universes; he ends up in a forest full of talking animals. There Tom is confronted by Warren Strong - a anthropomorphous rabbit version of himself. Together they save Patience ( a rabbit version of Dhula) from the evil clutches of the fox faced Basil Saveen.

This was a particularly enjoyable story - Chris's art was a nice change in style (fuzzy animals and all) and the script was full of comedy. Good read.

Too Many Teslas? - Chris Sprouse

Tesla steals her Dad's searchboard and opens up a portal to an alternate reality; what come through the portal is the real surprise. A nice romp through alternate realities (or should I say genres) and a variety of nice reimaginings of both Tesla and Tom. I liked the nods to Crisis type Earth naming. Another fine story from the Moore & Sprouse camp.

This has probably been my favorite issue so far. But tomorrow is another day - Happy reading.

Tom Strong #9

Written by: Alan Moore

Art by: see below

The anthology format continues in this issue featuring Millennium City's favorite science-hero, Tom Strong.

Terror Temple of Tayasal - Paul Chadwick

On his way to Attabar Teru, Tom is sidetracked by a group of archaeologists in South America. They seem to have stumbled upon a rather large carapace that's really old. Tom takes off into the jungle looking for clues and stumbles upon an ancient temple and its lone inhabitant - a piece of a biological spacecraft.

This is a nice story - good twist in the plot, nice characterization. Paul Chadwick's art is probably the best take on Tom Strong I've seen from an artist other than Chris Sprouse. Good stuff.

Volcano Dreams - Chris Sprouse

This is a tale of Dhula and her vision quest. It's okay - but it feels unnecessary. Nice ending. Chris's art is on par with everything I've seen from him on this title. The whole story seems almost too formulaic.

Flip Additude - Chris Sprouse

Tesla and Solomon fight a girl who can shift the center of gravity, making the world tip over on its side. Tesla find out the girl is the daughter of a former foe of Tom's and they fight. Solomon points out how the boots that tip the world are a physical impossibility, and Tesla retorts with "They're magic boots." Laughs the whole story through. Chris, again, is almost flawless on his execution here. Well written, well drawn.

All around good issue; kind of wish this series had more single story issues. But what can I do about it. Until tomorrow - happy reading.

Tom Strong #8

Written by: Alan Moore

Art by: see below

This is first issue of Tom Ttrong in an anthology format - it tells 3 different stories.

Rides of the Lost Mesa - Alan Weiss

Tom and Solomon ride into a desert town set on top of a mesa; the inhabitants have 3 eyes, herd squid like creatures, and think it's the year 1850. Tom Strong shows up to put an end to this. I like the blend of western and sci-fi elements in this story. All around, it's a good read - Alan Weiss' art is a little to muscular for me. I prefer Sprouse's angular bulk to the defined muscular look Alan Weiss give him.

The Old Skool - Chris Sprouse

I hate this story. It centers on the Strongmen of America and I find it to be hard to read and pointless in general. I understand what Alan Moore is trying to do with these characters - add a sense of Golden Age innocence, but it just comes off as forced. The art is very nice, especially the giant robots.

Sparks - Chris Sprouse

This is a solo Tesla story - it's okay. She goes into an active volcano in her gem suit (think clear suit of armor) to see what is causing all the shaking. There she encounter 3 fire men spirit things who attack her. Their boss shows up and chases them off and plants a kiss on Tesla's cheek. A bit sappy, but Valentine's Day is right around the corner. The art is very well done - but the story is mediocre.

All in all this isn't a bad issue, just not up to par with the ones that came before it in this series.

Tom Strong #7

Written by: Alan Moore

Art by: Chris Sprouse and Gary Frank

At the end of last issue, we were introduced to Tom and Ingrid's son, Albrecht. Ingrid stole some of Tom's genetic material during their first meeting and had Albrecht, who she raised as a Nazi.

Now, Tom and Albrecht are introduced; Tom tells Albrecht there is a better way of thinking and Albrecht punches him in the face. They scrap and Tom decides to try another route. The look into the Time Viewer...

... and the year is 2050; Tom is in stasis recovery and Albrecht shows up to menace Millennium City. Tesla, Tom's daughter, goes out to take care of her half-brother. They fight and the match is a draw until Tom shows up- and he's pissed. Tom and Albrecht fight and the Strongmen of America come to Tom's aid. Something is said about Saveen being dead for 80 years and Tom takes Albrecht back to the Stronghold to be rehabilitated...

... and in the present it's revealed that Saveen is really dead and the man in front of Tom is Denby Jilks, master of disguise! Ingrid gets pissed, takes her son and is about to leave when who should show up but Dhula - and she's pissed. She beats the stuffing out of Ingrid and tells her never to show her face in Millennium City again.

Story ends with Tom's 100th birthday celebration.

I really enjoyed the way these last couple of issues were set up. The story in a story plotting was done very well. Added a lot of dimension and history to a kind of young (in terms of number of issues) character. Chris' art is great as usual and Gary Frank draws some wicked left hooks. All around nice ending to the first multi issues arc.

Buy it here - and happy readings.