Tom Strong #1

Tom Strong #1 was published in 1999 as the inaugural issue of a flagship series for America's Best Comics, an imprint of WildStorm edited by Alan Moore. Created by Moore and artist Chris Sprouse, the series was conceived as a vibrant, post-modern tribute to the science-hero archetypes of early twentieth-century pulp fiction and comics. It was designed to offer a more optimistic and adventurous counterpoint to the grit and cynicism that dominated much of the mainstream comic book industry during the late nineties.

The visual language of the book was crafted by Chris Sprouse, whose clean, classic line work was intended to evoke the sensibilities of Golden Age illustration while maintaining a contemporary sense of storytelling. Moore’s writing focused on the life of a 'science hero' whose superhuman abilities were matched by his dedication to intellectual and moral integrity. The issue was received with significant critical acclaim, praised for its dense world-building and its affectionate, sophisticated deconstruction of comic book tropes.