Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom

Tom Strong #7

by Peter Hogan, Chris Sprouse (Illustrator)

Tom Strong, the popular “science hero” created by Alan Moore, returns in a new epic starring Nazi robots, super-powered villains and political intrigue. As Tom Strong and his family prepare to celebrate a wedding, the unthinkable happens: Before their eyes, reality alters to become a world conquered by Nazis and ruled by Tom’s nefarious son, Albrecht. What mysterious secret from Tom’s past has brought about this catastrophe? To overthrow Albrecht and restore the world he knew, Tom must find a way to journey back in time and seek help from the only man he can trust: himself. But will even two Tom Strongs be enough to stop the Robots of doom?

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Superheroes, Comic Book, Fantasy, Adventure

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2011

About the author

Peter Kenneth Hogan is an English writer and comics creator who started out as editor of cult political British comic Revolver in 1990–1991, before working for 2000 AD and American comic book publishers Vertigo and America's Best Comics.

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a lot of fun! Peter Hogan picks up Tom Strong where Alan Moore last left him, even acknowledging the "end of the world" crossover with Promethea. Hogan really knows the Strong Family and their rogues gallery, having written several issues of the original series and the spin-off Terra Obscura himself, so he feels like the right person to take on the Tom Strong storytelling mantle.

Unlike most Tom Strong stories, this time around Hogan tells a full 6-issue tale, which allows for the story to breathe a little more, and for Tom to struggle more with consequences. Most of the original series amounted to at most 2-issue stories, so it's kind of nice to spend a little extra time on one.

In Robots, Hogan uses several Tom Strong characters we haven't seen in a while to tell a story about Tom having to fix the timeline after his evil Nazi son Albrecht disrupts it, resulting in a Man in the High Castle-style Nazi-controlled America. Thanks to Chris Sprouse's art, this feels very much like a classic, high-stakes Tom Strong story, while also allowing us to catch up with the characters and see how their lives have changed in the prevailing years.

Now, I wouldn't call anything about this plot original or breathtaking, but Hogan's dialogue and Sprouse's exciting art keep the pace up and the action barreling forward. It feels just as pulpy and sci-fi-ish as it's supposed to, and as a result, is a great time. I read the whole book in under an hour, which is fast for me. I have no idea what's normal for other people. Maybe you all read like the Flash.

In any case, if you're a Tom Strong fan, this is worth your time. If you're not, go back and read the original Alan Moore stuff! It's great!

[Nate]

A very enjoyable story from Peter Hogan with original Tom Stronger Chris Sprouse. Time travel, robot Nazis, actual Nazis, an ancient subterranean race, villain-hero teamups - this book is full of pulpy goodness, a point driven home by Tom’s line from issue two: “Look, every menace I’ve ever fought has sounded like something from the pulps. It didn’t make them any less dangerous.” While there’s good fun to be had here, I recommend reading this after you’ve tackled at least some of the main Tom Strong series. It references events and characters from those issues and I think fans will appreciate it more. I am one, and I definitely did.

[Zachary King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Strong fights his Nazi son Albrecht through a timey-wimey adventure. Not as dense or as thoughtful as Moore’s work, but decent pulp fun with strong-as-ever Chris Sprouse artwork.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an entertaining story in a Buck Rogers Science Hero kind of way. It has Nazis, Robots, Time Travel and lava people. It was all very entertaining. Good Stuff!

[Tropo Alegro]

Tomo que continúa las aventuras de Tom Strong después de la marcha de uno de sus creadores.

[Trike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read one Tom Strong book years ago and didn't care for it. It was Alan Moore at his most pretentiously post-modern worst, with some kid reading a magic comic book that showed the adventures of the Strong family as they were happening around him.

Fortunately, Peter Hogan eschews the winking aspect I encountered last time in favor of a straight-forward pulp adventure. Nazis, ancient robots, underground cities and time travel... all good pulpy fun. The closest this book gets to breaking the fourth wall is by having one character say to another, "Half my adventures feel like they come from the pulps."

There's no real sense of danger to the characters, rather it's the timeline itself that is in peril. The story moves right along, with Hogan painting past histories and character interactions with deft strokes of minimalist dialogue. He accomplishes more with 3 lines than Robert Kirkman does with 3 pages.

It feels like a fun adaptation of a classic ER Burroughs story and I enjoyed every bit of it.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lo arranqué y me estaba gustando bastante... Pero por algún motivo lo dejé colgado y cuando lo retomé tuve que agarrarlo de cero. Y valió la pena pero no me volvió loco, es un buen anexo pero no está a la altura de los seis tomos anteriores. Como sea, una lástima que Moore se haya ido (aunque Peter Hogan es un buen suplente), pero menos mal que Sprouse sigue presente. Y vade retro al maluso que le están dando a los personajes de ABC desde DC. Déjenlos en paz, una vez en la vida, plis.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than I thought it would be. I thought Hogan had dragged some earlier stuff down, but I'm probably crazy.

It wasn't world-beating, but it was pretty solid. (Also, I have my guess at who that bearded old man is (hint: a very important character who has aged, but they really leave it alone.)

[Moss Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of good time travel / nazi / alien robot adventure.
The only drawback to the Tom Strong stories is that I wish the danger to Strong would be more threatening.

[Will Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as intricate as previous Tom Strong volumes, but a very fun follow up with time travel, nazis, and robots!

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incluye el último capítulo de Tom Strong escrito por Moore y la primera miniserie del personaje escrita por Hogan. Último tomo de la serie publicado en castellano hasta la fecha.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decidedly "meh". Didn't hate it, but its forgettable.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alan Moore's 23 issues of *Tom Strong* are his superhero masterpiece (though *From Hell* is his adjective-less masterpiece). Moore's work on *Strong* #20-22 & #36, the series's final issue & crossover w/ *Promethea*, succeed w/ a rare combination of serious apocalyptic utopianism & effective sentimentality.

Unlike some other readers, & despite this perfect end, I want the adventures of the Strong family & the ABC universe to continue. Chris Sprouse's art is stellar. Peter Hogan is one of the few non-Moore writers good at writing *Strong* (Geoff Johns & Ed Brubaker are terrible at it), & Hogan's writing in this volume has much to recommend it: clever time travel, great pulp SF conceits, effective syntheses of many prior Strong story-strands, & redemption.

A couple of minor quibbles do arise. It's weird for Tom Strong to think of King Solomon as a son when the Strong family thinks of him as a servant. Also, why Dhalua Strong, leaping into Nazi & ancient robot danger to save Tom, leaves baby Solomon w/ Pneuman but not baby Tesla is strange.

However, at the end of this story, my major objection comes. Time-travel hi-jinks erase the Utopian conditions established in *Strong* #36 & the character knowledge established there & in #20-22. This is a serious betrayal of both the politics & the beautiful character work of Moore's ABC universe. The Strong family could easily have further adventures & further transformation w/o such a blithe erasure.