Only Worth it for the Finale by Alan Moore

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	• Tom Strong - Book Six (Tom Strong) Alan Moore Wildstorm, 2006 - 160 pages average customer review:based on 1 review view larger image
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Only Worth it for the Finale by Alan Moore

As the review by Flagg correctly implies, the majority of stories in this book are by other writers. Being an old fan of Michael Moorcock's "Elric of Melnibone" and "Eternal Champion" series, I was looking forward to the first pirate-themed Tom Strong story written by Moorcock. Unfortunately I found it to be less than captivating. While MM writes fine novels and short stories, I think his foray into graphic novel territory highlights his inability to condense an interesting story using only a few hundred words and graphics, making it very difficult to follow the narrative. Not only does it dwell too long on the wrong things and not long enough on the right things, but it's shamelessly recycled: Strong's antagonist in the story is one "Captain Zodiac" who, name aside, is a red-eyed, white-haired, albino doppelganger of Elric. Not only that, but his quest is to recover none other than the "Black Cutless," an ebony blade engraved with runes which "drinks" souls exactly like Elric's own sword, Stormbringer. I was tired of it after two pages of the athletic contrivances to get Tom Strong into the past. OK, enough about the bad. I only go on so long because I expected better from someone of Moorcock's abilities.

Writers Steve Moore (no relation), Joe Casey and Peter Hogan put together relatively entertaining fare: one has Tom finding and helping destroy a fictional, nightmarish city; another provides closure for Tom's old (frozen) love and an old-time enemy; and the other focuses on Pneuman who displays some uncharacteristic behavior that Tom has to get to the bottom of. My emphasis is on "relatively" entertaining, like the warm-up bands for the main event of Alan Moore's Tom Strong finale.

Alan's story saves the book. Having said that, he has written better single stories, but the confluence of bringing this great storyline to a close as well as it's tie-in with the mind-blowing Promethea finale make this a must-have for any Tom Strong/Promethea/Alan Moore fan. Secrets are revealed concerning Tom's relation with his arch-foe, Paul Saveen, it takes sufficient pains to satisfy my itch for proper continuity, it deals with no less of a subject than the "end" of the world (those who have read the Promethea series know why I put the word "end" in quotes), and it's appropriately witty throughout. And, doggone it, it made me feel good!

My four star rating is solely on the strength of Alan Moore's story, despite the best effort of the Moorcock story to drag it down.

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