One of Alan Moore’s most interesting projects, America’s Best Comics
A line of comics that was generally a cut above its competitors in thoughtfulness and wry self-parody. With very few exceptions, every single issue was a compelling read (although it must be admitted that now that it continues as a publishing endeavour without Moore’s involvement, it is closer to standard superhero fare).
The timeline below does not include the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics, which were also originally published under the ABC banner. Moore has been quite insistent that these comics did not take place in the same universe as the other titles. Accordingly, I have compiled them into a separate Reading Order.
Please note that unless otherwise specified, all comics in this timeline are written by Alan Moore.
1949
- Top 10: The Forty-Niners
- original graphic novel (2006).
Tom Strong, Book One- Reprints Tom Strong #1-7 (June 1999 – March 2000).
Concludes on December 31, 1999. - Top 10, Book One
- Reprints Top 10 #1-7 (September 1999 – April 2000).
Takes place during October 1999. Must follow Tom Strong #3. - Top 10, Book Two
- Reprints Top 10 #8-12 (June 2000 – October 2001).
Takes place during October 1999. - Tomorrow Stories, Book One
- Reprints Tomorrow Stories #1-6 (October 1999 – March 2000).
Takes place in the second half of 1999. - Promethea, Book One
- Reprints Promethea #1-6 (August 1999 – March 2000).
- Promethea, Book Two
- Reprints Promethea #7-12 (April 2000 – February 2001).
1999
- Smax
- Reprints Smax #1-5 (October 2003 – May 2004).
- Tom Strong, Book 2
- Reprints Tom Strong #8-14 (July 2000 – October 2001).
- Tomorrow Stories, Book Two
- Reprints Tomorrow Stories #7-12 (June 2000 – April 2002).
- Promethea, Book Three
- Reprints Promethea #13-18 (April 2001 – February 2002).
- Promethea, Book Four
- Reprints Promethea #19-25 (April 2002 – May 2003).
2000
- Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales, Book One
- Reprints Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales #1-6 (January 2002 – April 2003).
Contains stories set at several points in the timeline, but must be read before Tom Strong, Book Three as it is the first appearance of characters who return there. - Tom Strong, Book Three
- Reprints Tom Strong #15-19 (March 2002 – April 2003).
Set in October 2001.
2001
- Greyshirt: Indigo Sunset
- Reprints Greyshirt: Indigo Sunset #1-6 (December 2001 – August 2002).
Written by Rick Veitch. Takes place in late 2001 and early 2002.
2002
Terra Obscura
- Reprints Terra Obscura #1-6 (August 2003 – February 2004).
Written by Peter Hogan. - Alan Moore’s America’s Best Comics
- Reprints America’s Best Comics Sketchbook #1 (December 2001); America’s Best Comics Special #1 (February 2001); & The Many Worlds of Tesla Strong #1 (July 2003).
The Many Worlds of Tesla Strong written by Peter Hogan. - Promethea, Book Five
- Reprints Promethea #26-32 (August 2003 – April 2005).
2003
- Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales, Book Two
- Reprints Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales #7-12 (July 2003 – January 2005).
Contains stories set in 2003 & 2004. - Tom Strong, Book Four
- Reprints Tom Strong #20-25 (June 2003 – May 2004).
Written by Peter Hogan (#23-24) & Geoff Johns (#25). - Tom Strong, Book Five
- Reprints Tom Strong #26-30 (July 2005 – February 2005).
Written by Mark Schultz (#26), Steve Aylett (#27), Brian K. Vaughan (#28) & Ed Brubaker (#29-30). - Terra Obscura: S.M.A.S.H. of Two Worlds
- Reprints Terra Obscura #1-6 (October 2004 – May 2005).
Written by Peter Hogan.
2004
- Top 10: Beyond the Farthest Precinct
- Reprints Top 10: Beyond the Farthest Precinct #1-5 (October 2005 – February 2006).
Written by Paul Di Filippo. Tom Strong, Book Six
- Reprints Tom Strong #31-36 (April 2005 – May 2006).
Written by Michael Moorcock (#31-32), Joe Casey (#33), Steve Moore (#34) & Peter Hogan (#35).
The appearance of The Barbary Rose in #31-32 is also featured in the The Elric of Melniboné Chronology; #36 retells the story of Promethea, Book Five (above) from Tom Strong’s perspective.
2005
- Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom
- Reprints Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom #1-6 (August 2010 – January 2011).
Written by Peter Hogan.
2009
- Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril
- Reprints Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril #1-6 (September 2013 – February 2014).
Written by Peter Hogan.
2010
- These stories cross over with the main DC Universe, but their dating in their home universe is unspecified.
- Justice League of America, vol.5: Deadly Fable
- Reprints Justice League of America #22-29 (March 2018 – June 2018).
Written by Steve Orlando. This story crosses over with the DC Universe. - The Terrifics, vol.1: Meet the Terrifics
- Reprints The Terrifics #1-6 (April 2018 – September 2018).
Written by Jeff Lemire. This story crosses over with the DC Universe. - The Terrifics, vol.2: Tom Strong and the Terrifics
- Reprints The Terrifics #7-12 (October 2018 – March 2019) & Annual #1 (2018, backup stories only).
Written by Jeff Lemire. This story crosses over with the DC Universe.
What about the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?
Hi Jason. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is not included on this page because Alan Moore has always maintained that it took place in a separate universe, despite initially starting off at the same publisher. Accordingly, I have compiled those stories into a separate reading order, here.
Really useful list, thank you! Have started a re-read in this order and so far it’s going really well, am just curious where you would put the four A-Z issues, the two tomorrow stories specials and the season two (and special) of Top 10 in the best reading/chronological order/timeline?
Thanks again!
Cheers!
Andy
Thanks Andy. I would suggest reading all these sets of titles in the space between 2005 and 2008 on the reading order, with the Tomorrow Stories first, then the A-Z’s, and finally the Top Ten Season Two stuff. That should prevent any spoilers.