America's Best Comics, or
ABC for short, was created by
Alan Moore in order to make five new series to bring
comics that were less dependent on
continuity. Originally created as a
subsidiary of
Wildstorm, it is now owned by
DC, much to
Alan Moore's disgust.
All of the current titles are written by
Alan Moore, however the artists are different for each series. And in the case of
Tomorrow Stories for each story.
The five series that
ABC started on are:
- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
The League is based in a parallel Victorian time, a time that could possibly have occured if the characters from Victorian literature had actually existed! The League is an organization of the British Empire, that contains such members as Allen Quatermain, Captain Nemo, and the Invisible Man. A wonderful story that went on for six issues, and is supposed to have a sequel.
- Promethea
Promethea follows the idea that stories can hold great power as long as someone is around who knows them. Such is the case with Sophie Bangs, a college student, who interviews the last living writer of the Promethea comic book. When a creature attacks, the writer reveals herself to be Promethea, but becomes mortally wounded in the fight. Now, Sophie must become Promethea.
- Tom Strong
Tom Strong is a by-product of the pulp age and now. A character closer to being like Doc Savage, than Superman. He relies on intellect and strength to overcome all. The story focuses on the Strong family and fighting the forces of evil in the 20th(and 21st) century.
- Tomorrow Stories
Tomorrow Stories is an anthology comic, with rather unusual characters. Each issue contains four different issues, with four different characters. Currently, there are five different characters that have had their own stories: Greyshirt, Cobweb, The First American and U.S. Angel, Splash Brannigan, and Jack B. Quick.
- Top 10
Top 10 follows the idea of superpowered beings existing, in fact there are so many of them that they have their own city! Top 10 is a police precint of the tenth dimension, and follows the exploits of the officers. Half of the time the series can be very tongue in cheek(with such things as Professor Xavier lobbying for handicap access in the background), to very serious moments such as the death of an officer. This series is a continuing one, with no knowledge of an end in sight.