I guess like most folks (at least on this side of the Atlantic) I "discovered" Alan Moore back when he began doing SWAMP THING for DC and basically created a new type of comic, which would develop into what is now known as the Vertigo style. Other writers have followed him, mostly British, Irish, etc. and now a few American writers seem to be able to do truly 'adult' comics (in all senses of the word). Over the years we have followed Moore as he went from one amazing project to another, seemingly able to work his magic in just about any comic genre.

It's funny perhaps that in his work for his ABC comics, Moore has created characters that capture a style that Moore would seem ill-suited to work with. TOM STRONG would seem the very anti-thesis of an Alan Moore character, yet he has created this wholesome throwback and has made him one of the most interesting characters in comics. Moore's PROMETHIA has taken the Wonder Woman idea and made it into something never before seen in 'mainstream' comics. With TOP TEN Moore brought us a NYPD BLUE, with super-heroes and made us care about an odd group of very different characters.

In the current SMAX mini-series, Moore takes the title character (one of the officers from TOP TEN) and his partner, Robyn (known as Toy Box in TT, for her use of an array of tiny robots she carries with her) back to his homeworld. Moore uses theses two to poke some serious fun at just about every 'fairytale' cliche you could ask for. Just about every panel has been filled by Moore (very ably assisted by penciller Zander Cannon and inker Andrew Currie) with jabs at almost every fantasy creation you could name. Even as familiar as I am with some of the characters and references, I'm sure that I'm also missing dozens of others. Moore did the same thing in TOP TEN, where hundreds of well-known comics characters made cameos in panel after panel.

Amazingly, even with all this Moore is able to make both Smax and Robyn, people who we actually like. We discover that behind Smax' rough exterior there really is a very, sensitive and caring guy who can't seem to shake his destiny despite his best efforts.