That said, I wouldn't miss the next issue for the world. While this one can be a bit of a slow climb, once it reaches its peak, we glimpse a whole magical universe that can be created through comics. Hogan respectfully continues the tradition Alan Moore started, and the recursive nature of a comic book within a comic book opens a needed discussion on the future and past of the medium. But in the forefront, the plot brilliantly builds up to a righteous feeling of human hope. Tom Strong's hope is refreshing in a comic world where some of our greatest heroes have become emotionally fraught, unable to save themselves, much less those they love.

But King Conan could also be a story where patience pays off. It is a bit of a slow start here with issue one. But with a little imagination from the reader to see the inks darker and Conan as participant instead of narrator, Truman and Giorello have another good mini-series brewing. The bad guy reveal at the end has a good crazy mysticism about him, and he may just be able to pull a sword out of a stone and bring this book the strength it deserves.