jˈɛt θɹuːˈaʊt ðə kˈoːɹs ʌv pˌʌblɪkˈeɪʃən, tˈɑːm θˈʌɡ hæd ɡɹˈoʊn təbi wˈʌn ʌvðə kˈɑːmɪkz bˈɛstlˈaɪkt stɹˈɪps ænd əkˈeɪʒənəli ˈiːvən tˈʊk ðə plˈeɪs ʌvðə tˈaɪɾəl kˈæɹɪktɚ, bˈʌstɚ, ɔnðə fɹˈʌnt kˈʌvɚ.
Yet throughout the course of publication, Tom Thug had grown to be one of the comic's best-liked strips and occasionally even took the place of the title character, Buster, on the front cover.