RASL #1

March 1, 2008

RASL #1 (Cartoon Books)
By Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith, creator of the legendary Bone saga, makes his return to an ongoing comic book with the first issue of RASL. While Bone was a fantasy adventure, and very suitable for all-ages, RASL is a far more adult science fiction-themed title about an art thief who accomplishes his crimes with the help of a machine that allows him to leap between dimensions. This first issue is intriguing — it introduces us to the main character and sets up the basic premise, but opens up dozens of questions. Who is this man? Why is he stealing paintings. Where did he get his device and how does it work? What, exactly, does his tag “RASL” mean? This is a really good set-up issue, and with Smith‘s unblemished track record (Bone was sheer brilliance, and last year’s Shazam!: Monster Society of Evil miniseries rocked on every level), I’ve got all the confidence in the world that he’ll make this a thrilling ride as well.
Rating: 8/10