Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Review

    RASL

    Stephen SchleicherBy Stephen SchleicherMarch 16, 20081 Comment4 Mins Read

    Stealing art and dimension jumping for fun and profit

    raslpicon.jpg

    When I first saw Jeff Smith’s cover for RASL #1, I must say I was less than impressed with what was coming from the Bone creator. Then slowly but surely I began to hear rumors that this was going to be a great series. Then low and behold, the first issue arrived at my doorstep a few weeks ago and I got to find out what all the hullabaloo was for myself. They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, and I’m going to have to agree.

    rasl.jpgThis isn’t your normal fun and furry Jeff Smith book. RASL is the story of an art thief who pulls heists by leaving the letters RASL spray painted where the art used to be. It’s not clear if RASL is the characters name, an acronym, or something else all together. While thievery could lead to an interesting story (especially if Brosnan or Zeta-Jones are involved), what really makes RASL a book you should take notice of is the method the lead character uses to elude his captors.

    A device that pops him into a place called The Drift, where he can hang out until the heat dies down, at which point he returns home.

    rasljump.jpg

    Seems like one heck of a way to score a few bucks.

    Things seem to go smoothly until the our hero discovers a juke box playing a Bob Dylan album that isn’t credited as Bob Dylan, but rather Robert Zimmerman – that’s right kids, he isn’t on the right world. Somehow during his jump he ended up in the wrong place. And that’s not a good thing, especially when a salamander faced boogeyman comes out of nowhere and opens fire narrowly missing the lead.

    There’s a good chase scene that ensues, and the hero does make his escape, but not before more questions go unanswered. Who are the people following him? Why does this guy look so creepy? How did the lead end up in another world? And how did his pursuers follow?

    The idea of the Drift and multiple worlds isn’t anything new for average readers of a certain other comic company – only we know them as the Bleed and the Multiverse. What makes RASL a different type of crisis, is the nature and method the lead gets into the Drift, and the pain and energy it extracts when returning. I rather like the idea of having to become centered in order to make the jump into the Drift, and it tickles me to discover getting drunk helps take the edge off returning to the world. But how many worlds are there, and how will the hero return to where he belongs?

    As you can tell, there are a lot of unanswered questions in this first issue, but with several more to go, I think those holes will be filled rather nicely by Smith. If everything were handed to us in a nice package with a pretty ribbon on top, the story would probably not be the brilliant piece of writing and art that it is RASL.

    I like Smith’s ability to jump us forward and backward in the story so we don’t know what is taking place now, what happened in the past, and what is going on in the future. More than likely, most reading RASL have had a dose or two of LOST, which helps in understanding the story. The dialogue and inner monologue is kept to a minimum, but even with a few words per page – or in the case of the chase scene, no words at all, Smith is really telling the story through the art.

    Keeping with what worked before, RASL is a black and white comic, and that is just fine by me. I think the nature of his characters and the surroundings would get lost if color were thrown into the mix.

    We still have many more issues to go before the mystery of RASL is unraveled, and if the first issue is any indication, this is going to be one heck of a series. I’m giving RASL #1 5 out of 5 Stars.

    5stars.jpg

    acronym art thief bob dylan bob dylan album brosnan chase scene comic company doorstep drift heck HERO hullabaloo interesting story Jeff Smith juke box mul rasl robert zimmerman salamander zeta jones
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleThe Boys Sixteen
    Next Article X-Factor #29
    Stephen Schleicher
    • Website
    • Twitter

    Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...

    Related Posts

    Grim #9 Review

    Read More

    Doctor Strange #1 Review

    Read More

    Major Spoilers Podcast #1019: Superman Up In The Sky

    Read More

    1 Comment

    1. Rowan on March 16, 2008 8:32 pm

      I loved it , it was neat and I am interested in seeing where it is goooing

      Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    8.0
    March 23, 2023

    Grim #9 Review

    7.0
    March 23, 2023

    Doctor Strange #1 Review

    8.3
    March 22, 2023

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin Lost Years #2 Review

    8.0
    March 22, 2023

    Tiger Division #5 Review

    10.0
    March 21, 2023

    Nocterra #12 Review

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • Karl G Siewert on Multiversity: Harley Screws Up The DCU #1 Review
    • R. Eric Smith on Retro Review: So Beautiful And So Dangerous #1 (1979)
    • Daniel Langsdale on The X-Cellent #1 Review
    • kmd on [Preview] Mr. Beaver #2
    • R Mohr on PREVIEW: Dejah Thoris #1
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    ComiXology Home Page">
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2022 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.