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
    Alterna Comics

    Raygun #2 Review

    Jon ArvedonBy Jon ArvedonMay 13, 2016Updated:May 22, 20163 Mins Read

    A broken home, a new school, complete with bullies, and a DEATH RAY? This isn’t a day in the life of a typical 10-year-old as Major Spoilers reviews Raygun #2.

    IMG_1724RAYGUN #2
    Writer: Gregory Schoen
    Art: Alonso Molina
    Publisher: Alterna Comics
    Cover Price: $2.99

    Previously in Raygun: A 10-year-old by the name of Matthew is sent by his deadbeat mom to live with his estranged father. If that’s not enough to deal with, the bullies at his new school are. But things take an interesting turn when Matthew stumbles upon Nikola Tesla’s Death Ray.

    A RUDE AWAKENING

    The issue begins with Matthew stumbling into bed after his first big adventure. After falling face first into his pillow, he’s quickly reminded by his father that it’s time for school. The school scene further establishes Matthew’s struggle to adapt to his new surroundings. The writer does a great job at reminding you what it feels like to be the new kid in town. We also briefly see the friendship being established between Matthew and Rubert, as well. The story takes a sharp 180 as we see a side story involving the US Government as they frantically try to recover what they describe as “a one-man apocalypse machine,” which plants some seeds for later on in the story arc.

    What I enjoyed most was the development of the relationship between Matthew and his father. Despite barely knowing each other, they take some pretty big steps in establishing what really feels like a father-son relationship. We even get a history lesson that shows us how Nikola Tesla plays into the main plot. In the final pages, we learn that the death ray has some “Mjolnir-esque” qualities. It was hinted earlier that the ray only fires for Matthew, but we also see that the ray responds to his call after it’s taken from him by a gang of thugs.

    DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU’RE BLACK AND WHITE

    When working in black and white, the artist has the difficult task of trying to display all sorts of emotions normally conveyed through their palette choice. That being said, I give just as much credit to Molina on pencils as I do to Lopez on inks as they do a great job using strong facial expressions, solid blacks and expert shading to provide superb visual storytelling. There are definite manga influences but nothing that would feel foreign to Western readers. One of my pet peeves is that there are some minor proportion issues. Also, when we meet Autry, the text on his shirt appears to be mirrored from one panel to the next, which I find distracting.

    BOTTOM LINE: A WIN FOR THE LITTLE GUY

    This is a book I took a chance on. I’m not too familiar with Alterna Comics and had no prior experience with Gregory Schoen or Alonso Molina. Admittedly, I’m a bit of a Superhero junkie but this was a refreshing read, far different than anything normally on my pull list. The black and white may not be for everyone but if a sci-fi/historical coming-of-age tale is your sort of thing, I definitely recommend giving this book a shot.

    [taq_review]


    Dear Spoilerite,

    At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

    Alonso Molina Alterna Comics Gregory Schoen raygun Review
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleBatman #52 Review
    Next Article [Solicitations] Get your red crayons ready as IDW Publishing announces horror themed coloring book
    Jon Arvedon

    Jon Arvedon is a Graphic Design graduate who somehow became a Health Insurance Analyst, yet wishes to be a crime-fighting vigilante if not for his strict 8:30 PM bedtime. Born and raised on the not-so-mean streets of Central Massachusetts, he instead uses his time consuming and sharing all aspects of nerd culture on the web and social media as avoNERD.

    Related Posts

    Marvel United: A Pride Special Review

    Read More

    Top Five Snacks (2025 Edition)

    Read More

    Major Spoilers Podcast #1130: Good Ol’ Major Spoilers

    Read More

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

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

    AMAZON AFFILIATE

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

    Reviews
    9.0
    June 13, 2025

    Marvel United: A Pride Special Review

    6.3
    June 10, 2025

    X-Men #17 Review

    6.0
    June 9, 2025

    Power Rangers Prime #7 Review

    6.0
    June 8, 2025

    Retro Review: Detective Comics #20 (October 1938)

    8.0
    June 7, 2025

    Absolute Green Lantern #3 Review

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • Nathan on Wayne’s Comics Podcast #696: Interview with Creators from Concrete Arcanum
    • Austin Cowboy on FIRST LOOK: Conan the Barbarian #21
    • Frank on COMICS PORTAL: Batman Meets… Deadpool!?
    • ZackaryTobias on COMICS PORTAL: Batman Meets… Deadpool!?
    • derrigable on COMICS PORTAL: I Want More than Good Memories!
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    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 2006-2025 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

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

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT