RASL # 1

This new series is again completely illustrated and written by Smith. He is an auteur in his field, with a singular creative vision. RASL stars the series’ namesake, a man with the ability to transport himself into alternate timelines. He uses this skill to steal famous works of art so that he may return to his own reality and sell the items to high-paying customers. This first issue provides a glimpse into Rasl’s mind, and with the opening line being “Distractions are useful”, one is left to wonder whether the first issue’s action is key or just a red herring.

The series begins with the protagonist wandering through a desert. This is the only similarity the series shares with Bone. Soon a flashback reveals a midnight break-in at a highrise apartment. Rasl escapes with a painting, leaving his trademark signature painted on the wall. When he transports himself back to reality, Rasl clearly misses his mark. He winds up in an alternate timeline, with a mysterious figure in hot pursuit.

This issue does everything a first issue should. The cast begins to get introduced, the protagonist’s motives are left tantalizingly unclear, and Rasl sports a mysterious tattoo with the name ‘Maya’ on it. What more could a reader want?

As always, Smith manipulates black on white in order to craft a beautiful composition that just happens to be a comic book. When Rasl pushes himself into another dimension, the agony on his face simply explodes off the page. “Hell of a way to make a living” the character remarks to himself.

The anguish experienced by stepping through space and time is balanced by the pleasure offered by a successful journey. Smith develops and displays a new world for his new characters to play in, and one can be assured that the RASL universe will be just as rich as the world of Bone. When a creepy attacker hones in on the ‘hero’, Smith’s arrangement of panels creates a clever pacing which makes the moment felt rather than just observed. With a true artist like Smith at the helm, readers will want to snap this book up right away. It’s much easier than traversing alternate timelines in order to grab a back issue before they completely sell out.

9.5 / 10

Visit Jeff Smith's website at Boneville.com

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Avi is an editor and writer at The Comic Book Bin. His favourite Bone character is Grandma.