Rasl #15

by Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith's second creator-owned series (actually, aside from Bone and that Captain Marvel book he did, has he done anything else?) comes to its end with this issue, which explains almost everything.

Basically, this series fits into the growing comics sub-genre of 'Tesla'.  If you are willing to accept that 'Kirby' is a genre now (and there is plenty of examples of this), I think it's time to give over a corner of the market to books influenced or inspired by the great inventor Nikolas Tesla.  This entire series ended up being about Tesla's ideas and his secret notebooks.

Rasl, our art thief, confronts Sal, the lizard-faced guy who has been chasing him across dimensions since this series started.  After that, we find out who has really been pulling the strings from the beginning, as there is a final showdown over the journals and the use of the St. George's Array, a powerful energy weapon that has unfortunate consequences on other realities.

This was a smart series, with some great art, but I feel like it dragged a little too much in the middle.  Too many issues felt similar to previous ones, and I had a hard time drumming up any great love for the characters.  As well, there were a few too many mysteries, including one that doesn't really get resolved (that of the little girl that looks like she stepped out of a Munch painting).

In the final analysis, this was a decent series, but it is in no way going to eclipse Bone as Smith's greatest work.  I do admire him for trying something so outside of what was expected from him, and will check out his next project, unless it's specifically designed for children.

Rasl #14

by Jeff Smith

At this late stage in the game, there is very little left to say about Jeff Smith's Rasl.  There is only one issue remaining in the series, and Smith is leaving a lot of ground for it to cover.

In this penultimate issue, we see the conclusion of the confrontation between Rasl and his enemies at the St. George's Array, and follow him to another reality, where he finally tells everything to Uma.  He's pursued by Sal, the lizard-faced guy, and stuff gets a little crazy.

As always, this is a very nice looking book, with a compelling story.  The frequent delays between issues have made it rather a challenge to keep up with some of the nuances in Smith's story, and I'm sure that this series will read much better in trade or in one large omnibus edition some day.  If you like comics that involve parallel universes, or you're interested in Nikola Tesla, this series is worth reading.

Rasl #13

by Jeff Smith

As this title gets closer to its conclusion, Jeff Smith is really picking up the pace.  In this issue, Robert Johnson invades the facility that houses the new St. George's Array, a device built following Nikola Tesla's notebooks, that can do some weird energy stuff, but with the effect of killing people and ruining whole towns.

Johnson makes his way to the centre of the facility, where he takes over the device, while engaged in a stand-off with some lady who is clearly in charge, and with Sal, the lizard-faced guy whose been hunting him throughout the series.

There's a lot of tension in this issue, as Johnson learns a few things he didn't know about his mistress (and ex-partner's wife) Maya.

It's always tough to remember what's happening in this comic, as it comes out so sporadically and tends to be a quick read when it does arrive, but Smith does an excellent job in this issue of throwing the reader right into the middle of things. 

Rasl #12

by Jeff Smith

I guess Jeff Smith felt like it was time to finish off his history lesson on Nikola Tesla, as the plot barely advances with this issue, and we are instead treated to a lengthy examination of the latter part of the great inventor's career, including his public disparagement of Einstein, and his final rise to fame after Edison's death.  This stuff is pretty cool - I've always been curious about Tesla but have never taken the time to read a biography or history book that covers his achievements (science makes my head hurt a little), so I can appreciate getting that lesson here - assuming of course that Smith is being accurate in his telling of the story.

The thing is, this comic comes out pretty rarely.  I don't really remember what happened in the eleventh issue, and since there is no recap or letters page, I found myself pretty lost.  I guess that's my fault - I could always dig out the previous issue before I read the new one, but who has the time?  Clearly my memory is starting to go in my advanced age as well, since I can only manage to keep the plots of the multitudes of monthly, bi-monthly, and occasional comics series I'm reading fresh in my mind for about three or four months.

Anyway, this is an interesting comic.  I'm just totally lost right now.  Perhaps when the next issue comes out, Smith will take pity on us and include a little blurb on the inside cover.  I know that there's only about four issues left, so I imagine something big is going to have to happen soon.

Rasl #11

by Jeff Smith

Well, this is one comic that doesn't seem to be in a hurry to answer any of its mysteries, or clear things up for the reader in the least.

This issue opens with Rob and Uma hanging out in her apartment in post-coital comfort, until reality goes a little wonky, with Rob seeing multiple images, and the creepy girl (who may be God) floating in a corner in the bedroom.  After that, hundreds of birds start falling from the sky, and Rob has some electrical phenomena happen to him.

That's about all that happens this issue, and while it's a quick read (considering the length of time it takes for each new issue to come out), it's pretty exciting and well-paced.  I've really enjoyed seeing Smith depict a more adult world (I almost said realistic, and then remembered just what this series is all about).  I do wish a little more would happen or get resolved in each individual issue, but I'm definitely enjoying the ride here.

Rasl #10

by Jeff Smith

In the letters page of this issue, Jeff Smith says there are only about five or six issues left in Rasl.  There remains a great deal to be explained and resolved in this series; I hope it can all fit into six issues.

This issue, meanwhile, explains and resolves nothing, and instead has Rob return to the new Annie, meet a 'friend' of hers, and then meet the other Uma at a bar.  That's about all that happens, but it's also one of the more compelling recent issues of this series, as Smith has become very good at character-driven storytelling.

I found the events of this issue much more gripping than the Tesla-powered other issues, as it's Rob's unique position in the world (or is that multi-verse?) that keeps my attention with this title.  As always, the art is pretty terrific too.

The extended length of time between issues (there won't be another one until July) really hurts this book, as I find it takes me a good chunk of each issue to remember what's happened before.  At the same time, I understand why a book like this will take longer to produce.

Rasl #8

by Jeff Smith

One of my favourite things about Rasl has been the way that Smith has employed a non-linear method of telling the story.  Most of this issue is spent on Rob's relationship with Maya in the days leading up to his being fired from the science project on which he worked with her and her husband.  She's been a bit of a cipher up to this point, so it's nice to see a little more of her personality, and her optimism is a little heartbreaking knowing what we already know.

After that, the story moves to Rob's present, where he is again visited by the creepy Munchian girl pictured on the cover (I figure with Rob being an art thief, and there being a focus on art and symbolism in this series, that her sometime-similarity to the person in The Scream can't be completely coincidental).  We learn a little more about her too, although it's too early to say how much truth there is in anything we've been told.

I've been enjoying this book, although I did like the longer issues better.  I thought the trade-off was going to be that the shorter issues would be bi-monthly.  It's all good though, this is a title worth waiting for.

Rasl #7

by Jeff Smith

This series keeps improving with every issue. This time around, the focus is on explanations, as the motivations for Rasl's stealing of his equipment are explored, along with some more Tesla history, including the cause of the Tunguska Incident, which has been mined in other comics as well (I remember first hearing about it in a Warren Ellis Ultimate mini-series for Marvel).

Two things stood out in this issue for me. The first was the changing relationship between Rasl and his partner in science, Miles. It had previously been established that the two were childhood friends, so it was more poignant to see them drift apart due to scientific ambition.

The other thing that really stood out was Smith's art. This book is by far the best work he's ever done. When he drew Bone, I assumed that his main characters were so simple because they'd be easier to draw. Now, in a title populated only by humans (even if one of them is pretty lizard-y), Smith is showing that he is quite masterful at portraying a range of expressions. Where before I found Rasl kind of strange-looking, he now seems more realistic than most comics characters for his visual idiosyncrasies.

Rasl #6

by Jeff Smith

I think there is the potential out there for a really interesting cultural studies master's thesis on depictions of Nikola Tesla in comic books. In the last few years, it seems he's been popping up all over the place, including, now, Jeff Smit's Rasl.

What sets this issue apart from other Tesla appearances (see Matt Fraction's Five Fists of Science - it's great) is that Smith is taking a very scholarly approach here, interspersing a history lesson on Tesla's career and inventions, with Rasl's story, as the title character returns to his life of art crime, at least until the lizard guy shows up again.

The delay between issues does make it difficult to remember exactly where this book last left off, but with this issue, it doesn't matter, as this is an excellent starting point for new readers. Whatever has gone on before doesn't really matter here, as the focus is on Tesla to a great degree.

In many ways, this might be my favourite issue of this title yet. I was contemplating making the switch to trade-waiting on this, but now I'm much more committed to the book. This is a very strong issue. Also, I get a kick out of seeing Smith draw such straight, realistic scenes. I enjoyed his work on Bone, but am impressed with his ability to draw the real world.

Rasl #5

by Jeff Smith

Okay, so Smith has decided to turn out less pages, more frequently, making the book only 22 pages, but trying to put it out five times a year. I'm perfectly okay with that, as it means that the story will be coming into my hands more often, and with less time between issues to forget what has gone before. Cool.

Thing is, I don't feel like a whole lot happened in this issue, and I don't want to see the book become 'decompressed' but more frequent.

Rob chats with his girl, and flashes back to his former girl. He also sweats a lot, and bleeds from the nose. There are some hints as to where the story is going - the undiscovered Tesla journals make an appearance, which is surely going to have some significance, but that's about it.

The coolest part of this issue would be during the flashback, where the weird mask that Rob wears while jumping makes an appearance on a wall with some other 'African' style artifacts, suggesting that he only wears it to look cool..... It's a small touch, but I liked it.

Rasl #4

by Jeff Smith

As Rasl returns to the store shelves, Jeff Smith feels the need to provide a little more exposition into the reality-bending properties of Rasl's engine things.

The book begins with, and later returns to, a group of American Navy vessels in 1943, who experience some reality-jumping weirdness in an experiment gone badly. This of course has something to do with Tesla (comics go-to guy for this type of thing), but Einstein and the Manhattan Project also get implicated later on.

I like that there is a little more backstory being introduced here, as Sal, the creepy lizard guy who has been chasing Rasl, finally reveals his intentions and motivations.

A lot happens in this book, and as usual, it looks fantastic. This series is starting to pick up steam, and Smith's announcement this week that the book is going to be on a bi-monthly schedule (albeit with less pages) is a welcome one, as it will help to build momentum. I assume that only makes it sooner that we will learn what's up with the creepy Edvard Munch/Japanese horror film kid that has started popping up all over the place....

Rasl #3

by Jeff Smith

I know that I'm rather late in reviewing this title, but seeing as the next issue won't be out until March, it really doesn't matter.

Right now, I'm enjoying this series more than I did Bone. I find that Smith is doing better work when unencumbered by writing for a younger audience.

This issue finally starts to unravel some of the threads of the series, and I'm starting to get a sense of what this is all about, and where it might be going. The revelation that Rasl and the lizard guy are unique in all of the parallel Earths that they travel through must be significant.

Smith's art continues to be expressive and easy to follow. His simple line work looks best in black-and-white, and it's good to see him working on a regular series again. I just wish it would come out more frequently than every 5 or 6 months (but at least he's not soliciting it monthly and putting it out on that schedule, like so many other small presses do).