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More parallel dimension-jumping craziness than you can shake a Tesla coil at.

The world(or worlds, really) of Rasl is one of those enigma wrapped in a puzzle stuffed in a conundrum sort of things. Over the course of three issues information has been rationed out very slowly and methodically, and the reader has really just been along for the ride. The ride has been just as exciting as the mysteries have been intriguing, thankfully, so one can’t complain too much about being left in the dark. It’s a nice change of pace in the world of story for things to just naturally unfold, as opposed to getting a scheduled visit from the exposition fairy, who tends to smack you over the head with her wand and leave.

What we know about Rasl thus far is that the main character, who goes by the same name, has a contraption that looks like two jet engines and a tiki mask which lets him hop between worlds parallel to his own. We know he’s been using this technology to pull off heists. We know a very creepy-looking person in an overcoat knows what he’s up to, and has killed a woman named Annie who was very…uh…‘friendly’ with our protagonist. Now, after issue three, we know a whole lot more, particularly about Rasl’s past and the creation of his machine. While trying to track down the killer in the world where they first met, memories about Maya, the woman whose name is tattooed on his arm, bubble to the surface. While investigating the ‘Maze of Life’ symbol on Annie’s necklace he even meets Maya’s counterpart in this world, a museum curator named Uma Giles. The whole encounter leaves him reeling, and he ends up at Annie’s house, where the killer appears, apparently intent on repeating the crime once again. After a violent exchange he slips away, with Rasl right on his tail and a bewildered Annie still in one piece.

It’s a big wait between issues for this, the latest book from the creator of Bone, but it has definitely been worth it. And speaking of Bone: it has been great to see Jeff Smith come out with a new comic that is such a departure from the book that put his name on the map. It would have been very easy to just keep to the safe path and continue to produce epic fantasy stories for young and old alike, but instead he has given us a tale that’s more science fiction, and one that’s just for the grown-ups. It has given him a chance to expand as a storyteller, while building upon his beautifully distinctive art style. In much the same way that his artwork bridged the gap between cartoon characters and more realistic figures and locales in Bone, it works here to connect the weirdness of many worlds together. Smith is responsible for some of the most impressive comic art in recent years, and it only continues to get better. The way he controls his linework and the way he uses solid black alone is awe-inspiring to say the least. This is someone who has learned from the greats, and it shows.

While it doesn’t exactly make for the most comprehensive or interesting review, the fact of the matter is that I don’t have anything bad to say about Rasl. It has been a book I eagerly look forward to, that keeps me interested and excited even though each installment is months apart. The visuals are a treat for the ‘ol optic nerves, the covers are amazing…it is a book you should be reading. Especially so if you’re already a fan of Jeff Smith and hunger for something a little less Lord of the Rings meets Disneyland and more ‘suggested for mature readers’.

Rasl #3
By: Jeff Smith
Published by: Cartoon Books

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