RASL is pronounced "Rassle", apparently.  I though I'd mentioned that at the outset, just in case any confusion otherwise marred your reading enjoyment.

This is the long-awaited new series by Jeff Smith, the man who brought you Bone.  That book was one of the most successful indie comics of the last decade, so there's a lot of interest in what Smith does next.  And what he's produced is a 32-page black and white series about an interdimensional art thief.

RASL is a guy who steals paintings, leaving his eponymous tag behind, and then escapes by jumping away through the "drift."  Unfortunately, this process isn't quite as easy as it sounds; not only does it involve a wonderfully cumbersome contraption, but it hurts like hell, which means it takes a while before he can try it again.

Oh, and he's got an Obviously Significant Tattoo, no doubt to be explained in future issues.

Here's the thing.  On the one hand, it's the sort of issue where you can't help but admire the craft.  While I suspect the lead looks a little younger and more cuddly than he might have intended, there's no denying Smith's ability to tell a story.  There's an extended chase sequence towards the end, which is excellent in pacing and execution.  There's no doubt that you're dealing with somebody who's very good indeed.

On the other hand... the next issue isn't out till May.  So apparently this is a quarterly, and I don't think it's paced very well for a quarterly title.  When you boil it down, not a great deal happens in this issue.  To be sure, what happens, happens impressively.  But you could sum it up in a few sentences, and the page count is mainly taken up with allowing scenes all the space they need.  We don't really get to know the lead all that well; instead, we get an introduction to what he does, and what he can do.

So this reads more like the first 32 pages of a graphic novel than the first issue of a serial.  And I'm sure it's going to be an excellent graphic novel.  Whether I would buy it in this format is another matter entirely.  Monthly, maybe.  Quarterly... nah, that's stretching it. It's good, but I'd wait for the collection.

Rating: A-

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