Some of you might remember, way back in 1991, upstart self-publisher Jeff Smith started putting out a little all-ages fantasy book about some weird little guys with big noses. And some stupid, stupid, rat creatures. The result was a book you may just have heard about called Bone. To say Bone was successful is probably a massive understatement, as it went on to be a huge success with comics fans, mainstream readers, and kids everywhere. The series is still a big seller through Scholastic Books, and is probably available in every school library in the country.
When a creator achieves that kind of stardom with his or her work, the question most people ask is: what's next? (I'm looking at you JK Rowling!) It took a few years, but Jeff Smith fans finally have an answer! It's RASL! A book where huge men put on spandex and pin each other to the mat! OK, I'm lying, it's not that kind of wrasslin'. So just what is this mysteriously titled book, you ask? Good question!
RASL is, at the moment, the only name we have for our hard-bitten hero. He's a mysterious, no-name, kind of guy. He's also an art thief with a twist. He's apparently built a device that allows him to cross into other dimensions, via the Drift, to steal great works of art. RASL is the tag he leaves at the scene of the crime. Running back home, to another world, provides a pretty clean getaway. There does seem to be a downside to dimensional travel, though. It really, REALLY, hurts. It hurts a lot. In fact, it hurts so much that our hero needs several days of drinking, smoking, and debauchery to recuperate before he can do it again. Of course, in the first issue, a job doesn't go quite as planned. Action and punching ensue!
RASL has the quality art and writing you expect from a star creator like Jeff Smith. What you may not expect is that he is bringing readers something very different from Bone. This sci-fi, noir-ish, tale is clearly aimed at more mature readers. Our hero is a hard-edged, shades of gray kind of guy, about as far removed from the sweet and naive Bones as you can get. As much as I loved Bone, I was excited to see that this is something different and that Smith is not a one-trick writer. Hooray for diversity!
If you enjoy great comics, you don't want to miss Jeff Smith's RASL. As an added bonus, it's the guaranteed Book of the Week! There's no need to plan an elaborate heist to steal a copy, you can buy one completely risk-free, no dimensional travel required.
When a creator achieves that kind of stardom with his or her work, the question most people ask is: what's next? (I'm looking at you JK Rowling!) It took a few years, but Jeff Smith fans finally have an answer! It's RASL! A book where huge men put on spandex and pin each other to the mat! OK, I'm lying, it's not that kind of wrasslin'. So just what is this mysteriously titled book, you ask? Good question!
RASL is, at the moment, the only name we have for our hard-bitten hero. He's a mysterious, no-name, kind of guy. He's also an art thief with a twist. He's apparently built a device that allows him to cross into other dimensions, via the Drift, to steal great works of art. RASL is the tag he leaves at the scene of the crime. Running back home, to another world, provides a pretty clean getaway. There does seem to be a downside to dimensional travel, though. It really, REALLY, hurts. It hurts a lot. In fact, it hurts so much that our hero needs several days of drinking, smoking, and debauchery to recuperate before he can do it again. Of course, in the first issue, a job doesn't go quite as planned. Action and punching ensue!
RASL has the quality art and writing you expect from a star creator like Jeff Smith. What you may not expect is that he is bringing readers something very different from Bone. This sci-fi, noir-ish, tale is clearly aimed at more mature readers. Our hero is a hard-edged, shades of gray kind of guy, about as far removed from the sweet and naive Bones as you can get. As much as I loved Bone, I was excited to see that this is something different and that Smith is not a one-trick writer. Hooray for diversity!
If you enjoy great comics, you don't want to miss Jeff Smith's RASL. As an added bonus, it's the guaranteed Book of the Week! There's no need to plan an elaborate heist to steal a copy, you can buy one completely risk-free, no dimensional travel required.
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