Every once in a while, I dabble in graphic novels, without really knowing much about them. I’m not at all interested in the violent or superhero ones that seem to dominate the genre but in the more unusual ones. This volume of RASL pulled me in with its reference to Nikola Tesla. Tesla is one of my husband’s interests, so I picked it up at the library to read together.
Alas, there was no indication on the book that it was part of a series, and it was a little difficult to pick up what was going on. Also, I should have paid more attention to the guy with two blazing guns on the cover.
RASL is an ex-military engineer and art thief whose discovery with his partner of Nikola Tesla’s lost journals has allowed them to create a machine that takes them across parallel universes. RASL has figured out that the work of his previous lab to draw energy from the parallel universes to use in ours will destroy people in all the universes involved. He returns from another universe to find the entire town surrounding one of the labs destroyed and the authorities lying about it being a small accident.
RASL sets out to destroy the labs and Tesla’s notebooks, pursued by the dastardly Agent Crow, who has apparently already killed RASL’s parter, Dr. Miles Riley. RASL is also betrayed by his ex-lover Maya.
The science is unlikely, although the story does give a good background about Tesla (ignoring the fact that he was insane when he died). However, the story devolves into the usual violence.
The art is pretty good, although I didn’t like Smith’s rendition of people’s faces. At least the book isn’t full of rippling muscles and pulchritudinous females.
whatmeread 
Graphic books are becoming so popular, and I’ve been holding off on them because I feel as though I wouldn’t like them as much as my regulars. But I might have to give in and try them one of these days…
I have looked at some really good ones in terms of art and some with a really interesting purpose, but I haven’t read very many. Mostly, when I see them in bookstores, they look like superhero stuff, which I’m not interested in at all.
I just gloss over them, too, without really looking at them properly. They just don’t call to me. Maybe it’s also because I get a lot of graphic novel reading in with my kids.
If you can find one by Hannah Berry, you might be more impressed. They are hard to find, though. I don’t remember what put me onto them. I think I found one at the library and then I ordered the other one. She only has two. I recommend Britten and Brulightly.
Thanks!
One word: Saga.