Near the end of his career and life, cult scientific legend Nikola Tesla claimed to be working on a 'teleforce weapon', a directed energy device he believed could ensure world peace by making traditional military force irrelevant. In 'Ray Gun', a young boy has acquired the real deal, Telsa's invention being a handheld weapon of seeming limitless destructive potential. Unbeknowst to him however, the US government is aware of the situation and is making plans to take the weapon for themselves.

Its a straightforward and familiar story, reminding me early on of 'The Rocketeer', mysterious power ending up in ordinary hands. So far it's not a bad take on the idea either, if a bit ponderous in some of its scenes, while setting up some darker elements that suggest some interesting developments as the story progresses.

The real standout stuff comes from Alonso Molina's art, black and white with a strong manga influence. Unlike a lot of Western comics attempts to mimic the manga look, Molina takes better lessons from the medium than most, his style leaning more towards the art of 80's comics than more fashionably recent styles, with strong black linework and scratchy hatching. It's a traditional look that serves as a stable and attractive platform for the story being told.

Overall, 'Ray Gun' does a better job with the a bit too familiar high concept story than a lot of its peers, with a good bit of credit going to the solid art. Won't change the game any, but it's among the better things I've read this week.

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Raygun #2 Writer: Greg Schoen Artist: Alonso Molina Publisher: Alterna Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 5/11/16 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital

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