‘Raygun #1’ Comic Review

written by Gregory Schoen; art by Alonso Molina and Paulo Lopez


Raygun takes on themes of bullying, adversity, and family life in this sci-fi/historically-based comic, where a young boy named Matthew finds himself in possession of a weapon that’s been hidden away for over a hundred years.

Sent to live with his father by his deadbeat mom, Raygun #1 starts out with our protagonist (an antihero, more like), Matthew, going to live with a man who he barely knows. His father is a brilliant inventor, as clued in by the two robots that he introduces Matthew to upon arriving at his house, and this is a really important clue as to what could be coming for Matthew.

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That aside, it’s a typical displacement story: in a new place surrounded by new people, Matthew must learn to adjust. He has to start school in a new system, live with a new person, and join a new social hierarchy, of which he’s automatically at the bottom. From calling him crude names to his face, to insinuating that Matthew’s family is trash by the clothes he wears, it becomes clear that Matthew isn’t going to adjust well or easily fit in with the class. He quickly makes a friend, but that doesn’t stop the bullies from getting at him. The problems start almost immediately when Matthew gets picked on, but he’s quick to let them know he’s not going to take any of their crap by promptly socking the ringleader in the face.

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With Nikola Tesla as the centerpiece, Raygun is a comic that displays great technological achievement and what happens when it’s put into the hands of a young boy. It remains yet to be seen if the titular weapon is going to be used to vanquish some of Matthew’s newly acquired foes, but if similar media has taught us anything, it’s that Matthew is going to have to balance some incredible responsibility with an intense desire for power.

Raygun #1 is beautifully illustrated, with all characters, panels, and settings coming across clearly. The characterization of Matthew comes across effectively and effortlessly in each page, displaying a boy who has been through a lot and still wants to come out fighting. Secondary characters don’t have nearly as much interaction or dialogue but the players are clearly laid out–the bully, the sidekick, and our antihero. Overall, Raygun is a quick, interesting read, with real-life bases, and looks to be a promising series as we follow Matthew and the hunt for the weapon whose incredible powers have yet to be unleashed on the world.

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