Not exactly film news and not exactly new news but sadly new to me. In such broken prose do I begin my eulogy of one of the great comics of the last decade, Bone. I first began hearing about it almost ten years ago, then came the toys, movie rumors and inflatable dragons. Now, nothing left but to read the last few isues and make sure to pass Jeff Smith's kinder gentler comic book universe on to future generations.
The book detailed the adventures of Bone from Boneville. Here's Smith's plot synopsis of the first part of the story arc "After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins - Fone Bone, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone, are separated and lost in a vast uncharted desert. One by one, they find their way into a deep forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures." Believe me that doesn't even begin to cover the wonder of beautiful Thorn, Gran,Ma, Red Dragons, Cow races, Rat Creature's and Kingdok.
Before you boneheads start chatting up the obvious jokes make sure you've read an issue or two. With Eisner's sense of panel, an art style composed of equal parts Walt Kelly and Disney, Jeff Smith constructed a work that made me fall in love comics all over again. I love the dark stuff, own the complete Sandman (thanks Todd!!) but Bone is for those times when I need to let the light shine in and bathe my soul with the idea that goodness and innocense aren't just something from the comics.
You can now get all the comics in hardcover from Smith directly or get ahold of this massive complete paperback.
And Smith has one last bone left to throw fans. There will continue to be Bone merch largely because of an exciting development. Scholastic Inc. has picked up the Bone series for colorized reprint. Fans who remember those gorgeous color covers will now get to experience the entire story that way courtesy of Smith and the newly formed Scholastic Graphics imprint. The first installment of that is due in February.
Smith himself will be keeping busy for the next while doing a mini series of Shazam!.