|
Jeff Smith
|
|
||
|
Genre
|
|||
|
Media
|
Graphic Novel
|
||
Publisher | Cartoon Books. US | ||
ISBN | 978-188896314 | ||
|
Reviewer
|
Gareth
|
Synopsis
An American graphic novel first! The complete 1300-page epic adventure from start to finish in one deluxe trade paperback. Three modern cartoon cousins get lost in a pre-technological valley, speanding a year there making new friends and out-running dangerous enemies. Their many adventures include crossing the local people in The Great Cow Race, and meeting a giant mountain lion called RockJaw: Master of the Eastern Border. They learn about sacrifice and hardship in The Ghost Circles and finally discover their own true natures in the climatic journey to The Crown of Horns.
Review
I can not praise Bone enough, and I doubt that I will be able to do it justice.
To call it one of the most important comics of recent years is an understatement. Bone came completely out of left field; self published by Jeff Smith, it tells the story of the 3 Bone's the money obsessed Phoney Bone; the slightly goofy and utterly hilarious Smiley Bone and Fone Bone -the protagonist of the story- as they accidentally lose themselves after being run out of Boneville. Soon they find themselves embroiled in a saga that threatens not only to destroy any hope of them returning to Boneville, but also the lives of all those that live in the Valley.
The artwork is stunningly simple and wondrously effective - Jeff Smith's pacing is spot on -no one can pace a joke like him, not even Dave Sim, in my view. From humble and hilarious beginnings Smith was able to create a wonderfully spiritual chronicle of black versus white; good versus evil using the sublime Bone cousins as ciphers.
In some ways, this is the comic equivalent of Lord of the Rings - in terms of scope. However Bone is more tightly plotted than Lord Of The Rings, is something I will treasure and a book I will definitely read again and again.
If you enjoy what we provide, please consider making a donation.
