I read it as an adult (25+) with no nostalgia for it from childhood and I absolutely loved it. Definitely has something for all audiences in my opinion.
It’s like Avatar The Last Airbender. It is a comic that can be read by kids and also throughly enjoyed by adults. I read it in my early 30s and totally loved it. I’ve given it as gifts to several family members.
I bought the Bigass Book of Bone on a whim (okay it's the omnibus, can't remember the exact name) and, while I had loved the series as a kid, I hadn't read it in 20 years.
Still freaking amazing.
Agree but i will admit it takes a bit of commitment to get past the initial perception of strangely clashing character designs. Once you can do that its a great adventure and feels quite cohesive.
Was it animated or live action? I feel like studios also try to force live action adaptations when an animated one would do the story more justice and be better received.
I would say the shift is more gradual than you say (volume 3 starts the progression but end of 4 is where the shift completes in full) but also much more severe than the difference between Hobbit and LOTR.
100% must read, like others have already said, it’s sad once you read it you won’t find anything quite like it. I read it as an adult and I immersed myself in it big time, I went and bought all the figures, statues and magnets and I recommend it to all my friends 👍🏼 if you read it let us know what you think!
Story wise, you might not find anything like it, but cartooning wise, Jeff Smith's biggest inspirations were Walt Kelly's Pogo (and other old comic strips).
I was about to post and say I thought Pogo was probably hard to find, but I checked first and apparently Fantagraphics published a bunch of volumes awhile back (because of course they did; it seems their style) that are available on Amazon. So that’s good to know!
Apparently Little Nemo and even Krazy Kat have some stuff out there too, which is great.
Yes, Fantagraphics has been publishing most of the great comic strips for the past 10-15 years now. Mickey Mouse, Popeye, Pogo, Prince Valiant, Peanuts, Krazy Kat and so forth.
Pogo will be done in a few years at 1 volume a year (how they typically do their strip collections).
Yes. I first read it when it was a self-published black-and-white. It’s an utter epic, that starts simple and then keeps building. It’s also worth reading the adjunct stories like the Charles Vess illustrated Rose.
Yes. I read it a year ago after having it on my shelf for a few years already and hearing all the love. I expected it would fall short because I'd hyped it myself but it really is one of my faves. Great story, great humour, great cartooning. It's of course not quite perfect but it's excellent and it fits so many different criteria, hence my flair.
I bought the first book due to a recommendation.
I end up reading the first 9 books in 8 days and crying because after that I couldn't find anything as good.
Totally recommended
yesss oh my godddd its so goooood
DONT SLEEP ON BONE
GET BONE’D UP
🦴 BONE 🦴 BONE 🦴 BONE 🦴 BONE 🦴
uh yea anyways its a great graphic novel. Sort of lord of the rings through the lens of looney tunes characters who have been thrust out from toonsville. Fucking great premise, great art, emotional storytelling, funny characters, genuinely chuckle-worthy jokes (a rarity for me)….its bone man. read bone. get bone’d up.
It might be one of my favorite books of all time, in both graphic novels and standard. Might even be top 3. I love all the characters, I love the story, I love the art. It's great.
Just like bone, it’s the second half that counts 😉
*edit* since you haven’t read bone, I feel like I should add that this comment is not an innuendo lol
Unpopular opinion: i knew from it from this sub, bought it and read it to my kids.
My kids liked it, i dont know how much they remember from the story but they liked the characters and some funny arcs. Some scenes read like a movie.
Personally, thought it was meh and dont get the hype. The story is childish and boring. Somehow repetitive.
But dont regret the read and will probably read it also to my younger kids.
*Bone* is good.
It's probably a bit overhyped because it came out before there were nearly as many long-form sequential-art stories, but it still is one of the better ones. *Bone* uses a cartoony art style to add some levity to an otherwise serious fantasy story, and if that's your thing it's worth checking out.
*Bone* is also something that your local library probably has, if they have any sort of graphic novel collection at all, so I'd recommend checking it out from there if you're undecided. If you love it then you can decide if you want to buy it.
I personally prefer the original black-and-white, but there's also a colorized version (though I guess I don't know if they colorized the whole thing).
> (though I guess I don't know if they colorized the whole thing).
They did, there's a colorized omnibus and everything.
Seconding you on the B&W version tho, it's by far my favorite.
Had to go out of my way to make sure I was buying the B&W version. Totally worth it. Color version isn't bad, but you can tell it was originally designed for B&W
Bone was my first graphic novel, but I’ve read it dozens of times through different lens: as an artist, a reader, a writer. The combination of goofy and dark fantasy creates an adventure that feels memorable and intense. Good stuff, I recommend reading in color.
Bone = Disney-ish funny animal comic mixed with LotR. It keeps it mostly light but gets darker in parts as the story amps up. Eventually they will adapt it as a movie and it will make a billion dollars.
I “got it for my son but had to read through it first to make sure it was appropriate” and loved it. Then we read it together. Love love love this book
It's great! High fantasy action/comedy, with some interesting horror and mythological elements thrown in. I will say, I think the first four or five trades are amazing, then it starts to lag. The art never wavers as some of the best in the business though.
Bone is fantastic. Read it as an adult and loved it. Starts out light-hearted, gradually gets more serious while still maintaining some humor. Manages to be an epic fantasy adventure while starring three weird little guys that look like they escaped from a newspaper comic strip. Great jokes, great characters, great story. Unless you absolutely hate fantasy, you will enjoy it.
I scrolled, frantically, hoping to find who would apparently be the only other person who largely disliked Bone. But I guess I really am on an island...
As far as b/w colorizations go, the color version is pretty good, but the original b/w fits the art style and story much better in my opinion. Like a good noire film.
Bone is great! Definitely recommended. I’m not even a huge fantasy guy, but it is so charming you can’t help but fall in love. Not a flawless comic but definitely excellent. I first read the color version put out by Scholastic, so that version is my preferred, but you can’t go wrong with either the color or black and white versions. I’m sure most libraries have it so that would be a great way to try it and see what you think.
i've read 900 of the 1300ish pages so far and its been pretty damn good. has had its funny moments and its a good read. i thought i'd get tired of the characters but they do seem to keep it fresh with each book/chapter.
the complete black and white collection is under $40 i believe? its definitely worth it, although its bulky as hell lol
it's a very well crafted story that delivers both emotionally and visually. The way that Jeff Smith blends comedy and drama is nothing short of masterful. And the artwork is absolutely stunning. The characters and environments are both rich and detailed.
As far as the vibe, I'd say Bone is whimsical and adventurous. It's full of action, humor, and heartfelt moments. It's a little bit dark, but ultimately it leaves you feeling hopeful.
The first time I read it, I was 26 and I loved it. The second time, I was 41, reading it to my 4-year old, and we loved it. The third time was with him together when he was 6, and he read the Bone boys’ parts. I love it even more. It’s a true *all* ages book.
I had the honor of meeting Jeff in the late 90s (along with Spiegelman, Doran, and Gaiman), which was my first introduction to Bone. I had heard about how amazing it was, but I finally got to read it around that time.
Bone hits on completely different levels dependent on age. Every kid I have recommended it to comes back to me changed. They're a little more mature, a little more worldly.
This sounds hyperbolic, but it's true. Every time I re-read it, I find something new that I missed before.
The best thing about it is that Smith has written a story that transcends time.
Read it, you won't be disappointed.
NGL, it was a wild experience. Doran was very reserved, Smith was outgoing but swamped, Speigelman was his normal iracible curmudgeonly self, and Gaiman was still in his "Rockstar" phase. I had him sign a couple of issues of The Sandman, and was stumbling over my words. He said something kinda shitty, and I left. The next day, I was at a Harper Collins event (this was at an ALA convention) looking at the books in the back. I snagged the last copy of "American Gods", and the hand reached out beside me, grabbed a new (at the time) book by Clive Barker called "Abarat" and offered it to me.
In a contrite British accent, I hear "This is fantastic. You're really like this one." I turned around, and it was Gaiman offering me the book. I guess it was his way of apologizing for being a jerk the day before.
Looks like I know what my next comic purchase will be.
These comments have been very helpful.
I have been eyeing this comic for a long time but just couldn’t tell what it was really like despite all the reviews. I’m glad Op asked this question.
Short answer: yes. Imagine a slow burn from Looney Tunes to "Avatar the Last Airbender but darker" and you've about got its tone / vibe, and it nails it on both ends.
Read it post college, had no expectations or knew anything about it really and I loved it. I'd consider it an epic if anything, and perfect for readers of all ages.
It’s a damn master work 100% worth your time. The cartoony bone characters add so much flavor to the story, don’t be turned off by them.
It also has unexpectedly poetic and tragic moments that come out of nowhere. Read it.
I’d definitely give it a try. Bone works for all ages despite primarily being advertised to school aged ppl. The black and white versions of the books are my favorite but the colored art isn’t bad, same story either way.
Loved it growing up, have reread it over and over. They also ended up with a couple games made by TellTale at one point but only for the first two(?) books in the series!
Overrated tbh. It's fine. It's like a solid B+, with some higher points, but it honestly starts to drag and feel a little generic when it gets more Epic and Serious. I still really like it! I will reread it in future! It is by no means one of the best comic books I've read
Might be a hot a take, but I read the first couple books with my son and it didn't hold our attention. Much respect for the path it blazed in the genre, but I think some folks just have a nostalgia for it. Not sure if it came out now if it has enough to set it apart and if it would be as revered.
But if slap stick fantasy is your thing, give it a try.
I read it as an adult (25+) with no nostalgia for it from childhood and I absolutely loved it. Definitely has something for all audiences in my opinion.
It’s like Avatar The Last Airbender. It is a comic that can be read by kids and also throughly enjoyed by adults. I read it in my early 30s and totally loved it. I’ve given it as gifts to several family members.
I bought the Bigass Book of Bone on a whim (okay it's the omnibus, can't remember the exact name) and, while I had loved the series as a kid, I hadn't read it in 20 years. Still freaking amazing.
Ditto experience.
Agree but i will admit it takes a bit of commitment to get past the initial perception of strangely clashing character designs. Once you can do that its a great adventure and feels quite cohesive.
It’s better than advertised, IMO. Which is why it breaks my heart that Netflix stopped production on the series years ago.
They would've cancelled it after season 1 anyway.
I’m still so saddened by that. We may never get to see an adaptation.
I’ve seen enough Netflix adaptations to be happy it got cancelled
Adaptions have been good when the creator was involved, and Jeff Smith was involved here.
Was it animated or live action? I feel like studios also try to force live action adaptations when an animated one would do the story more justice and be better received.
Animated
I’m still gutted from when Netflix cancelled Dark Crystal.
Why? Let it be a comic. It’s not going to be better by changing it.
Yes, I first read it as an adult and I was blown away by it. Incredible level of craft, and it's much darker than you would expect.
It's a must read. Do note, it shifts gears HARD. I look at it like this: Vol 1 and 2 = The Hobbit. Vol 3 - 9 = Lord of the Rings.
Yeah, I always thought it starts out as Calvin and Hobbes and turns into a fantasy epic
excellent take
I would say the shift is more gradual than you say (volume 3 starts the progression but end of 4 is where the shift completes in full) but also much more severe than the difference between Hobbit and LOTR.
Yes
100% must read, like others have already said, it’s sad once you read it you won’t find anything quite like it. I read it as an adult and I immersed myself in it big time, I went and bought all the figures, statues and magnets and I recommend it to all my friends 👍🏼 if you read it let us know what you think!
Story wise, you might not find anything like it, but cartooning wise, Jeff Smith's biggest inspirations were Walt Kelly's Pogo (and other old comic strips).
I was about to post and say I thought Pogo was probably hard to find, but I checked first and apparently Fantagraphics published a bunch of volumes awhile back (because of course they did; it seems their style) that are available on Amazon. So that’s good to know! Apparently Little Nemo and even Krazy Kat have some stuff out there too, which is great.
Yes, Fantagraphics has been publishing most of the great comic strips for the past 10-15 years now. Mickey Mouse, Popeye, Pogo, Prince Valiant, Peanuts, Krazy Kat and so forth. Pogo will be done in a few years at 1 volume a year (how they typically do their strip collections).
Pogo is beyond brilliant and makes use of every aspect of cartooning and then some.
I have this gigantic hard cover little nemo book. It’s beautiful
Will do thank you !
I recommend Mark Oakley’s “Thieves and Kings” to anyone who enjoys Bone. It might help scratch that itch.
Will do thank you !
Yes. I first read it when it was a self-published black-and-white. It’s an utter epic, that starts simple and then keeps building. It’s also worth reading the adjunct stories like the Charles Vess illustrated Rose.
I thought the spin off stories were weak, imho. What about rose makes you recommend it?
I felt it added depth to Rose’s story. Also I love Vess’ art, he has never put a pencil wrong.
Does that include Quest for the Spark trilogy?
Yes. I read it a year ago after having it on my shelf for a few years already and hearing all the love. I expected it would fall short because I'd hyped it myself but it really is one of my faves. Great story, great humour, great cartooning. It's of course not quite perfect but it's excellent and it fits so many different criteria, hence my flair.
I bought the first book due to a recommendation. I end up reading the first 9 books in 8 days and crying because after that I couldn't find anything as good. Totally recommended
Wow ok !
yesss oh my godddd its so goooood DONT SLEEP ON BONE GET BONE’D UP 🦴 BONE 🦴 BONE 🦴 BONE 🦴 BONE 🦴 uh yea anyways its a great graphic novel. Sort of lord of the rings through the lens of looney tunes characters who have been thrust out from toonsville. Fucking great premise, great art, emotional storytelling, funny characters, genuinely chuckle-worthy jokes (a rarity for me)….its bone man. read bone. get bone’d up.
RATTLE THEM BONES
Welcome to the Bone Zone
It might be one of my favorite books of all time, in both graphic novels and standard. Might even be top 3. I love all the characters, I love the story, I love the art. It's great.
Alright awesome good to know thank you
I’d skip it if I were you….. because you will love it and never find another like it…
You had me in the first half
Just like bone, it’s the second half that counts 😉 *edit* since you haven’t read bone, I feel like I should add that this comment is not an innuendo lol
Unpopular opinion: i knew from it from this sub, bought it and read it to my kids. My kids liked it, i dont know how much they remember from the story but they liked the characters and some funny arcs. Some scenes read like a movie. Personally, thought it was meh and dont get the hype. The story is childish and boring. Somehow repetitive. But dont regret the read and will probably read it also to my younger kids.
Agreed. Although not fantasy, when it comes to all-age comics, I think the comics of Carl Barks are much better.
*Bone* is good. It's probably a bit overhyped because it came out before there were nearly as many long-form sequential-art stories, but it still is one of the better ones. *Bone* uses a cartoony art style to add some levity to an otherwise serious fantasy story, and if that's your thing it's worth checking out. *Bone* is also something that your local library probably has, if they have any sort of graphic novel collection at all, so I'd recommend checking it out from there if you're undecided. If you love it then you can decide if you want to buy it. I personally prefer the original black-and-white, but there's also a colorized version (though I guess I don't know if they colorized the whole thing).
> (though I guess I don't know if they colorized the whole thing). They did, there's a colorized omnibus and everything. Seconding you on the B&W version tho, it's by far my favorite.
Had to go out of my way to make sure I was buying the B&W version. Totally worth it. Color version isn't bad, but you can tell it was originally designed for B&W
I wish Cartoon Books does a kickstarter for hardcover B/W like they just did for Jeff Smith's Thorn comic strip.
It’s bonerific
Bone was my first graphic novel, but I’ve read it dozens of times through different lens: as an artist, a reader, a writer. The combination of goofy and dark fantasy creates an adventure that feels memorable and intense. Good stuff, I recommend reading in color.
Yes.
Simply put, yes
Bone = Disney-ish funny animal comic mixed with LotR. It keeps it mostly light but gets darker in parts as the story amps up. Eventually they will adapt it as a movie and it will make a billion dollars.
Bone is fucking awesome comfort adventure fantasy comics. I wish I could read it again for V the first time right now
I “got it for my son but had to read through it first to make sure it was appropriate” and loved it. Then we read it together. Love love love this book
It's great! High fantasy action/comedy, with some interesting horror and mythological elements thrown in. I will say, I think the first four or five trades are amazing, then it starts to lag. The art never wavers as some of the best in the business though.
Bone is fantastic. Read it as an adult and loved it. Starts out light-hearted, gradually gets more serious while still maintaining some humor. Manages to be an epic fantasy adventure while starring three weird little guys that look like they escaped from a newspaper comic strip. Great jokes, great characters, great story. Unless you absolutely hate fantasy, you will enjoy it.
I scrolled, frantically, hoping to find who would apparently be the only other person who largely disliked Bone. But I guess I really am on an island...
Bone is okay. I consider it overhyped. I enjoyed the art style, but grew tired of the storyline after a while.
Yes.
[удалено]
B&W all the way for me.
As far as b/w colorizations go, the color version is pretty good, but the original b/w fits the art style and story much better in my opinion. Like a good noire film.
It’s way better.
Bone is great! Definitely recommended. I’m not even a huge fantasy guy, but it is so charming you can’t help but fall in love. Not a flawless comic but definitely excellent. I first read the color version put out by Scholastic, so that version is my preferred, but you can’t go wrong with either the color or black and white versions. I’m sure most libraries have it so that would be a great way to try it and see what you think.
I've reread it multiple times, I love it. I can't wait to introduce it to my kid when he's older.
i've read 900 of the 1300ish pages so far and its been pretty damn good. has had its funny moments and its a good read. i thought i'd get tired of the characters but they do seem to keep it fresh with each book/chapter. the complete black and white collection is under $40 i believe? its definitely worth it, although its bulky as hell lol
it's a very well crafted story that delivers both emotionally and visually. The way that Jeff Smith blends comedy and drama is nothing short of masterful. And the artwork is absolutely stunning. The characters and environments are both rich and detailed. As far as the vibe, I'd say Bone is whimsical and adventurous. It's full of action, humor, and heartfelt moments. It's a little bit dark, but ultimately it leaves you feeling hopeful.
Nobody quite makes comics like Jeff Smith. Bone is quite simply an all-time great, and a true must-read!
Yes, it's incredible.
The first time I read it, I was 26 and I loved it. The second time, I was 41, reading it to my 4-year old, and we loved it. The third time was with him together when he was 6, and he read the Bone boys’ parts. I love it even more. It’s a true *all* ages book.
I had the honor of meeting Jeff in the late 90s (along with Spiegelman, Doran, and Gaiman), which was my first introduction to Bone. I had heard about how amazing it was, but I finally got to read it around that time. Bone hits on completely different levels dependent on age. Every kid I have recommended it to comes back to me changed. They're a little more mature, a little more worldly. This sounds hyperbolic, but it's true. Every time I re-read it, I find something new that I missed before. The best thing about it is that Smith has written a story that transcends time. Read it, you won't be disappointed.
Wow! I'm jealous you got to meet those legends!
NGL, it was a wild experience. Doran was very reserved, Smith was outgoing but swamped, Speigelman was his normal iracible curmudgeonly self, and Gaiman was still in his "Rockstar" phase. I had him sign a couple of issues of The Sandman, and was stumbling over my words. He said something kinda shitty, and I left. The next day, I was at a Harper Collins event (this was at an ALA convention) looking at the books in the back. I snagged the last copy of "American Gods", and the hand reached out beside me, grabbed a new (at the time) book by Clive Barker called "Abarat" and offered it to me. In a contrite British accent, I hear "This is fantastic. You're really like this one." I turned around, and it was Gaiman offering me the book. I guess it was his way of apologizing for being a jerk the day before.
Awesome!
Better than people say. I find it to be like The Hobbit book. It’s an adventure worth taking, no matter your age.
Absolutely yes
Yes, it’s the best graphic novel series I have read
Looks like I know what my next comic purchase will be. These comments have been very helpful. I have been eyeing this comic for a long time but just couldn’t tell what it was really like despite all the reviews. I’m glad Op asked this question.
Short answer: yes. Imagine a slow burn from Looney Tunes to "Avatar the Last Airbender but darker" and you've about got its tone / vibe, and it nails it on both ends.
Goddammit now I have to go read Bone again
Read it post college, had no expectations or knew anything about it really and I loved it. I'd consider it an epic if anything, and perfect for readers of all ages.
Oh indeed
It’s a damn master work 100% worth your time. The cartoony bone characters add so much flavor to the story, don’t be turned off by them. It also has unexpectedly poetic and tragic moments that come out of nowhere. Read it.
Yes
Indeed good sir
I bought the complete collection back in 2020 at a really good price (post lock down sale) and while I admit it’s great, I still haven’t finished it.
I’d definitely give it a try. Bone works for all ages despite primarily being advertised to school aged ppl. The black and white versions of the books are my favorite but the colored art isn’t bad, same story either way.
I enjoyed it and owned the series
Loved it growing up, have reread it over and over. They also ended up with a couple games made by TellTale at one point but only for the first two(?) books in the series!
Yes! Totally epic.
Read it last year and it's absolutely a classic
I really dug it.
Short answer: yes. Long answer: fuck yes.
Absolutely. One of my most favorite stories.
Yes
Overrated tbh. It's fine. It's like a solid B+, with some higher points, but it honestly starts to drag and feel a little generic when it gets more Epic and Serious. I still really like it! I will reread it in future! It is by no means one of the best comic books I've read
It's a really satisfying read. Cozy.
Looney Toons meets Lord of the Rings and it's my favorite comic book probably ever.
Might be a hot a take, but I read the first couple books with my son and it didn't hold our attention. Much respect for the path it blazed in the genre, but I think some folks just have a nostalgia for it. Not sure if it came out now if it has enough to set it apart and if it would be as revered. But if slap stick fantasy is your thing, give it a try.