5 out of 5

I don’t know what to say about Bone.  It is one of the most perfect things I’ve ever read.  It is one of the most admirable accomplishments in comics, in youth literature, ever.  I’m curious if the effect would’ve been changed reading this in actual comic book form – there’s something about the Scholastic trade editions that seems to legitimize it, putting it on the bookshelf (where it belongs) instead of issue-by-issue packed away in a comic box.  I can’t say; my first exposure to it was in these beautiful, perfectly-sized bundles, and so to me that’s the ideal way to read it, chunks of about 100 pages or so, loosely grouped into story arcs – just enough text and pictures to do in one sitting, just enough story to swallow and feel satisfied but long for more, just big enough to be something that you feel justified curling up with but aren’t daunted by.  I say ‘loosely’ grouped because that’s part of the amazing grace of the series – it’s not trade minded, it’s not five issue, easily divided pieces of a larger tale – it’s an evolving story, each piece required to climb to the next without, somehow, it feeling like you need to remember each detail that came before.  Since the series was republished over 4 years, I read it over four years and found myself enthralled.  But on a recent reread, I did it in a couple months and found it equally compelling, if not more because you can better appreciate the pacing once knowing a bit more what to expect.

What’s sad to me is how hard this book is to push on people who can’t deal with a cartoonish look.  Bone is surreal from the get-go – 3 brothers from the land of Boneville, chased out due to the scheming of trouble-makin’ brother Foney Bone, are drawn with the simple, defined look of a Pogo character, very nuanced – Smiley Bone’s cigars, Phone Bone’s Moby Dick-containing burlap sack – but very Saturday Morning at the same time.  The Bones get lost in a valley, stumble across a treasure map, then suddenly let’s break the cartoon barrier and they find themselves at the home of Grandma Rose and daughter Thorn.  And Jeff Smith’s range becomes apparent.  The backgrounds are lush or awe-inspiring or frightening, the bad guys are either comical or threatening, depending on the need, and every single principle and side character is flush with personality.  Even within one family Smith mixes it up – the stern Grandma classically mis-proportioned in a recognizable Popeye build, but then Thorn is a Disney Princess with just enough realism to keep her flawed.  She responds, she moves naturally across panels.  This fluidity and clarity informs every moment of the series, whether its the violence of some later massive battles, the Looney Tunes inanity of the cow race, or the simple hopping of bug Ted – nothing looks out of place.  Quite an accomplishment for the Roger Rabbit combo of humans and cartoons.  As with the Lemony Snickett books, which don’t have the push of Harry Potter and look more like kids books (and fucking kick Harry Potter’s ass and are great kid AND adult lit AND should appeal to a wider audience BECAUSE of the extra work they put into the binding and printing and grumble grumble), the series starts so unassumingly and just grows and grows into something so far from where it started but immediately recognizable all the same.  The growth is more memorable and adult than HP, and less manipulative.  (grumble grumble and better written)  Bone is the same.  Yes, it seems like an adventure book as it starts, but one critics comparison to LOTR is apt – the developments just sneak up on you.  Any fan of fantasy should dig it, but not every fan of fantasy will be able to see it as more than a funny animal book.

The story is no accident, either.  Simple contemplations on good and evil, on family, on relationships.  It’s so simple and yet deep, and Smith has shown himself capable of flexing his art and writing style by carrying over some themes and energy to his more adult Rasl.  I only bring it up as a comparison point to underline how accomplished Bone is.  Even if some of it was, none of it feels dialed in.  I trust Smith through the whole god damn affair.

The last thing to mention is the coloring and editing.  According to wiki, some extra pieces were added into the books, some scenes flip-flopped, some spelling corrected, some dialogue changed.  Almost every book you’ll end up catching one typo or slightly confusing moment, but Bone has none.  Even the extra pieces that were added seem like they should’ve always been there.  And the coloring… gorgeous.  Scholastic’s professional printing quality allows for deep colors on the page, but that would be meaningless without the amazing subtle work that Steve Hamaker does.  You can sit there and marvel at how the light blush on the Bones adds so much more to their character… just that subtle touch.

I don’t know what to say, so I just tried to say a lot.  Everyone – everyone should read this.