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Delightful. I’d heard about Bone for years, and remember seeing the books at my library growing up. It wasn’t until now that I sat down and read it. What a great story. It’s Lord of the Rings by way of Pogo, a strange combination on paper but one that works wonders in practice. I like how it starts off sort of goofy, only to gain depth and grow more epic as the story moves along. The storytelling is very natural and straightforward with no narration. Like a lot of epic fantasy, the final third does get a little plot-heavy and convoluted, but I didn’t mind because Smith made me care about the characters. The Bones, Thorn, Rose, Lucius, Ted the Bug... these guys are so likable and I really cared about them throughout. The Pogo influence is strong, what with the Bones resembling some of Walt Kelly’s animals. I was also reminded of Calvin and Hobbes (which itself was influenced by Pogo), especially Phoney and Smiley’s relationship.

Smith’s art is fantastic. It never falters, and suits the story damn near perfectly. It’s playful, creative, and also very natural. His simple, clean lines and facial expressions convey so much. I understand there’s a color version of Bone out there, but I can’t see it being as effective or beautiful as the black-and-white version in this edition.

Bone is very popular and I’m late to the party. But if you haven’t yet read it, and you like fantasy and good storytelling, I highly recommend it.