I first heard about Bone on Usenet back in the mid 1990s. This independent book was all the rage among the more discerning online comics readers, it seemed, so I broke down one day and picked up the first trade paperback. The next day, I picked up the second and added Bone to my pull list. The humor, adventure and rather odd take on fantasy really grabbed my attention; hell, even my non-comics-reading roommate loved Bone. From the moment winter "hit" Fone Bone in the first chapter, I was taken with the character and the property.
Unfortunately, a couple of moves and shifts in comics shops conspired to make me lose track of the title. I figured trying to dive back into the book now after a prolonged absence -- several years now -- might prove to be daunting, but after reading this issue, I was surprised and thrilled to discover that it was easy to immerse myself in the fun and excitement all over again. Smith's script is well balanced and fairly accessible overall.
The Rat Creatures have surrounded the city, sending the populace into a panic. Gran'ma Ben fears the fear will give the parasitic Nightmare entity known as the Locust an edge and enable it to take over the form of her granddaughter, Princess Thorn. Meanwhile, Thorn learns of the origin of the Locust and the dragons, and Phoney Bone, with Smiley Bone and Bartleby in tow, plots to slip unnoticed out of the city, carting away a long los and forgotten treasure.
Despite the simple tone of his style, there's a remarkable fluidity in Smith's artwork. The action is choreographed incredibly well, and the figures move so well from panel to panel that it almost seems like animation rather than static artwork. Walt (Pogo Kelly is clearly a major influence on Smith's work, but I also see hints of such artists as Charles Vess, Paul Smith and Elfquest's Pinis here. One of the greatest strengths in Smith's work is his eye for perspective, and how he can shift easily from the lighter, cartoony tone that dominates his style to a more detailed approach when he really wants to achieve an emotional reaction or emphasize a scene or element.
Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone continue to stand out as my favorite characters, even after such a long absence. The reason is clear: they're the only characters who aren't focused on the same thing as everyone else. They bring humor and a self-centered charm to the story.
Sigh... time to go through my comics and see where I left off with Bone. I've got some trade paperbacks to pick up again.
