Bone is one of those books that I just assume I've made my opinion known on, but then I go back and look at my reviews and realize that I've never actually reviewed the book, aside from Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails reviews during my Psycomic days. So, for the record: I think Bone is a classic of the medium, and every comic reader, especially one with young children or an interest in fantasy should at the very least give it a look. As for this specific issue, while Bone has had to sacrifice some of its humorous tone because of the increasingly dire nature of the epic story, Smith has made up for it with a pretty intricate set of political machinations, master villains and prophecies coming true. I'm a little behind the times, since I read Bone in hardcover editions, but I had no trouble catching up with the events of this issue, which find our heroes trapped in a castle under siege and desperately seeking ways to turn the tide, because it looks like the villains might win this one.
Bone is a book that rewards re-reading, and just this brief exposure to the book gave me the urge to go back and read books one through eight which currently sit on my shelf. Smith has created a vast fantasy world, with creation myths and prophecies and chosen ones and all that sort of good stuff, and in reading this issue, I very much got a Lord of the Rings type feel. Which is interesting, because while fantasy has always been an element in Bone, the book began as almost a slapstick comedy in the classic Disney or Warner Brothers vein, and it has transformed into a more wide ranging fantasy epic. The downside of this rich fantasy world, of course, is complexity, and I confess that some of the mysteries of who's possessing who, why the dragons are acting the way they are, who the Lord of Locusts really is, etc. can go over my head, since I don't have a photographic recall of everything that has gone before. Fortunately, Smith has been consistent with his revelations, and it's easy enough to ride out any questions on an issue-per-issue basis, knowing that a reread of the entire saga will provide all the information at all the times necessary to make it clear.
Though the overall story in this issue is one of dire portents and seemingly unwinnable battles, as the forces of good crowd into a fortress and await the next surge of attack, Smith does liven things up with a bit of slapstick and a fun chase sequence in this issue. Smiley Bone, the hapless and unerringly nicest of the Bone cousins, has taken the likable young Rat Creature Bartleby under his wing, and when Bartleby is discovered, the result is a madcap chase throughout the castle as panicked defenders try to kill it and Smiley tries to get it out of harm's way. The chase is funny, as Smiley shows an almost Jackie Chan-like ability to use objects of convenience to protect Bartleby, but it also shows the nobility and kindness that are Smiley's hallmark, transforming him for a brief moment from pure comic relief into the hero of the piece.
The real heroic moments, though, are given over to Fone Bone, who has been the lead character for so long, and Thorn, who has gone from being a sweet innocent and confidant of Fone to the troubled but strong hope of the forces of good. Her self-sacrificing decision, aided by a surprisingly useful bit of talent from Phoney Bone, makes for a strong climax to the issue, and the resulting actions by Bartleby and Fone are equally heroic and moving.
Jeff Smith has been at this for a long time, and his artwork was great from the start. So it's pretty much impossible to have any complaints about it at this point, and his work on Bone #52 is typically excellent. The imagination and detail that goes into the dragons, the castle and the dreaming prophecies really brings the fantasy setting to life, and the storytelling is very strong. I was particularly pleased with the chase sequence, which has a playful quality despite the life-and-death stakes of the whole thing, and with how much personality he brings to the relatively expressionless young Rat Creature Bartleby.
