I had Books 1-7 of the color print and like a jackass I sold them to a comic shop for pocket change.
This series had a big impact on my appreciation for storytelling in comics. I would say it gets a bit convoluted with dreams and royalty in the last couple of books from what I read later on but a comfy read nonetheless.
The finale book heavily shafted smiley and phoney in the final book. They could’ve been given character arcs or something to actually do but instead they’re just more there to react. Phoney sees Johnathan die and he doesn’t have an emotional reaction despite literally being the reason he died (this woulda never happened if they showed up.) furthermore the series should’ve ended with bone and co remaining in the valley with smiley and phoney reopening the tavern in honor of Johnathan (with ludicrous new prices.) its a great story with beautiful art that gets refrenced in modern times because it feels like lotr for kids but it is not without flaws.
As much as I love Bone I always thought the earlier parts to be stronger than the later ones. Particularly how in the beginning you're just getting acclimated to all these new characters and situations as the Bones explore the valley and as the story goes and the plot unfolds you see how everything and everyone is connected. But then as the story goes on new things keep popping up that don't get that same attention and feel more like they're just there to serve a purpose and pad out the story or get things to the next plot point. I think the first time I noticed it was with Roque Ja and it didn't stick out all that much, but when you get near the end and there are the rogue disciples in the city who only indirectly and minorly inconvenience the main characters until they're quickly and unceremoniously killed off by the main antagonists, which starts the big siege and really triggers the endgame.
>As much as I love Bone I always thought the earlier parts to be stronger than the later ones.
It noticeably drops off after the big reveal with Phoney's runaway campaign balloon.
The tone shift to "serious drama" wasn't handled very well and has bad pacing. Some of the earlier books feel either less important because of the later ones or are simply "better" depending on your view on them. Numerous plot points are juggled without satisfying resolutions.
Of course, it has great paneling, character expressions, and godlike dialogue and gags all the way through, so it'll always be remembered fondly, even though it's kind of awkward to actually discuss.
>The ending was dumb. >By the end of it (when they arrived at Thorn's kingdom), it felt like they just coming up with random problems and obstacles instead of the threat of Briar and the Rat Creatures being enough to fill the whole story. >It never got as fanservice-y with Thorn's clothing damage as it should've.
I read it recently, and while i enjoyed it, i was also kinda dissapointed. Something about the pacing, the characters behaviour, i dunno. Pretty good, nevertheless.
>the ending sort of sour things
I'd only read a few of the early chapters when I was younger (mostly those that had been printed in Disney Adventures), but it wasn't until a Cinemaphile anon did a story time of the whole series here somewhat recently that I actually read the whole thing, and... yeah. The Bones just go back to Boneville? Where they were run out of town under the threat of severe bodily harm, if not death? They didn't grow past it and change as people from their extremely long stay in the Valley and all the life-altering events they went through? Fone clearly likes Thorn and Thorn maybe kinda likes Fone, but neither of them discuss it before the Bones leave? Phoney wants to go back where his schemes are constantly foiled and people hate his guts instead of staying in the Valley where he's learned to play the citizens like a fiddle? I mean, I get that Boneville had been their home up until that point, but geez, were their species that unfamiliar with (or adverse to) the concept of moving?
Honestly the problem is the Jeff literally wrote the last page first and stuck to it, even when it probably would’ve been better not too. I mean he could’ve expanded more on the ending and their decision to leave but i guess he wanted to wrap things up.
That's dumb. He should've made it more blatant throughout the story that the Bones really hated the Valley if he was gonna do that. Sure, Phoney complained about it, but he complained about everything.
What the frick is even the point of these threads? Has everybody been raped so hard by gay internet reviews that they think they have to list 'flaws' with art they like to prove they're smart or nuanced or something. How about just liking something you homosexual
My strange gripe at the time is that Jeff drew the human characters in side view/profile way too much to the point of distraction. I guess it was easier due to human complexity but if you notice how many more poses the (easier to draw) bones have it becomes a little annoying.
It's a legit gripe. I worshipped Bone as a teenager and thought it was flawless. I read it again recently and yikes, Smith wasn't very good at drawing Thorn, was he? He can cartoon and caricature like a madman but his life-drawing skills were very unpolished.
Broadly, Thorn as a character was definitely a weak point in the story. The comic as at its best when she had a more minor role. The bigger she got, the more tropey and dull the comic became. She needed to be as broad and interesting and bizarre as the Bones or Granma Ben rather than the bland and reactive Mary Sue that she was.
The earlier books are some of the best stuff in western comics; the last books are just okay.
Why the frick did Rock-Jaw keep getting so much focus? Like I guess he was fine in that one chapter where they were passing through his territory, but then he just kept showing up over and over.
Not enough quiche.
I had Books 1-7 of the color print and like a jackass I sold them to a comic shop for pocket change.
This series had a big impact on my appreciation for storytelling in comics. I would say it gets a bit convoluted with dreams and royalty in the last couple of books from what I read later on but a comfy read nonetheless.
The finale book heavily shafted smiley and phoney in the final book. They could’ve been given character arcs or something to actually do but instead they’re just more there to react. Phoney sees Johnathan die and he doesn’t have an emotional reaction despite literally being the reason he died (this woulda never happened if they showed up.) furthermore the series should’ve ended with bone and co remaining in the valley with smiley and phoney reopening the tavern in honor of Johnathan (with ludicrous new prices.) its a great story with beautiful art that gets refrenced in modern times because it feels like lotr for kids but it is not without flaws.
You mean Lucius
Yeah I confused the two my b.
feels too "generic fantasy"
the climax isn't really that great at parts
I remember the dragon queen or however and the dragon killing guy in particularly being resolved poorly
As much as I love Bone I always thought the earlier parts to be stronger than the later ones. Particularly how in the beginning you're just getting acclimated to all these new characters and situations as the Bones explore the valley and as the story goes and the plot unfolds you see how everything and everyone is connected. But then as the story goes on new things keep popping up that don't get that same attention and feel more like they're just there to serve a purpose and pad out the story or get things to the next plot point. I think the first time I noticed it was with Roque Ja and it didn't stick out all that much, but when you get near the end and there are the rogue disciples in the city who only indirectly and minorly inconvenience the main characters until they're quickly and unceremoniously killed off by the main antagonists, which starts the big siege and really triggers the endgame.
>As much as I love Bone I always thought the earlier parts to be stronger than the later ones.
It noticeably drops off after the big reveal with Phoney's runaway campaign balloon.
The tone shift to "serious drama" wasn't handled very well and has bad pacing. Some of the earlier books feel either less important because of the later ones or are simply "better" depending on your view on them. Numerous plot points are juggled without satisfying resolutions.
Of course, it has great paneling, character expressions, and godlike dialogue and gags all the way through, so it'll always be remembered fondly, even though it's kind of awkward to actually discuss.
It becomes more focused on Thorn as it goes along, and she's just not super interesting.
the aboriginal mythology feels out of place with the swords and sorcery setting
It exists
nope
>The ending was dumb.
>By the end of it (when they arrived at Thorn's kingdom), it felt like they just coming up with random problems and obstacles instead of the threat of Briar and the Rat Creatures being enough to fill the whole story.
>It never got as fanservice-y with Thorn's clothing damage as it should've.
I love it, but boy does the last act kind of peter out. And the epilogue is also really unsatisfying.
I read it recently, and while i enjoyed it, i was also kinda dissapointed. Something about the pacing, the characters behaviour, i dunno. Pretty good, nevertheless.
Fone Bone didn't bang Thorn.
Of course not! A maiden that fair has to be properly courted first!
He didn't properly court her, either.
He wooed! That counts for something!
>He wooed!
He didn't even do that right!
Oh frick off with this, it wasn't going to happen.
The Asian kids at my school liked this. Nit a flaw but I noticed this.
Final book is sort of a mess. I love it all, but the final book and the ending sort of sour things.
>the ending sort of sour things
I'd only read a few of the early chapters when I was younger (mostly those that had been printed in Disney Adventures), but it wasn't until a Cinemaphile anon did a story time of the whole series here somewhat recently that I actually read the whole thing, and... yeah. The Bones just go back to Boneville? Where they were run out of town under the threat of severe bodily harm, if not death? They didn't grow past it and change as people from their extremely long stay in the Valley and all the life-altering events they went through? Fone clearly likes Thorn and Thorn maybe kinda likes Fone, but neither of them discuss it before the Bones leave? Phoney wants to go back where his schemes are constantly foiled and people hate his guts instead of staying in the Valley where he's learned to play the citizens like a fiddle? I mean, I get that Boneville had been their home up until that point, but geez, were their species that unfamiliar with (or adverse to) the concept of moving?
Quest for the Spark tells us they did the talkshow circut.
Honestly the problem is the Jeff literally wrote the last page first and stuck to it, even when it probably would’ve been better not too. I mean he could’ve expanded more on the ending and their decision to leave but i guess he wanted to wrap things up.
That's dumb. He should've made it more blatant throughout the story that the Bones really hated the Valley if he was gonna do that. Sure, Phoney complained about it, but he complained about everything.
It's meh.
What the frick is even the point of these threads? Has everybody been raped so hard by gay internet reviews that they think they have to list 'flaws' with art they like to prove they're smart or nuanced or something. How about just liking something you homosexual
that's what they're doing. homosexual.
I read about a third of it but didn't understand the appeal. It wasn't serious but it also wasn't funny?
Shitty worldbuilding
My strange gripe at the time is that Jeff drew the human characters in side view/profile way too much to the point of distraction. I guess it was easier due to human complexity but if you notice how many more poses the (easier to draw) bones have it becomes a little annoying.
It's a legit gripe. I worshipped Bone as a teenager and thought it was flawless. I read it again recently and yikes, Smith wasn't very good at drawing Thorn, was he? He can cartoon and caricature like a madman but his life-drawing skills were very unpolished.
Broadly, Thorn as a character was definitely a weak point in the story. The comic as at its best when she had a more minor role. The bigger she got, the more tropey and dull the comic became. She needed to be as broad and interesting and bizarre as the Bones or Granma Ben rather than the bland and reactive Mary Sue that she was.
The earlier books are some of the best stuff in western comics; the last books are just okay.
Why the frick did Rock-Jaw keep getting so much focus? Like I guess he was fine in that one chapter where they were passing through his territory, but then he just kept showing up over and over.
He was one of the characters carried over from the Thorn comic strip Jeff did in college. Left his boar sidekick behind though.
The excessive sweating gets a bit distracting at times.
It's not called Boner
Briar's defeat and Lucius' death felt rushed and less impactful than they should have been.