Bone

Bone is an American comic book series, written and illustrated by Jeff Smith, originally serialized in 55 irregularly released issues from 1991 to 2004.

The series was published bimonthly with some delays from June 1991 to June 2004. The series was self-published by Smith's Cartoon Books for issues No. 1 to No. 19, by Image Comics from issues No. 20 to No. 28, and back to Cartoon Books for issues No. 29 to No. 55.

Plot
The story follows the three Bone cousins - Fone Bone, Phoncible P. "Phoney" Bone and Smiley Bone. When Phoney's campaign for mayor goes awry, the cousins are run out of their hometown of Boneville. After crossing a desert, Smiley finds a hand-drawn map that they use to navigate their way across the fantasy landscape. The cousins are separated by a sea of locusts and individually end up in a mysterious valley. Their journey is made more difficult by the rat creatures that are pursuing them on their travels. Eventually, they joyously reunite at a local tavern called Barrelhaven, where they are taken in by a girl named Thorn and her even more enigmatic grandmother, Rose Ben. Fone Bone instantly develops a crush on Thorn and repeatedly attempts to express his love through poetry. As they stay longer in the Valley, they encounter humans and other creatures who are threatened by a dark entity, the Lord of the Locusts. The Bones, trying to escape to Boneville, are quickly drawn into the events around them, compelling them on a hero's journey to help free the Valley.

Books

 * 1) Out from Boneville (1991)
 * 2) The Great Cow Race (1995)
 * 3) Eyes of the Storm (1996)
 * 4) The Dragonslayer (1997)
 * 5) Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border (1998)
 * 6) Old Man's Cave (1999)
 * 7) Ghost Circles (2001)
 * 8) Treasure Hunters (2002)
 * 9) Crown of Horns (2004)

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Creative mixture of light-hearted comedy, cartoon characters, and dark fantasy.
 * 2) Lots of likable and memeorable characters, such as Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, Thorn, and the two stupid rat creatures.
 * 3) Sophisticated, intelligent and dark moments, especially in later books, such as in The Dragonslayer, where Thorn cuts off Kingdok's arm.
 * 4) Lots of character devlopment.
 * 5) One of that first crop of creator-owned books that constituted a burgeoning movement away from the malaise of the corporation-directed folderol of the 80s.
 * 6) While the characters, dialogue, and verbal storytelling are great, one of the foremost joys of the book is how he conveys his narrative through artistic choices.
 * 7) It employs a lot of dialogue and Smith is not shy about using words. Still, he shows over and again that he knows when to shut up and let his art speak for him and his characters. Even if Bone was entirely wordless and plotless, it would be worth your time for the art alone.
 * 8) The book is riddled with funny moments, even in the midst of dark doings and ill tidings. That may be exactly what saves it from being as grim and dour and thematically grey as some of its fantasy-genre cousins.
 * 9) All of the protagonists are well-rounded and individuated (save perhaps for Smiley Bone, who remains a bastion of zany aloofness throughout). Even the supporting characters are given personalities and motivations.
 * 10) The series ended on a decent note.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) The show can get a bit too dark at times. In fact, it was challenged in schools for its dark elements.
 * 2) Phoney Bone can be pretty unlikable.

Reception
Bone has received numerous awards, among them ten Eisner Awards and eleven Harvey Awards.