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''Bone'' is a Graphic Novel by Jeff Smith . It was originally serialized in an independently, irregularly published Comic Book series for 55 issues, from 1991 to 2004 , notable as one of the longest-running Self-published comic book series by a single writer/artist. Smith's black-and-white drawings are inspired by Animated Cartoon s and Comic Strip s, a notable influence being Walt Kelly 's '' Pogo .'' However, the story contains both light-hearted comedy and dark, epic fantasy, drawing inspiration from J. R. R. Tolkien and others. Different characters are drawn in widely different styles, reflecting ''Bone'''s diversity of tone. ''Bone'' has received numerous Award s, among them 9 Eisner Award s and 9 Harvey Award s. The comic ended with its 55th issue, dated June 2004 . The back cover has, in place of the usual comic panel, a black and white photo of Smith in his studio drawing the last page on May 10 . STORY The three Bone cousins - the avaricious Phoncible P. "Phoney" Bone, the goofy, Cigar -smoking Smiley Bone, and the Everyman character Fone Bone - are run out of their hometown of Boneville after Phoney decides to run for mayor with disastrous results. An example of his resulting unpopularity was given by Smiley, saying that the mayor declared a school holiday just so all the schoolchildren could come and throw rocks at Phoney. After crossing a desert and ending up in a mysterious valley, the cousins are separated, and must individually make their way across a fantasy landscape pursued by locusts and rat creatures before meeting up again. At this time, they are taken in by a mysterious girl named Thorn and her even more enigmatic grandmother. As they stay longer in the valley they encounter humans and other creatures who are threatened by a Dark Lord , the Lord of the Locusts. Fone Bone is drawn into the events around him and finds himself on a Hero's Journey to help save the world. COLLECTIONS
One Volume Edition The special 1300 page, one volume edition was released originally for $40 (USD) through Jeff Smith's Cartoon Books imprint in a paperback volume. This special print of the entire adventure was to celebrate the recent end of the series and the commencement of every collection in the series being reprinted in color through Scholastic Press. In addition to the one volume paperback, a limited edition hardcover print of the one volume book was issued with each hardcover copy signed and numbered by Jeff Smith. This limited edition pressing of the book originally sold for around $150 (USD). CAST OF CHARACTERS
NOTES Although essentially a high fantasy, ''Bone'' often displays great comic humor, particularly the Great Cow Race in issue #10, and Phoney's ongoing efforts to become rich off the credulous valley residents. The series tended to become more serious and adventurous as it went on, and the humor became a lesser element in the story. The Bone characters have been compared to those of Walt Kelly 's '' Pogo '', both in appearance and in characterization. However, their respective personalities also have other precedents. Phoney Bone's personality resembles Carl Barks ' Scrooge McDuck , Fone Bone's personality bears some similarities to J.R.R. Tolkien 's Bilbo Baggins , and Smiley Bone's personality is akin to Ed Norton from '' The Honeymooners ''. Gran'ma Ben bears an unmistakeable similarity to Popeye , and Thorn shares a 'hidden king' history with characters like Tolkien's Aragorn . The Stupid Rat Creatures also seem to have origins in Tolkien with their constant quarreling over how to cook any of their prey like the trolls from The Hobbit . Most of the series was Self-published by Smith under his Cartoon Books imprint, but for a short time was published by Image Comics . During this time, the first 20 issues were reprinted by Image with new covers. These reprints are identifiable by having reproductions of the original covers on the back. The Cartoon Books printings have black back covers, inset with a single panel reprinted from inside. First printings can be distinguished from later printings by changes in the color of the logo on the front cover. The story has been collected into a set of nine black-and-white Trade Paperbacks ; some of the artwork, especially in critical exposition scenes, was revised and expanded for these editions. The 1300-page story has also been published in a single paperback volume, from Cartoon Books. Issues from the ''Out From Boneville'' collection were also reprinted in the digest-sized children's magazine '' Disney Adventures '', first in 1994 and later in 1997 through 1998 . As Of 2004 , Cartoon Books' Steve Hamaker is coloring the entire series for new color editions of the nine trade paperbacks, to be published by the Graphix imprint of Scholastic Press . In addition to the regular series, there have been a pair of spin-off Limited Series : ''Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails'', about an earlier visitor from Boneville to the valley, and ''Rose'', about Thorn's grandmother in her youth. One very unusual thing about the series is Boneville itself. Even though the three Bone cousins are from Boneville, and it is frequently referred to as the place where they wish to return, the village itself is never shown or depicted in the Bone comics. OTHER MEDIA Animated film An attempt to produce a film of ''Bone'' through Nickelodeon Films was unsuccessful, although several ''Bone'' adventures were featured in ''Nickelodeon'' Magazine in the mid-90s. According to Smith, Nickelodeon saw the story strictly as children's entertainment, and insisted that the Bone characters be voiced by child actors and that the film had to include pop songs by the likes of Britney Spears . Video games On February 22 2005 , Video Game company Telltale Games announced that they will be developing Adventure Games based on the comic using episodic format. The first episode, Out From Boneville , was released on September 15 2005 , while the second episode, based on The Great Cow Race , is as of April 12, 2006 available on Telltale's website SEE ALSO
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