Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful start to a top-notch graphic novel series
Review: 'Bone: Out From Boneville,' collects issues #1-6 of Jeff Smith's seminal Fantasy-Humor comic series that first kicked off in 1991. Anyone with an appreciation for top-notch comic book storytelling will quickly appreciate Smith's keen sense of compelling, exciting narrative blended in with keen-humor and characterization in every panel. For those not sure what this series is actually about, in a nutshell it can be described as a fantasy epic with strong overtones of humor and adventure populated with compelling characters of human, animal and mythic-being variety. Whether or not you're a fan of the fantasy genre you will nonetheless find yourself compelled with the story from the get-go thanks to Smith's wonderful storytelling ability. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Destined to be a classic
Review: I just want to add my "thumbs up" to all the reviews here. If you haven't read this series, here's where to start. With similarities to "Cerebus" and "Pogo", "Bone" has heart and soul all its own.The lead character, "Fone Bone" exhibits the full range of human emotions. He gets frightened at times, but keeps on going; he gets infatuated, he is loyal, he is ironic...what I am trying to say is that he brings concrete reality to his cartoon body. The stories are clever page-turners, filled with action, tension and wonderful humor. I can't imagine this going out of print, but in the comics industry you never know, so I recommend buying "Out from Boneville". I betcha can't read just this one...
Rating:
Summary: A Well Developed Fantasy/Adventure
Review: I love this series. It is fun enough for a young audience(the ages 9-12 that it is attributed to by Amazon), but contains serious enough themes for young adults and adults. The characters fit any fantasy description and the story fits the best definitions for a romance(the Roman kind as well as the kind we are most familiar with). As a fantasy, the situations are exaggerated to be, in a way, more interesting than real life. As a romance, the series is full of hope and optimism; adventure and trials. Fone Bone and the other characters are forced to change their goals as they experience doubts about themselves and their world. The conclusion will be one, very large accomplishment affecting the story's entire valley.
Bone is definitely a page turner. It is humorous. Throughout the adventure the reader is invited to laugh with and at the antics of its characters. They are likeable(even Phoney) and the reader has instant, additional sympathy for them because of their youth. With the drive of concern for the characters, the artwork catches and keeps the interest of the reader. The style is unique(black and white), fun, consistent while improving, and communicates the tone and the shifts of the tone. Jeff Smith's artistic timing inspires the reader's respect.
Finally, Bone is appropriate for all. The tale is tightly woven and carefully mastered. Nothing in it, distracts or detracts from the story. I would loan or recommend it to my eight year old niece, who loves Harry Potter; my brother in high school; or my mother who just, plain likes a good adventure. It is a rich story with a fun and interesting potential.
Rating:
Summary: A Well Developed Fantasy/Adventure
Review: I love this series. It is fun enough for a young audience(the ages 9-12 that it is attributed to by Amazon), but contains serious enough themes for young adults and adults. The characters fit any fantasy description and the story fits the best definitions for a romance(the Roman kind as well as the kind we are most familiar with). As a fantasy, the situations are exaggerated to be, in a way, more interesting than real life. As a romance, the series is full of hope and optimism; adventure and trials. Fone Bone and the other characters are forced to change their goals as they experience doubts about themselves and their world. The conclusion will be one, very large accomplishment affecting the story's entire valley.
Bone is definitely a page turner. It is humorous. Throughout the adventure the reader is invited to laugh with and at the antics of its characters. They are likeable(even Phoney) and the reader has instant, additional sympathy for them because of their youth. With the drive of concern for the characters, the artwork catches and keeps the interest of the reader. The style is unique(black and white), fun, consistent while improving, and communicates the tone and the shifts of the tone. Jeff Smith's artistic timing inspires the reader's respect.
Finally, Bone is appropriate for all. The tale is tightly woven and carefully mastered. Nothing in it, distracts or detracts from the story. I would loan or recommend it to my eight year old niece, who loves Harry Potter; my brother in high school; or my mother who just, plain likes a good adventure. It is a rich story with a fun and interesting potential.
Rating:
Summary: A great mixture of humor, fantasy, and great storytelling!
Review: In this, you meet Fone Bone and his Cousins, a beautiful young lady named thorn, Ted, who is not just any ordinary bug, and Crazy old Gran'ma, who races cows and thwarts Rat Creatures. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a good storyline. This is in a comic-book form, but there are no annoyingly over-powerful superheroes. This is in the form of a comic book, a long one, and it really enhances the feel of the story. But be forewarned, if you buy this, I guarantee that you'll HAVE to get the next one, and the next, and so on..... By the way, it doesn't say on this page, but there are 3 more Bone compilations. Search for author Jeff Davis (there'll be a LOT of entries) and the following are Bone books: Out From Boneville The Great Cow Race Eye of the storm Dragonslayer
Rating:
Summary: Timeless storytelling and essential reading
Review: Jeff Smith's "Bone" series is a critically acclaimed but criminally overlooked epic for a reason. Critics recognize Smith's masterful storytelling abilities and are drawn to his mix of all-ages humor and decidedly adult darkness, but the black and white art and lack of superheroes is anathema to most comic book readers, making it a hit only in the "underground" sense. Thank goodness for trade paperbacks, which have allowed new readers unaccustomed to weekly stops at the comic store to follow this marvelous, epic, enchanting series. Those new to "Bone" should know this: Throw away the term "comic book." It's a term that for many has become defined by superheroes, but Smith's "Bone" is much more than that. Timeless is every way, "Bone" is an expansive story about three "bone creatures" (you'd have to see them to understand) that find themselves in a valley peopled with an assortment of crazy and interesting characters. Looming over it all is the menace of a great evil, first glimpsed by the ferocious (and funny) rat creatures, but later revealed to be something much more disturbing. Smith combines the kind of classic storytelling perfected by the likes of the legendary Carl Barks and Bill Watterson - gleefully funny cartooning with outrageously expressive faces and gestures - with the epic and engaging plotting of a sweeping fairy tale. "Bone" walks a tightrope and walks it well, managing to be something fans of both Donald Duck and Bilbo Baggins can enjoy. "Out From Boneville," the first volume of nine, is in the grand scheme of things little more than an introduction to the people and places that make up the "Bone" epic. We meet Thorn, the sweet girl who our protagonist Fone Bone pines over, the unnaturally tough grandma, the grumpy bar tender, and, of course, the bones themselves. It's a light-hearted introduction to what becomes a more serious tale, and it's good fun to read. As a first chapter "Out From Boneville" is hardly representative of what "Bone" becomes, but then neither is "A Long Expected Party" in "The Lord of the Rings." Both ease the reader into what becomes an increasingly compelling, tense tale. It's a nice way to introduce us to these characters. "Bone" is essential reading that no lover of the comic artform should skip. Little doubt people will still be reading "Bone" 50 years from now. Broad in scope yet personal and quaint, this is a charming story in every way that will long outlast 90 percent of other comic works on the shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: A rather bald-faced rip-off
Review: Sure, sure, the art and the story were great (even full of enough suspense to choke you), but the main characters, especially Fone Bone (and ESPECIALLY the cigar-chomping Smiley Bone) look very much like long-lost Casper ghosts of certain well-known characters from an ancient comic strip that met an unfortunate tragedy in the modern funnies. Not even the presence of Bone's corrupted, money-hungry twin or the nubile young girl that he befriended or the whole swarming army of so-called "Rat Men" would be enough to distract the reader from such an open fact. Even the organizers of Pogo Fan Club seemed to accept - and even warmly embrace it. So what's next? Felix the Cat in prehistoric setting with roaring dinosaurs and busty cavewomen and Betty Boop in a futuristic anime with slimy tentacles?
Rating:
Summary: Simply Charming
Review: This is my favorite comic. This story is about three brothers (Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone) who have been chased from their hometown because of Phoney's overpowering greed and quest for political power. These brothers are little while creatures call Bones. These Bone brothers get lost and separated as they flee their hometown. Individually they stuble into a fantasy world populated by humans. After the brothers get separated, the story focuses on Fone Bone. Fone adapts to living in this new world. During his long winter stay, he runs into Thorn, a human girl. He instantly falls in love and becomes friends with Thorn, but he finds it impossible to express his love. Fone eventually moves in with Thorn and her grandmother. While staying at their house, there is a terrible crisis. They are attacked by the mysterious and terrifying rat creatures. Can they survive? Read it and find out. The art in this book is simply a pleasure to look at. The story had a simple sweet touch, but really livens up when the action starts. I was especially moved by the love between Fone and Thorn. I'm hoping that Fone will build up his courage and confess his love. If you read only one comic, this is the one you have to read. Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Charming
Review: This is my favorite comic. This story is about three brothers (Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone) who have been chased from their hometown because of Phoney's overpowering greed and quest for political power. These brothers are little while creatures call Bones. These Bone brothers get lost and separated as they flee their hometown. Individually they stuble into a fantasy world populated by humans. After the brothers get separated, the story focuses on Fone Bone. Fone adapts to living in this new world. During his long winter stay, he runs into Thorn, a human girl. He instantly falls in love and becomes friends with Thorn, but he finds it impossible to express his love. Fone eventually moves in with Thorn and her grandmother. While staying at their house, there is a terrible crisis. They are attacked by the mysterious and terrifying rat creatures. Can they survive? Read it and find out. The art in this book is simply a pleasure to look at. The story had a simple sweet touch, but really livens up when the action starts. I was especially moved by the love between Fone and Thorn. I'm hoping that Fone will build up his courage and confess his love. If you read only one comic, this is the one you have to read. Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Stupid, Stupid Rat Creatures.
Review: This whole series is amazing. It's a great all ages comic and I wouldn't have to think twice about recomending it to anyone. It's also a great book for parents to read to their children.
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