A Comic That's Good to the Bone

Twelve years ago, when Jeff Smith started writing, drawing and self-publishing Bone, a black-and-white comic about three odd-looking creatures lost in a valley of dragons, talking bugs and rat creatures, his efforts seemed like folly. But the series grew into an award-winning favorite of cool kids and hip adults. Now finished and collected as a 1,300-page softcover (Cartoon Books), Bone combines the humor and look of early Disney movies with the scope of the Lord of the Rings cycle. A former animator, Smith draws characters that are both cute and scary, and he infuses every panel with dynamic energy. While children will read Bone for its breathless adventure and sight gags, older kids and adults will appreciate the themes of blind fanaticism and corrupting power. You might want to bone up on it.