Bone, Vol. 7: Ghost Circles by Jeff Smith

Bone, Vol. 7: Ghost Circles by Jeff Smith

Bone, 184 pages

⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The Bones, Gran’ma Ben, Thorn, and their loyal Rat Creature cub venture on a journey through the mysterious ghost circles to Atheia, the old city of the royal family. One wrong step could change the Valley’s fate forever…

Bone, Vol. 6: Old Man's Cave by Jeff Smith

Bone, Vol. 6: Old Man's Cave by Jeff Smith

Bone, 128 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

As war spreads through the Valley and the rat creatures mount a vicious offense, Gran'ma, Lucius, Phoney Bone and the villagers join the Veni Yan warriors and set up base camp at Old Man's Cave to make a final stand against the Rat Creature army. Will Fone Bone be able to hold the alliance together? Will the rat creatures finally take over the valley and unleash the power of the Lord of the Locusts?

Bone, Vol. 5: Rock Jaw Master of the Eastern Border by Jeff Smith

Bone, Vol. 5: Rock Jaw Master of the Eastern Border by Jeff Smith

Bone, 116 pages

⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Trying to return a rat creature cub to the mountains, Fone & Smiley Bone encounter yet another adversary: the sly and mighty mountain lion, Rock Jaw.

In this fifth volume of the BONE saga, Fone and Smiley Bone strike out into the wilderness to return a lost rat creature cub to the mountains. It doesn't take long before they run smack into Rock Jaw, "Master of the Eastern Border," an enormous mountain lion with a none-too-friendly disposition. Life gets even more complicated when they befriend a group of baby animals who are being orphaned by rat creature attacks. Everything comes to a head in an earth-shattering clash between Rock Jaw and Kingdok, the leader of the rat creatures.

Bone, Vol. 4: The Dragonslayer by Jeff Smith

Bone, Vol. 4: The Dragonslayer by Jeff Smith

Bone, 168 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Fone Bone confronts a host of Along with Gran'ma Ben and Thorn, he has a terrifying encounter with Kingdok, ruler of the Rat Creatures. The Hooded One is inciting their army to full-scale war. Someone is continuing to haunt Thorn in her dreams. And then Gran'ma Ben disappears. To make matters worse, Phoney Bone has hoodwinked the townspeople into believing that he is a mighty dragonslayer. When he actually does catch the Red Dragon -- much to his surprise -- he must face up to his promise… to slay the dragon at sunrise.

Bone: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith

Bone: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith - 142 pages

This comic features a blob-like creature named Fone Bone who helped his cousin escape from being mobbed by running away from the town of Boneville.  While wandering around he loses his two cousins and finds his way into a beautiful valley.  Unfortunately, there are rat-like creatures that want to eat him, a dragon that seems to be following him around, and the snow has blocked his way out of the valley to find his cousins.
This is a fairly popular comic with younger children. I picked it up as part of the Banned Books Week challenge this month.  I'm not quite sure why it was banned.  I don't really see anything offensive in this first volume.  It seems to be a fairly tame adventure fantasy comic for children.

Crown of Horns (Bone #9), by Jeff Smith

Crown of Horns (Bone #9), by Jeff Smith, 232 pages

This was the last book in the Bone saga, and the journey was worth the destination.  Bone and Thorn, Phoney and Smiley- all are locked in a dungeon while Briar and the Locust King, along with a swarm of rat creatures and general ne'er do wells wage war on the stronghold of Atheia.  Thorn is drawn to the Crown of Horns, but it could spell doom for all of civilization.  And where are the dragons?? This is an excellent finale filled with excitement, danger, quiche, and an ending that offers closure for all plot lines.

Treasure Hunters, Bone Vol 8, by Jeff Smith

Treasure Hunters, Bone #8, by Jeff Smith, 144 pages

Fone Bone, Thorn and Granma Ben have reached Atheia, but things have changed since Granma lived there.  There are corrupt guards out to kill the long-thought-dead royals, and even the loyalists have their doubts about Thorn.  Meanwhile, Phoney schemes to make a fortune, Smiley feels torn between Bartleby and Boneville, and Fone Bone finds that it's not easy when a bee has a crush on you.

Ghost Circles (Bone #7), by Jeff Smith

Ghost Circles (Bone #7), by Jeff Smith, 184 pages

While I've heard the Bone series likened to The Lord of The Rings, it's only in this 7th volume where I can truly see the comparison.  This sweeping story of good and evil and love and friendship is finally getting somewhere! Thorn, Granma, and the three Bones have to cross the valley, which has become full of treacherous ghost circles.  Lucius' loyalties are questioned, the Lord of the Locusts is not yet finished with Briar, and readers get to see Phoney and Fone Bone dressed as Captain Ahab and Ishmael.  This particular edition was in color, which enhanced the reading for me.

Old Man's Cave, Bone 6, by Jeff Smith

Old Man's Cave (Bone #6), by Jeff Smith, 128 pages

Alright, now things are finally moving.  The whole valley is preparing for war, with the villagers surrounded by rat creatures at Old Man's Cave.  The identity of the Hooded One is revealed, but it raises many more questions about Thorn's family and what really happened the night her parents died.  The action is not completely resolved in this volume, but we do finally find out why everyone is searching for Phoney, 'the one who bears the star.'  Delightful as ever.

Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border, Bone 5, by Jeff Smith

Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border (Bone 5), by Jeff Smith, 128 pages

I thought this book would provide some resolution to the burgeoning conflict of Book 4, but... it doesn't.  Fone Bone and Smiley go off into the wilderness in order to return a rat creature cub (although it's not really clear why they have a rat creature cub...) and adventure ensues.  And by 'adventure,' I mean another run-in with the quiche-loving rat creatures, a giant cat by the name of Rock Jaw (sort of), some very cute orphan animals, and a very scary Kingdok.  Who might actually be comprised of locusts.

At least there was a reprieve from the antics of Phoney Bone.

The Dragonslayer, Bone #4, by Jeff Smith

The Dragonslayer, Bone #4, by Jeff Smith, 176 pages

Well, it takes until the end of this volume, but I think we're finally getting to some action.   Fone Bone, Thorn and Gran'ma Ben get into a real fight with the rat creatures, and someone loses an arm- exciting! The Lord of the Locusts gets more and more creepy; Lucius makes a bet with Phoney Bone that it looks like he might lose; and Phoney Bone convinces the whole town that he is a dragonslayer- but what will happen when he's asked to deliver? Book 5 will tell all... I hope.

Eyes of the Storm, Bone #3, by Jeff Smith

Eyes of the Storm, Bone #3, by Jeff Smith, 192 pages

The plot thickens in book 3 of the Bone series.  After their antics at the cow race, Smiley and Phoney Bone have to work off their debt to Lucius in town.  Of course that won't stop Phoney from scheming.  Fone Bone and Thorn both have mysterious dreams that lead up to an interesting revelation about Thorn.  This one relies less on the slapstick comedy that made Book 2 so fun, but it makes it clear that this is a series with more substance than it appears at first glance.

The Great Cow Race, Jeff Smith

The Great Cow Race, Jeff Smith, 144 pages

This is the second book in the Bone series.  Phoney Bone tries to pull off the hugest cow-race scam ever heard of, Fone Bone worries about giant rat creatures and how to tell Thorn he likes her, and Smiley Bone remains the comic relief.  It's a cute, tame read, with more of a comic-strip feel than that of a graphic novel.  But clearly the series is leading up to a bigger adventure.

Out From Boneville, Jeff Smith

Out From Boneville, by Jeff Smith, 144 pages

These books have been out for quite awhile, but I never got around to reading them.  This first in the series offers alot of promise and I see a special appeal for reluctant readers and boys.  The story is about three separated cousins Bone trying to find each other after having stumbled into a world different from their own; but by the end of the book, one can tell that there is going to be a bigger adventure in store.  It's funny, cute, and there's a little something for everyone in here.  Definitely a "clean" comic.