Stuff I Wish You Loved As Much As I Do: Bone

Comic books are not everybody's cup of tea, and that's fine. As a medium, you're either interested in it, or your not. But I reckon, like most mediums, there are very rare exceptions where something is just so good, and so universally accessible, that it crosses over, and the medium takes a back seat to how great the thing is.

Bone is the example of this for comics. I guarantee you, that even if you have zero interest in comics that you would just fall in love with this, because it's just a perfect piece of art. Fantastic story telling, characters you love, and just a perfect realisation of the story through brilliant drawing. It's a travesty that something so good is not a household name like Harry Potter. It should be on the school curriculum. Every child should own a copy.

American cartoonist Jeff Smith wrote, drew and self published 55 issues of Bone from 1994-2001, a great big sweeping fantasy saga, but full of humour and lighthearted stuff to balance it out. Sort of like early Walt Disney meets Lord of The Rings. It's all drawn in beautiful black and white, and Jeff Smith is just the master. Not a bad drawing anywhere to be seen. I bought all 55 issues back in the day, but it's one of the few things that I loved as a teenager that I can appreciate just as much now. A few weeks ago, I started reading it to Little e. We read 2 issues before her Sunday arvo rest, and she's really getting into it, which is great. We are up to #18 now. It's just one of those very rare things that is as appealing to a four year old as to a 34 year old. And I'm sure a 64 year old would love it to. There's nothing rude, or dodgy, and it's just family friendly all over, yet it doesn't feel like some boring 'kids' thing. Honestly. So, I'll leave my rant there. But you've gotta believe me. Your life will be that much poorer if you never read Bone. Your kids' lives too. Think of your kids!

You can get started with the first trade paperback, 'Out From Boneville', which collects the first several issues. There are also coloured kids editions you can find, or even a giant mega 1332 page version which collects the entire 55 issues.