Reviewing Bone is challenging. It’s sort of the all ages version of The Sandman --- a fantasy epic with a beginning, middle and end that has influenced a generation. I first read Bone when it was coming out in the original black and white trade paperbacks. But then, ten years ago, Scholastic began its graphic novel imprint, Graphix, by publishing full color editions of Bone. This new tribute edition celebrates the tenth anniversary of those color editions and everything Bone.

BONE #1: OUT FROM BONEVILLE introduces to the three Bone cousins, Fone, Phoney and Smiley. These three little white creatures are on the run from the others of their village, after a scheme concocted by the rich Phoney went awry. Separated by a swarm of locusts in the mountains, we follow the Bones as they fall into The Valley, where they encounter a Red Dragon, talking possums and bugs, and the beautiful farm girl Thorn and her Gran’ma Ben. But there are threats here as well, including the Rat Creatures (two in particular, who hunt Fone Bone for food for quite some time), their giant leader, Kingdok, and the mysterious Hooded One, who seeks the destruction of Phoney.

"This tribute edition of OUT FROM BONEVILLE is either a wonderful place to start your Bone collection or a welcome visit with old friends."

Bone is a story of high adventure, humor, and friendship. This first volume does a lot to establish all these main characters: Fone is friendly and helpful, Phoney is manipulative and scheming, and Smiley is kind of dimwitted but loveable. These are broad strokes, and the characters develop tremendous depth over the course of the series, but it’s a good start. It establishes the stakes for The Valley, with the ever possible invasion by Rat Creatures. Thorn, Gran’ma Ben and the tavern keeper Lucius are introduced, as are other characters who become more important as the series continues. It leaves the reader with mysteries to solve: What is the secret of Gran’ma Ben’s past? Why does The Hooded One want Phoney? What do Thorn’s prophetic dreams mean? Why does that one Rat Creature love quiche? (OK, that last one isn’t really a mystery, but it’s a running gag that always makes me chuckle.)

Jeff Smith, writer and artist for the entire Bone series, is a cartoonist of the highest caliber, and even though this is early work, it’s still charming. The Bones have expressive faces, even with their simple design, and those expressions tell as much of the story as any word bubble could. Thorn is clearly beautiful without being portrayed lasciviously. The designs for the creatures of the world, the Red Dragon and the Rat Creatures, are original, not like the designs of other monsters and dragons; they have become well known in all the years since Bone was first published, but it’s interesting to sit back and look at them again with fresh eyes.

The highlight of this volume --- the thing that makes it a perfect volume for those who have already read Bone as well as those new to the series --- are 32 pages of new material from Bone creator Jeff Smith and other luminaries of the all ages comics world. This section starts out with a short comedic illustrated poem written and drawn by Smith, “An Ode to Quiche.” Yes, that pesky Rat Creature is once again mourning his inability to put Fone Bone into a flakey quiche, and his compatriot still doesn’t understand what the fuss is about. Smith also provides a series of pin-ups inspired by major moments in the book. These aren’t essential to anyone’s appreciation of Bone, but the art is beautiful and the poem is intentionally awful in a charming way.

The Tribute Gallery in the very back of the book is pure gold. The artists who provide pages for this are some of the best cartoonists working in all ages comics today. Some, like Kate Beaton and Jeffrey Brown, provide wordless pin ups of favorite Bone characters. Jimmy Gownley, creator of the Amelia Rules! series, draws a funny little pin-up on Gran’ma Ben taking up painting. But the best of the lot is a one page comic from Raina Telgemeier (SISTERS), who does what feels like a semi-autobiographical piece about how Bone impacted her. All of this is to show just how much Bone has influenced the creators who have come after it.

Bone is everything that is great about an all ages comic. It can be appreciated by kids and adult equally. It never talks down to the reader. It is beautifully illustrated. This tribute edition of OUT FROM BONEVILLE is either a wonderful place to start your Bone collection or a welcome visit with old friends.