So, I recently ventured off and bought a copy of Bone: Rock Jaw, Master of the Eastern Border. I was both pleased and disappointed.

It distresses me that I had to feverishly search the childrens section of the Borders I went to.  I can’t see how a work like this has to be crammed into a corner. Want to know why? I’ll give you backstory. It’s published by Jeff Smith, and it’s a graphic novel and it was originally serialized in 55 irregularly-released issues from 1991 to 2004, notable as one of the longest-running self published comic book series by a single writer/artist (thanks, Wikipedia!). I found it in that same place a few years ago, when it starting to be released in larger compilations as a colored work.

But to the book. Let me say that I love Smith’s style- the Bones are just awesome looking and if this wasn’t high fantasy I’d wish they were real. I can really connect with them. Not to mention how cute (but anthropomorphic) the animals are. But one thing that really bothers me is drawings of humans, especially Thorn. In the first few she looked pretty good but now I really dislike her character.  She sometimes looks like a real she-bitch.

The story is great. It doesn’t rival Tolkien but it gets really good.  I’d love to see this made into an animated feature. It really kept me wondering (seeing as the last few colorized editions haven’t been finished, I haven’t read the whole story), and I just really hope I don’t get a Halo 2 ending…..

On a sidenote, it was reasonably priced when I bought it.

Overall, I would suggest a purchase. Despite where you find it, it’s a great syndicated graphic novel and the story just asks to be read. The artwork is (mostly) pleasing and attractive to the eye, and it’s a nice size too- the editions I buy are a good 130-170 pages and it’s a great tea and biscuits kind of read.