- Fantasy
- Graphic Novels
- Ages 8–13
The shape of it
One universe, several ways in.
Bone is Jeff Smith's landmark fantasy comic franchise, beginning as a funny story about three lost cartoon cousins and gradually opening into one of the great middle-grade graphic novel epics. The main Bone series blends slapstick, comic timing, dragons, rat creatures, hidden royalty, war, prophecy and a deepening good-versus-evil conflict. Around it sit companion and spin-off books that expand the world through tall tales, prequel material and prose-led adventure. It is funny enough to catch reluctant readers, but much richer than a gag series: the best comparison is a comic bridge between classic newspaper cartooning and Tolkien-like fantasy adventure.
A classic fantasy graphic novel universe: funny at first glance, then steadily bigger, darker and more epic.
Primary themes
Tone palette
- Funny
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Suspenseful
Three series inside
Pick a way in.
Bone
Best for readers who want a funny graphic novel that gradually turns into a serious fantasy epic.
Books
9 of 9Ages
8–13Status
Complete- Funny
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Suspenseful
Bone: Companions
Best for readers who have finished the main Bone series and want to spend more time in the valley, folkloric tall tales and a painterly prequel.
Books
3 of 3Ages
8–13Status
Complete- Funny
- Adventurous
- Warm
- Thought provoking
Bone: Quest for the Spark
A prose-led Bone spin-off for readers who want to stay in the world while moving towards chapter-book fantasy.
Books
3 of 3Ages
8–12Status
Complete- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Suspenseful
- Thought provoking
Cultural footprint
A shelf of evidence.
What Bone has done
- Major award winner
- Bestseller list
Cultural ubiquity
4/ 5Widely-known cultural fixture — just below household-name status.
Sensitivity
Moderate, and collection-wide.
Content notes
- Violence
- War or conflict
- Scary imagery
Across the collection
All 15 books.
About the creator