Plenty of superheroes have become household names thanks to the popularity of their comics, but there have also been series like Bone that have slowly made a name for themselves over time. Jeff Smith’s Bone started in 1991 and ran for over a decade and 55 issues, which helped it become one of the most successful independent comics of its time.

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Bone’s comic run is finished, but the property remains alive and there have even been recent developments to adapt the comic into a television series. Bone’s epic adventure that follows Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, and Phoney Bone is an incredible story, but it’s also gone through several changes since its inception.

10 It Moved To Image Comics For 7 Issues Before Going Indie Again

Jeff Smith Bone Comic Bone Beatles Walk

Bone started its run as an independent comic released through Jeff Smith's very own self-published Cartoon Books. This approach worked for Bone, but Smith came up with the savvy idea for Bone to briefly become an Image Comics property for issues 21-27 before it returned to Cartoon Books to finish out its run.

Image Comics didn't alter Bone's direction at all and it turned into a highly amicable relationship. Smith’s partnership with Image Comics was more so to expand Bone's reach and help it stay available in other collections, rather than it being a situation of selling out.

9 It Turns Into A Love Story That Becomes A Central Element

Jeff Smith Bone Fone Bone Consoles Thorn

Bone establishes a strong cast of characters with Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, and Phoney Bone, but it’s deeply satisfying when Jeff Smith allows these individuals to stray from their origins and show unexpected growth. Early on, the Bone cousins encounter Thorn Harvestar in the Valley, who becomes a crucial player.

An unlikely bond forms between Fone Bone and Thorn, which gradually evolves into a really sweet romance. Fone Bone’s flirting with Thorn initially feels a little silly, but it turns into the heart and soul of the story. Fone Bone and Thorn’s connection is one of Bone’s most important elements.

8 It's Received Prequels, Spin-Offs, A Sequel Trilogy, And Further Expansions

Jeff Smith Bone Legacy Quest For The Spark Group

It's not unusual for popular series to introduce new stories that explore different corners of the universe. Bone is rich in characters and story and over time there have been expansions that dig deeper into the lore.

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Several one-shots exist, but there are also more significant spin-offs like Bone: Tall Tales, which focuses on Smiley and Bartleby; or Rose, which functions as a prequel and gets away from the Bone cousins. There's also Bone: Legacy, which is a trilogy of sequel novels in prose and are set after the events of the main Bone series.

7 Phoney Bone Develops A Backbone

Jeff Smith Bone Phoney Bone Scared

Part of Bone’s charm is that its trio of main characters all feel distinct and like real individuals. Each of the Bone cousins play important roles, but Phoney Bone is by far the most fragile. Phoney Bone is frequently a coward and the member of the group that’s most likely to flee from conflict.

It’s a powerful moment during the series’ final fight when Phoney Bone brings an army forward to take on the enemy, even if he’s too late. Phoney Bone’s stand indicates that he’s matured and won’t just run away from a fight any longer.

6 They Return To Boneville

Fone Bone leans on a precariously-placed wheel in Bone

There’s always a lot of pressure around a strong ending and there can be even more trepidation when sequels, which have the power to undo fitting conclusions, are discussed. Jeff Smith’s Bone has an ending that’s practically perfect, yet he released a special epilogue to Bone on the 25th anniversary of the series.

Bone: CODA is a 120-page graphic novel that contains a 32-page story that centers around the Bone cousins’ return to Boneville after the events of Bone’s last issue. It’s a thoughtful extension to Bone that is more about reflection and growth than a gratuitous return.

5 The Size Of Its Cast Increases

Jeff Smith Bone Comic Trio Team Monsters

Bone begins as an intimate story that follows three outsiders, Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, and Phoney Bone, but as they're pushed out of their comfort zones they encounter new people who become invaluable on their quest. The Bone cousins make many temporary friends, but some of the most significant are Thorn and Gran'ma Rose, both of which have storied histories within the Valley.

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The Great Red Dragon is another helpful friend that assists Fone Bone when he's in a serious bind. Smiley Bone later gains a pet Rat Creature named Bartleby, who also becomes a valued member of the team.

4 It's Been Reissued In Color

Jeff Smith Bone Fone Bone Writing

Bone started as a small production for Jeff Smith and even though he tells some amazing and deep stories through the comics, it’s not surprising that the series is in black-and-white rather than full color spreads. Oddly, the minimalist palette works to Bone’s advantage and plays into the strength of the peculiar Bone cousins.

However, Bone has been reprinted in compiled volumes and for new markets, where it’s been updated to be in color. The colorized Bone is more appealing to younger audiences, which gradually became more interested in Bone. Colorized reissues can be problematic, but Bone makes it work.

3 It Progresses From The Valley To The Mountain

Jeff Smith Bone Ultimate Edition Wilderness

Any good adventure covers a lot of territory and allows for a sense of progression as the characters get further away from their place of familiarity. Bone begins with the Bone cousins' exodus from Boneville, which causes them to reach consistently greater heights. The Bone crew must first contend with the many changes that are present in the Valley, where they meet many new allies.

This in turn extends to a quest that covers the Mountain region, which is full of even more dangerous enemies and an abundance of Rat Creatures. These contrasting environments really help Bone's maturing sensibilities.

2 The Scope Of Villains Intensifies

Jeff Smith Bone Kingdok Rat Creature Looms

Bone is a story that's all about adventure, but it pits the Bone cousins against determined antagonists that wish to rule the world. The Bone cousins first face meager threats, but as their skills increase and they gain allies like Thorn, they come up against more difficult enemies.

The Hooded One and Kingdok are two evil beings that have an important connection to Thorn Harvestar as well as the Bones. They ultimately serve the Lord of Locusts, who is Bone's ultimate evil and the cause of all of the suffering in the story.

1 It's Been Turned Into A One-Volume Edition

Jeff Smith Bone One-Volume Edition Rat Creature Approaches

It’s always exciting when a comic finishes its run and it can be re-released in a special collector’s edition that puts everything together as well as incorporates some new or deleted content. Bone’s success has led to the release of two special edition one-volume releases.

There’s Bone: The Complete Cartoon Epic in One Volume as well as a full-color version that was released on Bone’s 20th anniversary. Both of these compilations make brief edits to panels, dialogue, and other minor alterations. These releases also include fun extras that show the franchise’s growth and examples of the beginning of Bone’s merchandising.

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