Customer Reviews

The Great Cow Race (Bone, Volume 2)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At long last! Jeff Smith's epic high fantasy comic masterpiece is being produced in color.

Fans of Bone will be pleased with Steve Hamaker's crisp coloration, which frequently adds shadow and texture without overloading the panels and really brings out the details of the art. Fans familiar with the one-volume addition will also be glad to see additional artwork filling the space between chapters, as artwork in the original black and white nine-volume series has been reintroduced, including the 'Possum kids' goofy poem and the two-page spread of Thorn frolicking with the Bones. These new color volumes also reveal more of Smith's (or his editor's) endless fiddling. The dialogue in the one-volume edition had been altered, sometimes significantly, and very minor changes have been made again. Most noticeably, the misspelling of "Kewpie doll" has at last been corrected.

The quality is much higher than in Volume One: Out from Boneville. The pixelation that some panels suffered in Volume One is gone. The printing is crisp and even the colors seem brighter. However, as in the last volume, the panels have been shrunk. The one-volume edition was smaller than the original nine volumes and the new color volumes have been shrunk again. Surprisingly little detail is lost, considering the intricacy of Smith's art, due no doubt to the high-quality printing. Hamaker and Scholastic are doing a great job and are truly bringing Bone to life.

This is one of the best Bone book's in the series. The colour version is just amazing. It totally blows the first Colour volume away in quality. EVERY page is full of detailed colour and it really just puts this book over the top. I wasent very impressed with The colour version of out from boneville. The quality wasent very consistant. Some pages almost seemed pixelated. This isnt the case in this second book.
I totally recommend this. Bone is going to blow up. By next school year when all the kids get back in school, it is going to be the new craze.

>>> The release date says August 1st, but it's in bookstores already, so I don't know what's up with that.

I have read Bone from back when it first came out in individual comic issues. I must say, this color edition, especially the hardcover one, is the nicest one yet. The black-and-white original always felt a bit sparse for the tone and humor of the story. The beautiful coloring in this edition is perfect. I've bought the two that have come out, and can't wait for the remaining 7. Great job, Scholastic!

Like the title says. I've read the odd Disney comic, and they were good for a few chuckles; but "Bone: The Great Cow Race" was so funny, I had to put it down a few times to catch my breath from laughing so hard!

I know that it seems that I have moved away from reviewing cinema lately and have deeply transformed into this graphic novel reader, but it couldn't be further from the truth. With my recent move, I have found ore time to be able to crack into these dusty books that have been sitting on my shelves for some time and fully experience the bizarre, yet imaginative, worlds that they boast. I have witnessed the death of a superhero, the curse of a video, and now I am excited to say that I unknowingly jumped into the second chapter of Jeff Smith's Bone series. I don't know how this happened, but instead of starting from the beginning, I found that I actually owned the second book of his series, aptly called "The Great Cow Race". Unfamiliar with Smith's linear storytelling technique, I jumped into this novel expecting to understand everything that was laid before me. I was unwittingly wrong.

"The Great Cow Race", for those that have missed the number two on the spine, is actually the second compiled book of Smith's adventures with his loveable, yet strangely built, main character Fone Bone. As this is the second book, I was unfamiliar with the origins of the "Bone" characters, but fell instantly enthralled with their lifestyle and storyline. What makes this second chapter enjoyable is the level of magic, evil, and "paths of fate" that obviously lay before our characters. There is mystery, suspense, and some genuinely funny moments as our characters do classic nare-do-well things and thus have to deal with the consequences. For a child, this book is about a fixed cow race between the people of the village, Phoney Bone, and Granma Ben, but what kept me interested was the subsequent back-story that opened a more sinister and coincidentally fantastical element.

As I read more graphic novels, my eyes are beginning to focus on more than just the words and pictures, but also the background themes and events. "The Great Cow Race" demonstrated more than just a humorous race with cows, but a la Harry Potter, a darker element at work that is constantly behind the scenes. The last few frames of this story, the conversation between Granma and Lucius, sent a pulse of excitement through my spine as well as goose bumps over my arms. The thought of a possible war brewing and an unfamiliar structure made me want to immediately get the next of the series. Alas, first I must see how it all begins. I must get the first book and start with the origins.

As I review this great book, I must admit, Scholastic has done a great job and a poor job all at the same time. The great element is the coloring of this edition. I remember seeing the Bone series at a bookstore in town and was rather unconnected with the black and white storyboards, but now, with the ample use of grays and whites, coupled with the "cartoonish" reds, blues, and greens, you have a story that both illustrates the humor as well as the danger. The bad is that I never read this story with a child in mind. Outside of the coloring, the story itself is not ... at least in my eyes ... one for those that are young. There are scary beasts, eerie dragons, and again, that unknown element, that may not be suitable for the suggested "Grade 4" reading level. Maybe I am behind the times, but outside of the actual cow race, there wasn't much that I believe those at a "Grade 4" reading level would enjoy. Personally, I found the story coupled with the images a unique read, but would a youthful reader find the same? Maybe, maybe not.

Overall, I thought this was a great story. I am very eager to read the first in the series as well as see where Smith goes with these obviously troubled characters. I am excited to see where the future "war" will bring us and how closely Smith related Tolkien's ideas to a more graphic level. For those interested in a younger fantasy genre, this is a quick read as well as a mis-marketed book. I loved turning the pages and discovering a twisty ending that leaves you wanting so much more! While I didn't find myself laughing as much as other critics have mentioned, it wasn't what I wanted from the story. I wanted mythical characters combined with a level of fantasy, and needless to say, I was not disappointed. Bring me more Bone!

Grade: ***** out of *****

Fone, Phony and Smiley Bones adventures continue in Pt. II The Great Cow Race. While Grandma Ben prepares for the big upcoming cow race which she'll race every cow in the valley Phony and Smiley have been devising a plan. They will spread a rumor of Grandma being to old to race this year and then of a Mystery Cow a truly monstrous beast that is bound to defeat Grandma (especially since it's Smiley in a Cow suit!) But through a combination of Stupid, Stupid Rat Creatures, Granma's dtermination to unmask the "mystery cow," and pure rotten luck their plans goup in smoke. This book has more humor and that feeling that makes you want to say "OOOH No" between fits of laughter. Bone: The Great Cow Race is a worthy addition to anyone's Graphic novel collection.

At long last! Jeff Smith's epic high fantasy comic masterpiece is being produced in color. I was a fan of bone the art and the story is little different but this is my favorite bone title to date

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

The story continues on from Vol. 1 with everyone arriving at the anticipated spring fair. Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone put their plan into action to scam the townspeople and Gran'ma Ben is ready to take on the cows in the annual cow race. Of course all sorts of shenanigans happen and nothing works out the way it should, well except for Gran'ma Ben. Thorn is having strange dreams about the past and the Rat Creatures are after Phoney Bone but with orders to kill the other two, if necessary. Not a lot to say except I'm loving the story and the characters. Fone Bone is still my favourite and his crush on Thorn is cute, though I haven't taken to her yet. I much prefer Gran'ma Ben as main female lead at this point. Looking forward to Vol. 3, then I will have to decide whether to buy the next volumes, as well, or start using the library.

This is the second Bone graphic novel out of nine. This was a great addition to the story and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Fone Bone and his buddies are getting ready for the Great Cow Race. Grandma is hoping to win, but Phoney Bone is creating some money mischief in the betting pool that is bound to get the Bones in trouble again. In addition to this the broader more mysterious storyline is also added to: Thorne is having strange dreams that she confesses to Fone Bone and Fone Bone is again attacked by the Rat-like creatures whose purpose is yet unknown. Even our friendly cigar smoking red dragon makes a brief appearance.

This was a fun installment in the Bone comics series. Not quite as adventurous and mysterious as the first one, this one was funnier and dealt mainly with the cow races. Interwoven with that are some more serious story elements such as what the deal is with Thorne's strange dreams and why their house was attacked and destroyed by the rat creatures.

The drawing is well done, just like in the first book. There is a lot of humor here mixed up with the more serious stuff. This is a graphic novel appropriate for all ages.

Overall a great addition to this series. I have really been enjoying it a lot. Eventually I think I am going to have to buy keeper copies of these (I've been getting them from the library). I look forward to reading the third book, Bone, Volume 3: Eyes of the Storm, soon.

My son loves the Bone books - even kids who don't like to read will not be able to put it down!