Stupid, Stupid Rat-Tails: The Adventures of Big Johnson Bone, Frontier Hero [Paperback]

Tom Sniegoski (Author), Jeff Smith (Illustrator), Stan Sakai (Illustrator)

Book Description

Cartoon Books announces the release of the Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails graphic novel featuring the work of Jeff Smith, Tom Sniegoski and Stan Sakai. This 104-page trade paperback includes the compilation of The Adventures of Big Johnson Bone, Frontier Hero which was released as a three-part mini-series by Cartoon Books. Discover every hilarious twist and turn of the fast-paced story of Big Johnson Bone and his adventures in the valley. Find out why the rat creatures in BONE no longer wear their tails long. In addition, this volume will include the compilation of Riblet, a back up story initially released in five parts through the BONE series. The rat creatures meet their match in this fun-filled romp written by Tom Sniegoski and illustrated by 1999 Eisner Award winner Stan Sakai.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Cartoon Books; 1st edition (April 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888963069
• ISBN-13: 978-1888963069
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #860,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Anything Bone is worthy, but Bone is worthier., November 15, 2005

By 

Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stupid, Stupid Rat-Tails: The Adventures of Big Johnson Bone, Frontier Hero (Paperback)

Jeff Smith, Stupid, Stupid Rat-Tails (Cartoon Books, 2000)

Yes, folks, it's Bone: The Prequel! Here we have the story of Big Johnson Bone, explorer by trade and founder of Boneville, and (obliquely) how he came to do so. This, as to be expected if you've read the Bone saga (and if you haven't, what on Earth are you waiting for?), involves a lot of cute baby animals, a dragon or two, and a large, incredibly stupid army of rat creatures. It's chock full of the same kind of stuff that makes Bone such a treasure.

Also added, for your reading enjoyment, is a Riblet comic. Set in the same world as the Bone stories (i.e., a world inhabited by stupid, stupid rat creatures), the Riblet stories are concerned with, no surprise here, Riblet, a baby boar. In this tale, Riblet has been kidnapped by a couple of rat creatures with a taste for pork, and must escape. Which is somewhat difficult, if you're not actually smart enough to realize you've been kidnapped.

Everything that comes out of Cartoon Books is worth reading. You want it all. I'd suggest starting with some of the earlier Bone stories before this, but you will eventually get around to it. Trust me. ****

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This Book for Fans' Eyes Only, October 10, 2005

By 

D. G. D. Davidson "www.scificatholic.com" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stupid, Stupid Rat-Tails: The Adventures of Big Johnson Bone, Frontier Hero (Paperback)

This volume will serve better as a treat for fans than as an entry-level series for those unfamiliar with Bone.

Two stories are contained in this one volume. The first features an adventure of "Big" Johnson Bone, founder of Boneville and ancestor of the three Bones from the original series. Jeff Smith's artwork is up to its usual beautiful standards and Tom Sniegoski's writing gives Smith plenty of opportunity to exhibit his predilection for adorable baby animals and hare-brained adventure. The story is a self-conscious "tall tale" depicting Big Johnson as a self-aggrandizing pioneer with a tendency to get in and out of dire situations. The story is nothing new and lacks the depth (and length) of the original Bone, but that is to be expected. No one can write rat creature dialogue quite like Smith, but the rats are still humorous. Less funny and even annoying is the uptight talking monkey, Mr. Pip, who serves little purpose to the storyline and never quite lives up to his intended role of comic sidekick.

The other story, "Riblet," features the writing of Sniegoski and the art of Stan Sakai. Related to Bone by the presence of talking animals and stupid rat creatures, the story follows the rats' unfortunate run-in with a sadistic baby boar. The antics that ensue are reminiscent of Woody Woodpecker cartoons and, like Woody, may annoy readers who find inflicting injury on others less than funny.

Bone fans hungry for more will likely enjoy Stupid, Stupid Rat-Tails, but the neophyte may walk away underwhelmed and not overly interested in pursuing Bone further.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite up to snuff with the rest of the Bone series, September 22, 2004

By 

Sibelius (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stupid, Stupid Rat-Tails: The Adventures of Big Johnson Bone, Frontier Hero (Paperback)

Although this prequel to the 'Bone' series isn't quite up to the storytelling standard fans are accustomed to, it still is a recommended read of sorts for the die-hard fan interested in the backstory of Jeff Smith's fantasy epic. The first 3/4's of this book, "The Adventures of Big Johnson Bone, Frontier Hero," delves into the story of the founder of Boneville and how he came to establish his trading post on the Rolling Bone river. Drawn by Jeff Smith, this story looks great but suffers in pacing and tone as it is written by Tom Sniegoski. The last 1/4 of the book deals with a young pig and other assorted forest animals in, 'Riblet,' a very forgettable segment that most readers could easily do without.