BONE One Volume Edition covers
It was suggested by one of our frequent posters Brandon, that I blog about the various covers that the One Volume Edition of BONE has had over the last 5 years. Okay, Brandon!
BONE: ONE VOLUME EDITION COVER #1
The first cover of the BONE: One Volume Edition debuted at the 2004 Comic-Con International in San Diego. It remained the cover through seven printings, from July 2004 to September 2005, when, because of our contractual obligations, we took the One Volume Edition out of print to make way for the new Scholastic color editions that were just then starting to be released.
(Note: The artwork above was originally designed for the 2001 cover of the San Diego Comic-Con International program book)
BONE: ONE VOLUME EDITION COVER #2
After being off the market for a year, I began to regret that the One Volume Edition was out of print. The Scholastic editions were doing quite well, and still are, but the big, fat 1300 page black & white epic comic was really what I always wanted, and since Scholastic’s BONE books were mostly sold in schools and children’s sections, BONE had essentially vanished from comic book shops and the graphic novel section of book stores. I asked Scholastic if we could bring it back. They agreed.
The cover above was created specifically for the revival of the BONE: One Volume Edition. Unlike the Scholastic covers which featured large drawings of the characters in specific situations, I wanted the One Volume cover to convey a mood; to show Fone Bone small, and almost lost in the bigger world around him. This cover was used for 5 more printings from Sept. 2006 to June 2009.
(Note: I painted the above cover in black & white ink washes. The color was then digitally added by Steve Hamaker.)
BONE: ONE VOLUME EDITION COVER #3
As we approached the 13th printing in June 2009, I thought a mostly black cover would be fun and fitting for the number 13. If the time for a 14th printing comes around, I’ll have to decide if I want to do a new cover or go back to the one with Fone sitting on the rock. Right now I’m leaning toward going back to the rock. What do you think?
I really like the second cover, and I’d love to see what it looks like in the original black and white.
Comment by JMG — September 18, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
The 2nd cover is the best .. but for the 14th printing why not a new cover ??
Comment by Fabio — September 18, 2009 @ 3:43 pm
Thanks for posting this Jeff!
I really like the new cover for the 13th printing. I think it’s so cool that you decided to do a new cover for the number 13, kinda just for fun! To me, it has the feel of the original Bone comic covers.
I love the second cover though, definitely for the mood you mention. While it’s an absolutely gorgeous cover (and thus worth returning to), I’m sure that if you sketched out a few ideas for a new One Volume cover, you could come up with something equally fantastic – different, to be sure, but just as good. With Bone’s ever-increasing popularity, how long does a printing last? Before you know it, it’ll be Bone’s 20th anniversary
One idea I’ve always wanted to see would be a “group shot” cover. You’ve done group shots before, but not one with all the characters you might include in a pose that wouldn’t necessarily be strictly situational, and suitable for a One Volume cover. The lunchbox picnic, Bone #37, and Combo #25 come to mind.
By the way, I don’t know what printing I have (it doesn’t seem to say), but I have the second cover. If we order a copy through Boneville’s shop now, will we get the new 13th printing cover?
JMG, the original black and white painting for the second cover can be seen marvelously full-page in Dark Horse’s must-have “The Art of Bone” book. Also in that book, you can see the photo Jeff based the painting on (though it’s shown kind of small). The original inked art for the first cover is also in that book as well!
Comment by Brandon Klassen — September 18, 2009 @ 4:06 pm
Thanks for the insights. Although my copy of the OVE is the first cover, I’ve always really liked the second cover.
Comment by Jonathan — September 18, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
The 3rd cover looks really really good.
On the subject of covers by the way, I’ve noticed you don’t ever use a color cover gallery, even with RASL as it’s coming out brand new now.
Any particular reason?
Comment by Marcus — September 18, 2009 @ 6:20 pm
And by cover gallery I mean in Graphic novels for the issues.
Comment by Marcus — September 18, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
Though I haven’t got my copy yet, I’m looking forward to the Strangers in Paradise Omnibus by Terry Moore, which includes a separate “portfolio” book dedicated to all the covers.
I’d love a Bone portfolio book that just showcased all the covers and other portfolio type art, as opposed to behind-the-scenes type stuff, which, if there was more to be seen after what’s included in “Art of Bone”, could have its own further book.
Many trades/graphic novels these days I find don’t include the original covers. It’s to emphasize the feel of a graphic novel. The original covers are for issues… in the graphic novel, though you might still have separators for the idea of “chapters,” it helps the flow of the book more not to have covers breaking it up. Though you could put all the covers in the back, and some do to varying extents. For RASL, some of the inked covers (as well as alternates that weren’t used, which are very cool) appear in the RASL hardcover.
And of course, using RASL as an example, if they’re not in color for an otherwise black and white book, it’s because that would probably cost much more to put in just a few color pages for the covers.
Comment by Brandon Klassen — September 18, 2009 @ 6:47 pm
Definitely I prefer the second cover… it represents the true spirit of the Bone series.
I hope for another art book (like the Dark Horse one) with all the covers! I’m a completist!
P.S. Mr. Smith, please someday come back in Italy! The last time you have been in Lucca, I couldn’t see you!
Comment by Luca — September 18, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
I’ve always loved the cover of Fone Bone on the rock, even though I own the first cover.
As for a 14th printing, as much as I love the Fone Bone/rock cover, it’s hard to say no to seeing a new piece of Jeff Smith art.
Comment by Sean Tiffany — September 18, 2009 @ 7:26 pm
I’m all for the rock, Jeff!
Comment by Steve Weiner — September 18, 2009 @ 8:44 pm
I love the cover to the second edition. It’s one of the best on any graphic novel I’ve ever seen. Nice and simple.
Comment by Terry — September 19, 2009 @ 7:30 am
Hm… I would say the second one, but with sepia tones instead of collor.
Andreas, Greece
Comment by AndreasD — September 19, 2009 @ 11:09 am
#2 is still my favorite. Reminds me of all those summer camps spent in Hocking Hills!
Comment by Jen O — September 19, 2009 @ 11:28 am
I’m having a hard time picking between covers 1 and 2. The first cover has the great interaction between the rat-tails and Fone Bone, but might give people the wrong impression of the book, that these rat-tails are scary. The 2nd cover does provide a good mood, but is not as action packed as either of the others. Bone has great action moments. I think the color in the first two paint a really good picture of the world and I’d hate to see this absent. I think the yellow / brown / dark green works really well.
Comment by Dan — September 19, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
I think it would be fitting to go with a new cover when the time comes for the 14th printing. Though I do like the second and first printings covers. The third cover is dramatic like the whole Bone epic. But it seems a little depressing being in all black. So again when the 14th printing comes around despite what cover you choose I think adding so color will do it.
Comment by Jeanette — September 19, 2009 @ 5:55 pm
Good idea Jeff and Brandon. I love all the covers, but the second is my favourite because the colours and inks stand out really well on it, making it look amazing!
Comment by The Lobster — September 19, 2009 @ 7:41 pm
I have always like the first cover the best. It made me interested in what this story had to offer. It created in me a sense of terror and wonder. When I saw it, I asked myself, “What’s going to happen?” It was why I picked the book up instantly.
Comment by Jon — September 21, 2009 @ 3:02 pm
I would also add that even though the second cover has beautiful colors, it feels out of place for this story. The colors and line work for the second cover is different than the actual line work and coloring for the story itself. The first cover seems to have more continuity for Bone. The line work and colors of the first cover is like the line work and colors for the comic. Overall, I feel the first cover expressed what the story had to offer more so than the others.
Comment by Jon — September 21, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
Jeff — They’re all great, but I think the second should be the staple cover, at least until the 20 or 25th anniversary roles around. I LOVE the idea of a particularly spooky cover for the 13th printing — that’s great. But it would make sense to then return to ‘the norm’ for the 14th printing on. At least until anniversary editions
Great stuff, all of it!
Comment by Will Phillips — September 21, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
I vote for the rock picture. That’s my favorite cover of the three of them.
Comment by Jeff — September 22, 2009 @ 2:07 am
The rock cover ROCKS!
Comment by AdBeck — September 23, 2009 @ 3:30 am
The second one is my favorite; I think it most clearly conveys what the story feels like. Also, cool drawing.
I’d love to see it in the original black and white, actually, but I can see why that might not fly.
Comment by Evan Dahm — September 23, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
I have one of the one volumes with the first cover…but I was wondering if we’re gonna see a color one volume now that the individuals are done? This would be greatly appreciated.
Comment by Kenny — September 23, 2009 @ 3:50 pm
I think you should do a drew struzan-style-Indiana Jones-Star Warsish cover Jeff! That would be way cool.
Comment by joe — September 25, 2009 @ 12:19 am
Hey Jeff, eventually will there be a section of the site here for RASL just like Bone?
That’d be really cool.
Comment by Marcus — September 25, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
I appear to be in the minority, but I’ve always loved that first cover ever since it was the cover on the SDCC program.
Comment by Jeremy Holstein — September 28, 2009 @ 5:48 pm
[...] have some signed books, that will include the new cover of the BONE: One Volume Edition, as seen here as well as some other signed Bone & RASL stuff. [...]
Pingback by B o n e v i l l e » Cartoon Books will be at Mid Ohio Con this weekend! — September 29, 2009 @ 9:03 am
i am a big big fan of the bone books i persnoly like the 3rd cover but they were All great but the 3rd was ausom
Comment by Caleb — October 14, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
BONES IS BY FAR THE BEST BOOK I EVER READ AND IM A JUNIOR….!!!
Comment by Boomer — October 19, 2009 @ 12:27 pm
Dang!That rock outcropping picture is beautiful. How do you do that???
Comment by Roger — October 19, 2009 @ 8:07 pm
can I get all bone herd cover books and phoney bone’s star shirt,Oh and alot of toy figures of bone
Comment by jamie — October 26, 2009 @ 11:19 am
I value my One Volume Hardcover edition of Bone (which was released very early on) so much. It uses the first picture up there, which I like a bit less than the second, but it was signed and numbered, and I would save it in a fire before anything else. Including myself.
Comment by Mark — November 24, 2009 @ 7:41 pm
I’ve always liked the idea of Fone Bone collecting firewood on the one volume.
Comment by derek — February 14, 2010 @ 2:21 am
How bout bone collecting wood in winter?
Comment by derek — February 14, 2010 @ 2:21 am
Yeah I definitely like the Second cover the most. It sets the mood incredibly well. However I don’t own any of these One Volume editions, simply because I’m wondering the same thing as Kenny posted earlier, is there any news at all about a One Volume Edition in full color? Or should I just go ahead and pick it up in it’s original black & white?
Comment by Jakey — February 26, 2010 @ 8:09 pm
like the bone books there the best and i like all the covers
Comment by daddygirl — April 20, 2010 @ 8:49 am