
LAS VEGAS — Writer/artist Jeff Smith spoke at the annual ComicsPRO membership meeting about the publishing plans for his all-ages classic “Bone” and his new, mature readers project “RASL.” Smith also said plans are in the works to continue exploring Bone’s world.
“Bone,” originally printed in black and white, is being remastered into color for Scholastic. Seven of the nine graphic novels have been remastered into color, and according to Smith, Scholastic has sold 2,481,500 of those graphic novels in the last three years. The No. 1 place these books sell is as part of the book fairs held in schools.
Smith said he wants to continue the adventures in the valley where the “Bone” adventures took place, with possible appearances by supporting characters. These would be chapter books set in the valley, written by Tom Sniegowski and illustrated by Smith. The book would be aimed at tweens.
“Treasure Hunters” and “Crown of Horns,” the final two of the “Bone” graphic novels, are being reworked by Scholastic. “Treasure Hunters” is near being printed, now, and “Crown of Horns” is planned for an early 2009 release. Smith said he’d like to follow that up with a boxed set of the color editions.
The “Bone One Volume Edition,” published by Smith’s Cartoon Books, has sold 105,000 to date, despite being out of print for a year. Originally, the “One Volume Edition” went out of print as part of the publishing deal with Scholastic, but Cartoon Books renegotiated the deal because Smith said he felt like the comic book stores still needed that edition.
In May, “Stupid Stupid Rat Tales” and “Rose” will come back into print from Cartoon Books. At some point, a color version including some of the Rat Tales with a new framing sequence will come from Scholastic.
Smith’s latest series, “RASL,” sold about 24,000, Smith said. After surveying the audience, Smith said he planned on reprinting “RASL” No. 1. Each three-issue arc will be collected in oversized trade paperbacks of about 110 pages. Another new product from Cartoon Books is a 2-foot plush of Fone Bone, the hero of “Bone,” which will sell for about $40.
– Matt Price