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I have a confession that I had never heard of this line of graphic novels by Jeff Smith until I was at my kids middle school a few weeks ago. I was sitting next to a young man (8th grader) in the school's office and he had his nose buried.

A challenge to a graphic novel series written for children is ironic because it is so close to Free Comic Book Day. A recent story in the Minnesota Sun explains that parent Ramona DeLay was shocked that Jeff Smith's popular "Bone" graphic novel series has illustrations related to drinking, smoking, and gambling, activities the DARE program taught him not to do. She had filed a request to have the materials reconsidered for inclusion in the library. She objected to the book's portrayal of gambling, alcohol and tobacco use, and "sexual situations between characters" and indicated that she wanted the book "withdrawn from all students."

An interview with author Jeff Smith was held by Publishers Weekly.

JS: [Laughs] I'm laughing because it doesn't seem like you could really find those things. To a degree. In general, the characters in Bone are all adults and there are not a lot of strange activities like that, but there are storylines, some of the unsavory characters will try to pull scams, try to rig bets and things, and it always goes wrong. So no one is rewarded for doing any unsavory behavior in Bone, and it's difficult for me to see how anyone could think Bone would encourage kids to do unsavory things. Also, none of the main characters do these things. My conclusion is that some people aren't smart enough to read comic books.

The smoking in Bone, it's kind of like a time capsule thing. I started Bone in 1991. In 1988 there was a big movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and there was a baby smoking a cigar [in that movie]. So a cigar to me was like a Groucho Marx vaudeville prop, it was an anachronism. When I created the dragon, it was not the evil it is now. When I quit smoking in the middle of Bone, the cigarette just disappeared from the dragon's mouth.

Hi all, it is Darth Bill again on the scene. Before I talk about recent reads, I would like to share some other information on some really cool stuff. One is called Reading With Pictures. It's mission/purpose is as follows:



Reading With Pictures is a nonprofit organization that advocates the use of comics in the classroom to promote literacy and improve educational outcomes for all students. We work with academics to cultivate groundbreaking research into the proper role of comics in education. We collaborate with cartoonists to produce exceptional graphic novel content for scholastic use. Most importantly, we partner with educators to develop a system of best practices for integrating comics into their curriculum. At Reading With Pictures, we get comics into schools and get schools into comics.

To find out more and how you can get involved visit it's website at: http://www.readingwithpictures.org/Reading_With_Pictures/Home.html.

Something else I would like you cats out there to know about is the really cool new DC Cartoon Series "Batman: Brave and The Bold." Check it out:





The New Cartoon Series Batman: The Brave and The Bold

And now to talk about some cool recent reads!!!!!!!


Bone Handbook by Jeff Smith and Bob Cooper - I don't know about you guys, but I really miss the "Bone" series and can't wait until Mr. Smith does some future stories about the Bone Cousins, their friends and even their enemies. I did get a great Bone fix by reading this great handbook that covers everything "Bone." You get a ton of really great stuff such as: A look at Jeff Smith and cartooning; A new Bone Mini-Comic (that takes place during the original

The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, BONE, and the Changing Face of Comics

Well I'm really excited because ImaginOn just picked up a new Comic Book Series to carry and man is it fun!!!! I just got finishing reading the first issue we received, so I thought I would write about it:

Marvel Adventures Superheroes #12 "Featuring" Captain America by Scott Gray, Matted Lolli, Roger Langridge and Craig Rousseau - This issue features Captain America in both the past and present. In the first story we find Cap trying to find his way in the modern world after he has been rescued from being frozen in time sense the end of World War II (1945). His friend and government assigned liaison Rick Jones is trying to explain modern computers and the internet to him when a terrorist organization known as HYDRA strikes. Cap and Rick are sucked into HYDRA's Web Page and find themselves fighting for their lives in a virtual world that is to strange to describe. The second story takes place during World War II and stars Cap and his teenage sidekick Bucky. While on leave from the War, they run into a sadistic German killing machine right here in the good old U.S. of A. Two fun stories that I really enjoyed. If you can get ahold of this comic at a library or comic book store, I highly recommend it.




Another thing I'm excited about is another Bone book by Jeff Smith that has just been put out by Scholastic.


Rose by Jeff Smith and Charles Vess - I thought the series was over with Volume 9 Crown of Horns, but Jeff Smith wrote a prequel to the series with Charles Vess doing the art work entitled "Rose." Now if the name Rose does not sound familiar how about Gran'ma Ben (Rose is Gran'ma Ben's name). The story basically focuses on Rose and her sister Briar. They are both in this story training to master the ways of the Veni-Yan who are seers into the Dreaming. Rose proves to be more adept in learning their ways much to the displeasure of Briar. The Veni-Vang have felt through the Dreaming the coming of an emancipator of "The Lord of Locust" and fear that Rose or Briar may be this entity. Through the story we learn who the emancipator is and the events that lead up to the first Bone GN Out from Boneville. What is really special about this story is we get more insight into Gran'ma Ben's relationship with her sister Briar and we see the mistakes Gran'ma Ben makes that lead to her becoming the heroic figure we know from the Bone Series. We also get to see some familiar characters in The Red Dragon, a young Lucius and the Rat Creatures along with meeting some new ones in Cleo and Euclid (Rose's two hounds that she can talk to) and the evil River Dragon Balsaad. I highly recommend this book for both Bone fans and those who are not yet.

Well that's all I have for now all you hepcats so peace,

Bill

Hello all in the land of Blog!!!! I know it's been a whole week sinse I posted, but it seems like The Carlman and some of you guys out there have been pretty busy posting stuff!!!! I'm really bummed that I missed Mrs. Hemphill's visit yesterday, but I was busy speaking to the local Sith Association of Charlotte (was not sick Carl, don't know why he is always telling people this kinda stuff). See our logo below:




Now I bet you're wondering were the title for this Blog Entry comes from? Well I'm a big Beatles fan from way back and they have this really cool tune "Ticket to Ride." Truth be told, I just wanted an excuse to get them on the blog. Check it out:




The Beatles Performing "Ticket to Ride"


And now for something completly different; Book Reviews by Darth Bill!!!!!


Pirates of The Caribbean, Legends of the Brethren Court: The Caribbean by Rob Kidd -
Well if you are a fan of Captain Jack Sparrow, you will love this new series. This series has some familiar characters serving our beloved Captain: Jack's First Mate Hector Barbossa (I love Barbossa almost as much as Jack), Billy Turner (future father of Will Turner) and Jean Magliore (from the previous and also excellent Jack Sparrow Series). Some new additions to the crew include Alex (a zombie) and Catastrophe Shane (possibly the worst pirate ever) among others. In this series Jack and his fellow Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court are not only battling each other, but a new deadly enemy known only as the Shadow Lord. The Shadow Lord wants to rid the seven seas of all pirates and rule them himself. His army consists of inanimate objects he brings to life that serve as his army. How can you kill or stop an enemy army that is not alive? In this introductory story of the series Jack is looking for the answer to this question along with trying to stay two steps ahead of the Spanish Pirate Lord Vilanueva who is also after him. This book is filled with action and lots of laughs. A really fun read!!!!!!!!



Bone Vol. 9: Crown of Horns by Jeff Smith - Well this is the Graphic Novel (GN) I had been waiting for for such a long time. The final volume of the "Bone" Series where all reader's lingering questions are answered and the final battles fought. I read this last volume with a mix of excitement amid sorrow. Excited because I had another installment to read; saddened because I knew this would be the last one (but hey, I could always reread the series again). In this final installment The Lord of the Locust is bringing the battle to everyone in the form of the Dragons' Queen, the very first of all dragons, Mim. Also Briar, Gran'ma Ben's sister and loyal servant of The Lord of the Locust, makes full-fledged war on all with the rat creatures, an evil army of men, Rock Jaw and Kingdok. Also find out how our heroes end up: Thorn, Gran'ma Ben, Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, Phoney Bone, The Red Dragon, Ted the Bug, Lucius and Bartleby. This book will make you laugh at times, cry or sniffle at some points and make your heart race at the thrilling adventure. This is a great GN that brings to a close a great series. Bone Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Well all, that's all I gots this time. Until next time remember "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are!!!!!"

Peace,

Bill

“Konnichi-wa minna san! It’s me Jessie! We were gonna add lots of new stuff to our site so me and Talitha-chan said we should really add something neat! We’re gonna make everything lots easier to find and it’s almost time for Shannon-sama’s book, so we gotta have everything ready.”

“We’re working super fast so be sure to come back soon! Ja!”

“

You know what this means, right?” Alanna Kawa said, looking up from the ornately drawn map in the Tome of Chronicles. Her purple eyes slowly looked back and forth across the faces of the other five girls gathered around the open trunk in Jessica Hoshi’s attic and the huge and heavy mysterious book it had contained.

“Our dreams were real,” Shannon Ka Yoru half-whispered as she brushed her long brown hair back over her shoulder and sat down next to Alanna. “We really were in another world.”

Alanna nodded slowly. “Everything all of us saw in our dreams happened in this place.” Alanna pointed at the open Tome again. “The place in this map.” Alanna looked over the entire drawing of the map once again. Teko sidestepped across the edge of the open trunk to get a better look at the book as well.