In this second volume, collecting issues 7-12, the Bones hang around the spring fair, Fone's crush on Thorn solidifies, Thorn dreams once or twice about her childhood, and chaos ensues at the Great Cow Race. Put like that, it doesn't seem like much, even counting the great humor (and no-one does humor, either physical or dialogue, better than Jeff Smith), and the crisp black & white art. But these six issues are much more than that: Like Neil Gaiman says in the foreword, (Hint: If Neil Gaiman writes the foreword to your second volume, you've officially arrived) individually, they're great comedy; Together, they create a mood, a darker, richer backdrop to the antics. You get a sense of dark forces, long histories, and secrets deeper than any of the Bones could guess. And the issues are still as funny, beautiful, and touching as before. Wow.
Art: 5
Writing: 5
Andrew