Crown of Horns (Bone, Vol. 9)

From Booklist After a dozen years, the Tolkienesque saga of the Bone cousins and their friends reaches its end. As this final collection of the acclaimed series opens, Briar Harvestar appears within reach of usurping the throne from her sister Rose, as Fone Bone and Thorn seek the Crown of Thorns, a mystical object that holds the power to stop the war for control of the Valley. The epic tale's conclusion features a monumental battle, inspiring heroics, and noble sacrifices. Throughout the long-running series, Smith's remarkable, animation-inspired storytelling skills have never flagged, and his attractive drawing style has remained consistently compelling. Even in this suspenseful, action-packed finale, he demonstrates his uncommon capability for switching gears from drama to humor in the space of a single panel. Ongoing series as beautifully sustained as Bone are rare in the comics medium. Fans will miss the characters they have come to love during the past decade, but they can always hope that Smith will someday return to the Valley. In the meantime, his next gig is a revival of the 1940s superhero Captain Marvel, an assignment that seems perfectly suited for his singular blending of adventure and whimsy. Gordon Flagg Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved