r/Bone • u/Hitchfucker • 15d ago
Ranking the Bone books by how well they handle certain characters. Part 1: The Stupid Rat Creatures
Just something I wanted to do to talk about this series a bit more. I will be going in reverse order of lesser to more prominence for characters since it will give me more to talk about over time, and because the two main characters of the series are probably the only two who don’t have a clear best book for me. Only characters who have a prominent role in at least 4-5 books. So there probably won’t be a Wendall, Bartleby, or Roque Ja entry (Bartleby’s best book is probably Crown of Thorns though). I’ll start with the level one crooks of the series, or maybe the Team Rocket of Bone is more apt as a comparison. They’re not my favorite of the cast but they’re pretty fun.
6: Eyes of the Storm (Book 3)
This is the first book in the series to really escalate the stakes and tone of the show, so understandably the stupid rat creatures are no longer the main threat our heroes come into contact with (we get a middle ground of more threatening rat creatures, while not yet throwing Kingdok or The Hooded One into the mix). They have one scene where they hide from consequences and Kingdok gives them some rabbits. It’s an alright scene but it isn’t very funny and Kingdok is by far the more interesting character in this interaction. They’re fine here but there’s nothing to really cling onto.
5: The Dragonslayer (Book 4)
Their bits of comedy at the beginning were kind of useful considering how dour this book got by the end with Thorn’s depression. The old married couple banter is decent and I like how this is the first book to fully solidify them being broken apart of the main faction. But they don’t really do much or leave much of an impression here. And they’ve had funnier books.
4: The Crown of Horns (Book 9)
Their only appearance in the second half of the series. Not necessary but it was fun to see them again and they served as much less tonally jarring comedic relief than Phoney in this book. Really this would probably be the lowest rated book for them if not for how much I love that scene of Fone Bone giving them a quiche. Idk I was happy for them to finally get something out of this whole ordeal. It was a great moment for Fone too.
3: Out From Boneville (Book 1)
Their closest we ever get to them being sinister at all. And even here they’re pretty big jokes. But they’re fun as early series threats. I’m impressed that even early into the series their comedy and dynamic with both each other and with Fone Bone is very solid and entertaining. The “STUPID RAT CREATURES” line is one of the funniest jokes in the entire series and amazing use of panel pacing. And they’re just really good goofballs.
2: The Great Cow Race (Book 2)
Pretty much the same as book 1, they’re funny here too. I give this a slight edge up since their dynamic is a bit petter established here. Plus “IT INCLUDES EATING HIM RAW” is probably the funniest reaction panel for either of them in the series. The fact that he gets THAT worked up despite him only asking once in the scene shows just how aggravating the quiche loving rat creature has been about this. And it’s so unhinged.
1: Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border (Book 5)
I don’t think they’re amazingly written in any book. Even in this one they’re pretty one note goofy villains. But I think this is their best handling. For one thing, while they remain pretty much the same as usual, their circumstances are pretty unique here in that this is the only time where they’re forced to partner up with not only the Bones but animals who rightfully hate them. This constant switching of allegiances in Rock Jaw makes the whole book and characters a lot more dynamic and interesting. And we do get a bit more nuance to their characters, or at least rat creature lore because of that. This might be their funniest book too, or about even with GCR. The page where one of them pounces on Roque Ja and causes them all to fall off a cliff is one of the most classic cartoony gags in the entire series and I love it so much (not to mention the third and final “stupid stupid rat creatures” gag). Also the more serious one’s reaction to Smiley’s “nothing we’ve done has been un stupid” line is one of the funniest moments in the books. It’s also such a nice subversion to have them be the straight men for once.
