The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, BONE and the Changing Face of Comics (2009 Video) User Reviews

Good profile of Cartoonist Jeff Smith

[don-franks · 5/10 · 8 January 2019]

Although this will be seen as a superficial look at BONE cartoonist Jeff Smith, the documentary offers a thorough look at his formative years. The film lists his early influences and follows his development from school cartoonist to one of the most revered and awarded writer/artist/producers of graphic novels.

Comes across as a PR piece

[garrettgibbons · 3/10 · 13 June 2014]

I love Bone. I think that Jeff Smith is probably a pretty decent guy. That said, this documentary feels bizarre. So much of it is dedicated to the topics of popularity and trying to persuade the audience that comic artists are rock stars that it just sort of leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The narration sounds like a tour guide at Disneyland, the scoring feels wrong throughout (like some stock music was used by a dispassionate editor). Many of the right people were interviewed, but it feels like the director didn't know what questions to ask, didn't know what to cut out and leave in, and probably doesn't understand comics as a genre.

We hear a little bit about the genesis of Bone and the self-publishing challenges that Jeff Smith faced, and I wish that we heard a lot more about that. We also hear a lot of Smith comparing his storytelling to Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, and it's just kind of a sad comparison. I hope that the Bone films someday materialize and that they reach the same kind of widespread appeal that Lucas and Tolkien have found, but to make a film like this before any of that has happened seems pretty lame.