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Art from ‘Bone’ by Jeff Smith.

Gobbledygeek episode 220, “Bone: Vol. I – Out from Boneville,” is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

After spending 2014 weaving their way through the many different stories of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, Paul and AJ have settled on something which appears much simpler for this year’s Four-Color Flashback: Jeff Smith’s Bone. Appearances can be deceiving, though. The boys have heard tell that Smith’s cartoony magnum opus, taking obvious inspiration from Walt Kelly and Carl Barks’ comic strips, grows into a complex, sprawling epic. And even in Vol. I: Out from Boneville, wherein Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone find themselves in a strange new land, there are inklings of the high fantasy to come. Plus, the boys discuss friend of the show Kenn Edwards’ short film The Joke, attempt to break down Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s new Netflix show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and prepare to enter the Age of Ultron with a new trailer.

Next: Eric Sipple stops by to chat. This won’t end well.

(Show notes for “Bone: Vol. I – Out from Boneville.”)

On this, the eve of 2013, Paul and I begin to look back at some of our favorite things of 2012. First up, our ten favorite TV series.

Also, let’s give a slow clap to Paul, who struggled through severe illness just to get these words to you, dear reader. A speedy recovery to you, sir!

– AJ

PAUL: 10. PARKS AND RECREATION (NBC)

Season 5 gets out of the office a little bit, with Ben and April in Washington D.C. (with an evil robot congressman). Ron gets a new love interest (the always lovely Lucy Lawless). Tom starts a new business. And Andy finds a new career.

AJ: 10. GAME OF THRONES (HBO)

What Game of Thrones did in its first season was nothing short of exceptional, a 10-episode narrative that goes down as one of the finest accomplishments the medium has seen thus far. And while the second season struggled at times to recapture that majesty, it certainly wasn’t for lack of trying. The scope and breadth of George R.R. Martin’s world remains impressive; the cast, especially Peter Dinklage as the kind of noble imp Tyrion Lannister, continues to knock out high fantasy material that would crush lesser actors; and thrilling hours like “Blackwater” remind us that this is the closest thing we have to a Lord of the Rings on TV. And it’s a whole lot nastier and sexier, too.

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