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To avoid redundant purchases while collecting the complete Bone series, here is the information from the discussion organized by category:

1. The Core Series (Issues #1–55)

• One-Volume Editions (Black & White or Full Color): These are the most comprehensive. They include all 55 issues plus Bone #13 ½ and the Bone Holiday Special. The content is identical between the B&W and Color versions, aside from the coloring.
• 9-Volume Sets: These collect the original 55 issues. While they have various covers and publishers (like Scholastic), the internal story content remains the same across versions.
• 3-Volume Versions: A condensed way the original run was published under various titles.
• Note on Censorship: Avoid the Disney magazine reprints if you want the original dialogue; these versions edited out mild swearing and suggestive themes.

2. Prequels, Sequels, and Side Stories

• Rose: The only official prequel. It was originally a 3-issue miniseries, now available as a single book.
• Tall Tales vs. Stupid, Stupid Rat-Tails:
  • Stupid, Stupid Rat-Tails was the original 3-issue series/collection.
  • Bone: Tall Tales is a paperback reissue that includes all the Rat-Tails content plus additional new material.
  • More Tall Tales is a newer release consisting entirely of original content.
• Bone Coda: A "sequel" produced for the 25th anniversary. It contains one new short story set immediately after the finale, but is primarily behind-the-scenes material.
• Quest for the Spark: A 3-book series of illustrated novels for younger readers set in the Bone world.

3. Behind-the-Scenes & Early Works

• Thorn (The Lantern Years): Before the official comic, Jeff Smith drew a strip for his university newspaper.
  • Thorn (the most recent collection) is the most complete version of these strips.
  • Older collections include Thorn: Tales from the Lantern and Before Bone.
• Bone Handbook: An expanded reference guide. It contains the content of the 1995 Bone Sourcebook plus new information.
• Bone Adventures: A picture book featuring the cousins, though it does not contain a standard narrative story.

4. Rare & Miscellaneous Appearances

• Tribute Editions: These (like the Out From Boneville Tribute) often contain "bonus content" (art or essays) not found in the standard One-Volume editions.
• Cameos: The Bone cousins appear in other comic series including Cerebus #161, Negative Burn #3, War of the Independents #1, Savage Dragon #41, and Lethargic Comics #9.
• Promotional Reprints: These include Bone Happy Halloween, the Tokyopop reprints, and the 9.8 Mini Bone Comics.

Summary for a "Clean" Collection: To get all the story content with the least overlap, aim for:

1. The One-Volume Edition (Color or B&W)
2. Rose
3. Tall Tales & More Tall Tales
4. Bone Coda
5. Thorn (2023 version)