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

The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, BONE and the Changing Face of Comics is a documentary about the cartoonist who created one of independent comics' most celebrated works. The film traces Jeff Smith's path from self-publishing his fantasy adventure series BONE in the early 1990s to building a global phenomenon that redefined what comics could achieve outside the mainstream industry. Through interviews and archival material, it explores how Smith's determination to maintain creative control and his distinctive visual style helped establish a new model for independent creators. The documentary captures a pivotal moment in comics history when digital printing and direct-to-reader distribution began transforming the medium, allowing artists like Smith to reach audiences without relying on traditional publishers. It's both a portrait of artistic ambition and a chronicle of how one person's vision reshaped an entire industry.