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Tuki #1
Tuki: Fight for Fire
The ancient world was filled with restless spirits and powerful forces. 2 million years ago, human evolution made its move. It chose Fire. At the dawn of humanity, during a period of tremendous change and drought, three lost children meet a mysterious traveler named Tuki. Together, their search for the Motherherd of all Buffalo leads them far north through the dangerous territory of a rival species called the Habiline. The Habiline hunt and kill anyone found using fire. Tuki’s reputation precedes them and soon they find themselves at the center of unwanted attention not only from Habiline warriors, but of tribal spirits and giants!
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2021
5 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Smith
628 books1,430 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
Born and raised in the American mid-west, Jeff Smith learned about cartooning from comic strips, comic books, and watching animation on TV. In 1991, he launched a company called Cartoon Books to publish his comic book BONE, a comedy/adventure about three lost cousins from Boneville. Against all odds, the small company flourished, building a reputation for quality stories and artwork. Word of mouth, critical acclaim, and a string of major awards helped propel Cartoon Books and BONE to the forefront of the comic book industry.
In 1992, Jeff’s wife Vijaya Iyer joined the company as partner to handle publishing and distribution, licensing, and foreign language publications. In the Spring of 2005, Harry Potter’s U.S. publisher Scholastic Inc. entered the graphic novel market by launching a new imprint, Graphix with a full color version of BONE: Out from Boneville, bringing the underground comic to a new audience and a new generation.
In 2007, DC Comics released Smith’s first non-creator owned work, SHAZAM! Monster Society of Evil, a four-part mini-series recreating a classic serial from comic’s Golden Age. Between projects, Smith spends much of his time on the international guest circuit promoting comics and the art of graphic novels.
Born and raised in the American mid-west, Jeff Smith learned about cartooning from comic strips, comic books, and watching animation on TV. In 1991, he launched a company called Cartoon Books to publish his comic book BONE, a comedy/adventure about three lost cousins from Boneville. Against all odds, the small company flourished, building a reputation for quality stories and artwork. Word of mouth, critical acclaim, and a string of major awards helped propel Cartoon Books and BONE to the forefront of the comic book industry.
In 1992, Jeff’s wife Vijaya Iyer joined the company as partner to handle publishing and distribution, licensing, and foreign language publications. In the Spring of 2005, Harry Potter’s U.S. publisher Scholastic Inc. entered the graphic novel market by launching a new imprint, Graphix with a full color version of BONE: Out from Boneville, bringing the underground comic to a new audience and a new generation.
In 2007, DC Comics released Smith’s first non-creator owned work, SHAZAM! Monster Society of Evil, a four-part mini-series recreating a classic serial from comic’s Golden Age. Between projects, Smith spends much of his time on the international guest circuit promoting comics and the art of graphic novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 25, 2021
I was surprised when I found a new Jeff Smith book at the library without having seen any buzz about it on Goodreads or anywhere I browse, really. Maybe it slipped under the radar because it is the revision and expansion of a webcomic that started nearly a decade ago and has been on hiatus for a while. Maybe no one cares because it is more similar to the middling RASL than his super popular Bone series.
Tuki is a Homo erectus man who roams the Pleistocene era hunting demons. Like the outlaw Josey Wales, he gathers an eccentric group of followers on the journey: a shaman, a wannabe sidekick and his sisters, and a dangerous but endearing mute maniac. A couple of them happen to be from different species: Homo habilis and Autralopithecus africanus.
The balance of action and humor is okay while the pacing is a bit slow and the destination is murky at this point. The format is a bit clumsy, being very wide and floppy. My wife was intrigued by my description until she saw it was in black-and-white.
I'll be keeping my eye out for the next volume.
Tuki is a Homo erectus man who roams the Pleistocene era hunting demons. Like the outlaw Josey Wales, he gathers an eccentric group of followers on the journey: a shaman, a wannabe sidekick and his sisters, and a dangerous but endearing mute maniac. A couple of them happen to be from different species: Homo habilis and Autralopithecus africanus.
The balance of action and humor is okay while the pacing is a bit slow and the destination is murky at this point. The format is a bit clumsy, being very wide and floppy. My wife was intrigued by my description until she saw it was in black-and-white.
I'll be keeping my eye out for the next volume.
February 9, 2022
I liked this a lot. Tuki bands with other early humans to find a legendary buffalo herd. Smith's art has evolved a bit since Bone but he still uses the clean line style. Apparently I'm already getting the next trade via the original Kickstarter. Sorry I don't have more to say but my brain is a little foggy at the moment due to real life events.
December 8, 2021
I read a couple of issues of Tuki as they were printed in comic book form, and really enjoyed it. This is both a continuation and a reworking of that material. This new version of Tuki has the same charm and simple wonder of storytelling that makes Bone such an amazing and awesome read. Jeff Smith continues to explore a unique vision and storytelling path that seems almost as effortless as it is fundamental. The ease with which Smith crafts, introduces and developed his characters and the situation they find themselves within is enormously deceptive. They way the author has reshaped and remolded these pages from how they appeared in those earlier comic issue drafts, illustrates the amount of work and thought that he puts into every page and even each individual panel. It was a real gift to be privileged to see this progressive evolution of the story and I am eagerly awaiting the second volume.
December 26, 2021
I have a friend I’ve known since elementary school. One of the best things he ever introduced me to was Bone, which I eventually read in its complete form in the One Volume Edition. It was a massive, multi-faceted creative accomplishment. Later, I read RASL both in its original serialized form and its own complete edition, and I always thought of that as the comic the adult Smith envisioned, rather than the more playful adventure of the Bone cousins. I might have to revise that a little, because now there is a new standard for the mature Smith, and it’s Tuki.
I’ve been reading Tuki since it was a webcomic. When Smith hit the pause button and started working on Bone comics again (such as Coda) it really felt as if he’d abandoned it. Then I saw that he had a Kickstarter for Tuki. I’ve never really gotten into helping fund projects like that. I think it represents a fundamental breakdown of the arts scene. It’s great that fans can now help bring about the things they love, but I prefer the fantasy that the traditional model can still make it happen. And besides, how many obscure creators have made names for themselves with it, and how many established ones have had to resort to it? Someone like Jeff Smith, with one giant success, ought to be able to do whatever he wants. Apparently, sadly, he can’t. Although perhaps that’s as much to do with his independent comics as the quality and legacy of his work. When you commit to doing it on your own, it probably only gets harder over time, especially as you try and distance yourself from your best-known material. It’s hard enough to be known for more than one thing as it is.
Anyway, Smith’s third great comic delves into the distant past. As much as science has explored human lineage, the arts haven’t really touched it. The central premise of Tuki, then, is pretty radical, to imagine what it would have been like for early man, in the several varieties that would have coincided two million years ago. Perhaps more interestingly, because he’s writing for readers now, obviously, Smith has to make it intelligible for us, and in simplifying relations between competing branches of our ancestors he actually elucidates on something else entirely: extreme clashes of ideology.
The lead character represents the most advanced humans of that time, and his greatest innovation and advantage over the older ones is the most celebrated of man’s early accomplishments, the discovery of fire. In Greek myth, where it’s most famous, man stole it from the gods. Here it’s taboo for one branch and a tool for another. The way they interact over this is fascinating. Often, especially today, ideologies often seem insurmountable obstacles. Here they’re at best temporary inconveniences.
It’s probably not even the point Smith was trying to make, if he’s trying to make one at all. But the best storytelling does this sort of thing as a matter of course.
This volume explains a little of the transition from webcomic to graphic novel, which as someone who waited in the gap was a great thing to see. Obviously I’m a fan of Smith, so it’s great just seeing new material from him. I love that this is only the third new adventure from him, and that he puts in perhaps even more effort now, second-guessing himself when someone like me loved Tuki from the start. It’s difficult, without referencing the webcomic, to really appreciate just how much Smith changed, but some of it seems merely to have given more breathing room to the art, the pacing, besides tweaking some creative choices. Maybe that was a flaw of aiming at a webcomic format in the first place, worrying about individual installments without having set a definitive game plan in place, which is what apparently followed once he revisited the material. You can see, in Bone, where his ideas evolved over time, starting very much as a cartoon adventure and then ending in grand fantasy. But fans love Bone for that very reason. RASL, a much shorter work, was a straight line that never deviated, a cerebral work that didn’t linger too much on any single element. Tuki now looks like the best of both worlds.
Kickstarter produced two volumes, the second becoming available in 2022. As always, I eagerly await more Tuki.
I’ve been reading Tuki since it was a webcomic. When Smith hit the pause button and started working on Bone comics again (such as Coda) it really felt as if he’d abandoned it. Then I saw that he had a Kickstarter for Tuki. I’ve never really gotten into helping fund projects like that. I think it represents a fundamental breakdown of the arts scene. It’s great that fans can now help bring about the things they love, but I prefer the fantasy that the traditional model can still make it happen. And besides, how many obscure creators have made names for themselves with it, and how many established ones have had to resort to it? Someone like Jeff Smith, with one giant success, ought to be able to do whatever he wants. Apparently, sadly, he can’t. Although perhaps that’s as much to do with his independent comics as the quality and legacy of his work. When you commit to doing it on your own, it probably only gets harder over time, especially as you try and distance yourself from your best-known material. It’s hard enough to be known for more than one thing as it is.
Anyway, Smith’s third great comic delves into the distant past. As much as science has explored human lineage, the arts haven’t really touched it. The central premise of Tuki, then, is pretty radical, to imagine what it would have been like for early man, in the several varieties that would have coincided two million years ago. Perhaps more interestingly, because he’s writing for readers now, obviously, Smith has to make it intelligible for us, and in simplifying relations between competing branches of our ancestors he actually elucidates on something else entirely: extreme clashes of ideology.
The lead character represents the most advanced humans of that time, and his greatest innovation and advantage over the older ones is the most celebrated of man’s early accomplishments, the discovery of fire. In Greek myth, where it’s most famous, man stole it from the gods. Here it’s taboo for one branch and a tool for another. The way they interact over this is fascinating. Often, especially today, ideologies often seem insurmountable obstacles. Here they’re at best temporary inconveniences.
It’s probably not even the point Smith was trying to make, if he’s trying to make one at all. But the best storytelling does this sort of thing as a matter of course.
This volume explains a little of the transition from webcomic to graphic novel, which as someone who waited in the gap was a great thing to see. Obviously I’m a fan of Smith, so it’s great just seeing new material from him. I love that this is only the third new adventure from him, and that he puts in perhaps even more effort now, second-guessing himself when someone like me loved Tuki from the start. It’s difficult, without referencing the webcomic, to really appreciate just how much Smith changed, but some of it seems merely to have given more breathing room to the art, the pacing, besides tweaking some creative choices. Maybe that was a flaw of aiming at a webcomic format in the first place, worrying about individual installments without having set a definitive game plan in place, which is what apparently followed once he revisited the material. You can see, in Bone, where his ideas evolved over time, starting very much as a cartoon adventure and then ending in grand fantasy. But fans love Bone for that very reason. RASL, a much shorter work, was a straight line that never deviated, a cerebral work that didn’t linger too much on any single element. Tuki now looks like the best of both worlds.
Kickstarter produced two volumes, the second becoming available in 2022. As always, I eagerly await more Tuki.
September 5, 2022
4.5 ⭐ actual rating
Jeff Smith is the man. I don't know what else I can say. I loved Bone: The Complete Edition and I am already very much enjoying this.
Smith has a talent for making very real, very relatable characters. I don't care how long ago this setting is, I can still relate. They are thrown into a setting the Smith knows and has built. It is hard for me to put it into words exactly, but it is masterful storytelling. Especially for the comic/graphic novel way of telling a story. The art is awesome. It is never too much or overpowering. Where in some comics they want to blow you away with some huge scene that looks cool (and it can be at times), nothing here is like that. I love everything about the art and the panels and how it all flows.
Tuki starts off lonely. It is just him. And by the end of the book we have a family that needs to be taken care of. It's very real and very human and no matter what I'm already rooting for everyone in the tiny little dysfunctional family. I can't wait to get to Vol. 2.
Jeff Smith is the man. I don't know what else I can say. I loved Bone: The Complete Edition and I am already very much enjoying this.
Smith has a talent for making very real, very relatable characters. I don't care how long ago this setting is, I can still relate. They are thrown into a setting the Smith knows and has built. It is hard for me to put it into words exactly, but it is masterful storytelling. Especially for the comic/graphic novel way of telling a story. The art is awesome. It is never too much or overpowering. Where in some comics they want to blow you away with some huge scene that looks cool (and it can be at times), nothing here is like that. I love everything about the art and the panels and how it all flows.
Tuki starts off lonely. It is just him. And by the end of the book we have a family that needs to be taken care of. It's very real and very human and no matter what I'm already rooting for everyone in the tiny little dysfunctional family. I can't wait to get to Vol. 2.
November 17, 2021
A fun beginning but also, it's just a beginning. I'm eagerly anticipating it's continuation. Also, I did enjoy the author's notes at the end about what led him to make his 3rd comic and how he combines varies interests in his story.
February 14, 2024
This is a really fun take on historical fiction, imagining the early days of hominid evolution when many pre-human ancestors cohabited the earth. The story has a lot of great comedic moments, especially in the interchanges between Doc and Tuki - getting at a tension between the old and new ways of doing things.
The connection between Tuki and the kids was not as well established for me, but perhaps that gets more fleshed out in the next book.
The connection between Tuki and the kids was not as well established for me, but perhaps that gets more fleshed out in the next book.
May 30, 2022
Hovering between 3 & 4 stars. Looks like it will be good but this volume is very exposition heavy. Some fun moments tho. Will hang on for another.
June 6, 2022
Jeff Smith is one of the best dialog writers in independent comics. Over twenty years after its publication, Bone, Vol. 1: Out from Boneville is still one of my top recommendations to people looking for an all-ages graphic novel. I thought RASL, Vol. 1: The Drift was an inventive multiverse sci-fi story for people looking to get away from Marvel & DC comics.
I don't know who to recommend this to, aside from people who love Jeff Smith.
The premise, that the various phases of early human evolution existing at the same time (something I hadn't thought about until I read Smith's introduction) had complicated relationships, is excellent. I would imagine Smith was completely skilled at this. It's not entirely unlike the Bone universe where you have humans, dragons, and the Bones crossing into each others realms and learning how to interact with each other.
But in this book it felt very surfacey. It's not groups of different evolutionary phases interacting, it's one person from each (apart from the three siblings from one phase), so it seems less urgent and dynamic. It comes across as, one guy is afraid of fire, and another is comfortable with it.
The magic aspects didn't seem to do anything other than allow the different characters to speak to each other, and the villains never felt like they were a threat or that they should be perceived as anything other than a nuisance. And the monkey like creature felt like "What if Futurama's Nibbler was in this story for no apparent reason?"
With no engaging characters, barely a plot, and lack of colors, this felt completely joyless and lifeless, and gave me no desire to pick up the forthcoming second volume.
If you love Jeff Smith's art, by all means, pick this up. It is definitely Jeff Smith art. But it's not really cool or weird enough for kids, and it doesn't really have the depth to intrigue adults. I don't see anyone unfamiliar with Jeff Smith's previous work picking this up and falling in love with it.
I don't know who to recommend this to, aside from people who love Jeff Smith.
The premise, that the various phases of early human evolution existing at the same time (something I hadn't thought about until I read Smith's introduction) had complicated relationships, is excellent. I would imagine Smith was completely skilled at this. It's not entirely unlike the Bone universe where you have humans, dragons, and the Bones crossing into each others realms and learning how to interact with each other.
But in this book it felt very surfacey. It's not groups of different evolutionary phases interacting, it's one person from each (apart from the three siblings from one phase), so it seems less urgent and dynamic. It comes across as, one guy is afraid of fire, and another is comfortable with it.
The magic aspects didn't seem to do anything other than allow the different characters to speak to each other, and the villains never felt like they were a threat or that they should be perceived as anything other than a nuisance. And the monkey like creature felt like "What if Futurama's Nibbler was in this story for no apparent reason?"
With no engaging characters, barely a plot, and lack of colors, this felt completely joyless and lifeless, and gave me no desire to pick up the forthcoming second volume.
If you love Jeff Smith's art, by all means, pick this up. It is definitely Jeff Smith art. But it's not really cool or weird enough for kids, and it doesn't really have the depth to intrigue adults. I don't see anyone unfamiliar with Jeff Smith's previous work picking this up and falling in love with it.
July 25, 2021
Beautiful illustrations and a fascinating story of prehistoric man. A quick read that enthralled me the entire way through. I would definitely read it again, much like Smith's other work, Bone, which I've read through entirely a few times. Worth every minute.
January 7, 2023
Jeff Smith’s art is as spectacular as always and the action pieces are great, so readers will truly feel themselves transported to our prehistory.
June 8, 2022
This is a spoiler free review.
Tuki: Fight for Fire and Tuki: Fight for Family are two terrific graphic novels. Thank you NetGalley, Kathleen Glosan, and Jeff Smith for the advanced reader copies of both books. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them! The artwork and awesome stories compliment each other very well. I was hooked from the start of Book One.
The Tuki graphic novels are very different from other Jeff Smith comics series such as Bone. The Tuki books are much more serious and have moments of violence but Tuki has so much heart and some beautiful poignant scenes. Reading the Tuki graphic novels felt like I was reading a story that would make a great movie or cartoon series. Some of the scenes felt like perfect storyboards or silent segments with very little to no dialogue which I really enjoy. The art told the story and the readers could imagine their own sounds for the scene. It’s like watching a silent film.
Tuki is the hero of these journey quest stories. His tale begins at the dawn of humanity. Where food and water are both scarce. He’s a cross between Tarzan and an unlikely hero type or a ronin who roams the jungle and plains in search of the mother herd of all buffalo.
During his journey he meets various species of humans. During this prehistoric time there are several human species who try to coexist with one another. In the Tuki graphic novels there are at least four species of humans and Tuki interacts with each of them during his journey. Tuki is a part of the species of humans who use fire and walk on two feet, but another species is the Habiline. They hate fire and attack and kill anyone who uses fire or cooks their food. The Habiline think it is an abomination of life to cook your food. Tuki meets an older Habiline, the Old One, a Seer who tries to warn Tuki how much the Habiline hate his kind.
The Old One and Tuki also meet other human species during this fantasy prehistoric story. They meet three children who bond with all of them. The children are the glue that holds them all together. Both Tuki and the old Habiline care for the kids in their own way. The children help Tuki and the other species to put aside their differences as they battle animal Gods, other human species, and long tooths.
The Tuki graphic novels remind me so much of Tarzan films and the Disney cartoon especially when Tuki goes sliding across tree branches and swings on vines as he ventures through the jungle. I also see similarities to Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal. Two stories about humans during the dawn of man as they each battle prehistoric monsters.
I highly recommend reading both Tuki: Fight for Fire and Tuki: Fight for Family. These are two very entertaining graphic novels that feature great stories and amazing artwork. Make sure you read to the end of each book. There is so much great information and bonus material on what Tuki is based on, storyboards with artist edition notes, Jeff Smith stories, and more.
Stay awesome keep reading!
Tuki: Fight for Fire and Tuki: Fight for Family
Creative Team:
Written and Illustrated by Jeff Smith
Tuki: Fight for Fire and Tuki: Fight for Family are two terrific graphic novels. Thank you NetGalley, Kathleen Glosan, and Jeff Smith for the advanced reader copies of both books. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them! The artwork and awesome stories compliment each other very well. I was hooked from the start of Book One.
The Tuki graphic novels are very different from other Jeff Smith comics series such as Bone. The Tuki books are much more serious and have moments of violence but Tuki has so much heart and some beautiful poignant scenes. Reading the Tuki graphic novels felt like I was reading a story that would make a great movie or cartoon series. Some of the scenes felt like perfect storyboards or silent segments with very little to no dialogue which I really enjoy. The art told the story and the readers could imagine their own sounds for the scene. It’s like watching a silent film.
Tuki is the hero of these journey quest stories. His tale begins at the dawn of humanity. Where food and water are both scarce. He’s a cross between Tarzan and an unlikely hero type or a ronin who roams the jungle and plains in search of the mother herd of all buffalo.
During his journey he meets various species of humans. During this prehistoric time there are several human species who try to coexist with one another. In the Tuki graphic novels there are at least four species of humans and Tuki interacts with each of them during his journey. Tuki is a part of the species of humans who use fire and walk on two feet, but another species is the Habiline. They hate fire and attack and kill anyone who uses fire or cooks their food. The Habiline think it is an abomination of life to cook your food. Tuki meets an older Habiline, the Old One, a Seer who tries to warn Tuki how much the Habiline hate his kind.
The Old One and Tuki also meet other human species during this fantasy prehistoric story. They meet three children who bond with all of them. The children are the glue that holds them all together. Both Tuki and the old Habiline care for the kids in their own way. The children help Tuki and the other species to put aside their differences as they battle animal Gods, other human species, and long tooths.
The Tuki graphic novels remind me so much of Tarzan films and the Disney cartoon especially when Tuki goes sliding across tree branches and swings on vines as he ventures through the jungle. I also see similarities to Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal. Two stories about humans during the dawn of man as they each battle prehistoric monsters.
I highly recommend reading both Tuki: Fight for Fire and Tuki: Fight for Family. These are two very entertaining graphic novels that feature great stories and amazing artwork. Make sure you read to the end of each book. There is so much great information and bonus material on what Tuki is based on, storyboards with artist edition notes, Jeff Smith stories, and more.
Stay awesome keep reading!
Tuki: Fight for Fire and Tuki: Fight for Family
Creative Team:
Written and Illustrated by Jeff Smith
January 17, 2022
Finding out about anew comic by the artist behind the fenomenal 'Bone' and the interesting 'RASL' was an unexpected delight. I had seen some of the pages when this was published as a web comic, but had lost track of it, and am happy to now be able to read the graphic novel. It turned out this is the first of two collections (the second one appearing in 2022), which I didn't know based on the cover so I was a bit miffed by it ending on a cliff hanger. But that only means I have more Jeff Smith-works to look forward to.
The idea behind the story is a fascinating one. 2 million years ago several species of hominines lived together in Afrika - the last branches of the australopithecines and several species of Homo: habilis and erectus. What if these species interacted? How would they be able to communicate? Would they share spiritual beliefs and convictions? Would they exchange technology? Here the Habilenes see the usage of fire as an affront to the spiritual forces, something to be eradicated.
In a harsh landscape where finding food every day is not guaranteed and ones stomach is always grumbling, Homo erectus Tuki is on a quest to locate a herd of buffalo. He comes into contact with a trio of kids from his own species, a habiline shaman and another creature. It seems fate has something in store for them, if sabertoothed tigers and giant ape gods don't stop them from reaching it.
The pages are expertly laid out, ones eye flowing over the images and absorbing the story. The art is beautiful. In simple black and white lines Smith suggests a world - and the use of some cartoonish elements (the Australopithecus) adds a subjectivity to it - this is the way one species of human sees the other species - not necessarily how they see themselves. The dialogue is terse, and there are some drawn out passages, that force the reader to absorb the story instead of rushing through it, and suggest a hidden depth behind the images. This means this is a story that one does not fully make ones own after just one read. It is a story to reread and notice hidden meaning (as was the case with 'Bone' and 'RASL').
Really a great book for comic fans (especially those who read and appreciated Jeff Smiths earlier workd) and for those interested in human evolution and thinking about the rise of human intelligence and culture. I for one can hardly wait for the second book: 'Fight for family'.
The idea behind the story is a fascinating one. 2 million years ago several species of hominines lived together in Afrika - the last branches of the australopithecines and several species of Homo: habilis and erectus. What if these species interacted? How would they be able to communicate? Would they share spiritual beliefs and convictions? Would they exchange technology? Here the Habilenes see the usage of fire as an affront to the spiritual forces, something to be eradicated.
In a harsh landscape where finding food every day is not guaranteed and ones stomach is always grumbling, Homo erectus Tuki is on a quest to locate a herd of buffalo. He comes into contact with a trio of kids from his own species, a habiline shaman and another creature. It seems fate has something in store for them, if sabertoothed tigers and giant ape gods don't stop them from reaching it.
The pages are expertly laid out, ones eye flowing over the images and absorbing the story. The art is beautiful. In simple black and white lines Smith suggests a world - and the use of some cartoonish elements (the Australopithecus) adds a subjectivity to it - this is the way one species of human sees the other species - not necessarily how they see themselves. The dialogue is terse, and there are some drawn out passages, that force the reader to absorb the story instead of rushing through it, and suggest a hidden depth behind the images. This means this is a story that one does not fully make ones own after just one read. It is a story to reread and notice hidden meaning (as was the case with 'Bone' and 'RASL').
Really a great book for comic fans (especially those who read and appreciated Jeff Smiths earlier workd) and for those interested in human evolution and thinking about the rise of human intelligence and culture. I for one can hardly wait for the second book: 'Fight for family'.
May 8, 2022
Much delayed, a new Jeff Smith series kicked off here, with this revised-from-the-webcomic collection. It definitely has the Jeff Smith style, an approach very close to ligne claire but offering more detail and veracity. It also has what seems a very Jeff Smith kind of story, a whimsy-laden, diversion-heavy travel quest plot. Our man Tuki, or TUKI as the books are permanently styled, is a hunter-warrior way back when in Africa – in a time when multiple different hominid species can intermingle, and generally (or at least with the help of some magic dust) understand each other with their perfect English. One character latches on to him, despite offering shamanic warnings from the hidden world, and he discovers some juveniles from a third species, and off they seem to go, on the hunt for the mother-lode of buffalo herds.
And... that's about it. It's vaguely comical, without exactly being that funny, it's not exactly wordy and can be read nice and quickly, but it's not going to set the world on fire, even when you consider how impossible it would be to replicate the effect Bone had on us all. One thing to its credit is that it's short enough to leave us wondering what the point of it all actually is yet – with the solitary man using fire that the shaman hates so much, is it going to be a fable about progress? Is it going to discuss how the different species have different statuses and opinions about each other, and that the young kids he connects with here are going to be the ones to see beyond the prejudice (yawn)?
To others, of course, this series opener won't be appreciated for that lack of handle that we get on it all. If the book can't set out its stall with these readers, what really is the point? And I get that, but for once I felt like giving this the benefit of the doubt and waiting to see where we are to go moving forward, and when and how we get answers to our questions. Let's face it, they're not exactly posers to keep us up at night, as this is a three and a half star book from first to last, but Smith's easy, individualistic approach is still on this evidence fun to have around.
And... that's about it. It's vaguely comical, without exactly being that funny, it's not exactly wordy and can be read nice and quickly, but it's not going to set the world on fire, even when you consider how impossible it would be to replicate the effect Bone had on us all. One thing to its credit is that it's short enough to leave us wondering what the point of it all actually is yet – with the solitary man using fire that the shaman hates so much, is it going to be a fable about progress? Is it going to discuss how the different species have different statuses and opinions about each other, and that the young kids he connects with here are going to be the ones to see beyond the prejudice (yawn)?
To others, of course, this series opener won't be appreciated for that lack of handle that we get on it all. If the book can't set out its stall with these readers, what really is the point? And I get that, but for once I felt like giving this the benefit of the doubt and waiting to see where we are to go moving forward, and when and how we get answers to our questions. Let's face it, they're not exactly posers to keep us up at night, as this is a three and a half star book from first to last, but Smith's easy, individualistic approach is still on this evidence fun to have around.
March 13, 2023
З моєю любов'ю до мальописів про доісторичні часи, просто не могла оминути нову серію Джефа Сміта. Не читала його легендарний Bone, тільки дитячу Little Mouse Gets Ready, яка, попри сюжет для дворічних, дає змогу оцінити професіоналізм автора у зображенні руху. Жвавість персонажів у нього нагадує класичний, але більш театральний стиль Will Eisner, іноді перегукується з другом Сміта Kyle Baker, який навпаки трохи стриманіше.
Мальопис був натхненний поїздкою Сміта до Африки в 1995 році і його захопленням антропологією. За сюжетом, в одному місці зустрічаються декілька видів первісних людей, що існували приблизно в один час, і потрапляють разом у пригоду. Впродовж книги вони не тільки виживають, але й вчаться комунікувати і розбираються зі своїми культурними відмінностями. Така цікава ідея майстерно обігрується не тільки в сюжеті та діалогах, але й в дизайні персонажів та самій площині коміксу.
Відірватися від книжки мені було важко, хоча думаю, що в більш фахових любителів історії вона викличе кілька запитань) В будь-якому разі, це є гарний привід для розмови про давній світ, гілки еволюції та складність сучасного сприйняття таких віддалених і розтягнутих у часі подій. Здивувало, що персонажі говорять, але таке рішення автор детально обґрунтовує в есеї наприкінці (а наявність есеїв додають коміксам вартості в моїх очах). Там же можна знайти й скетчі та матеріали з різних етапів створення мальопису, а також фото студії Сміта й список книжок та відеоматеріалів, якими він надихався під час роботи.
Друга частина - TUKI: Fight for Family - не менш цікава, проте на ній автор обіцяв не зупинятися, казав що в планах має намалювати 6 частин. Однак поки що маємо шо маємо, і ситуація починає нагадувати мою улюблену доісторичну пригодницьку серію FRNK, яка теж так і не була завершена. Сумно, сумно аж за край.
Мальопис був натхненний поїздкою Сміта до Африки в 1995 році і його захопленням антропологією. За сюжетом, в одному місці зустрічаються декілька видів первісних людей, що існували приблизно в один час, і потрапляють разом у пригоду. Впродовж книги вони не тільки виживають, але й вчаться комунікувати і розбираються зі своїми культурними відмінностями. Така цікава ідея майстерно обігрується не тільки в сюжеті та діалогах, але й в дизайні персонажів та самій площині коміксу.
Відірватися від книжки мені було важко, хоча думаю, що в більш фахових любителів історії вона викличе кілька запитань) В будь-якому разі, це є гарний привід для розмови про давній світ, гілки еволюції та складність сучасного сприйняття таких віддалених і розтягнутих у часі подій. Здивувало, що персонажі говорять, але таке рішення автор детально обґрунтовує в есеї наприкінці (а наявність есеїв додають коміксам вартості в моїх очах). Там же можна знайти й скетчі та матеріали з різних етапів створення мальопису, а також фото студії Сміта й список книжок та відеоматеріалів, якими він надихався під час роботи.
Друга частина - TUKI: Fight for Family - не менш цікава, проте на ній автор обіцяв не зупинятися, казав що в планах має намалювати 6 частин. Однак поки що маємо шо маємо, і ситуація починає нагадувати мою улюблену доісторичну пригодницьку серію FRNK, яка теж так і не була завершена. Сумно, сумно аж за край.
August 3, 2021
Now I see how this all got its hugely successful backing. I don't even mean just hitting similar beats to Jeff Smith's other hit Bone, but the effort to build a history that comes with ancient culture and how it affects people. Imagine everybody going crazy for and against the latest inventions today and how people would've done it back then with just fire. It's like a clash of culture that shows that we as humans still share similarities with our ancestors.
Everybody thinks we might have the world all figured out, especially in terms of belief, but maybe not as much as we think. For example Tuki being able to understand the Hapo despite time away from the supposed magic dust that allows communication. Because the kids under Tuki come to understand the Hapo fine without it as well. In terms of magic, it portrays it in a way similar to Bone and some of (Redacted) methods; by affecting physical change through perceptual change. It's a method I feel is the most realistic when it comes to magic as a discipline.
Hence why demons and the tribes who worship them appear to try and prevent the rise of civilization through fire. But in all consideration they have a right to be afraid considering what power this grants some people; especially considering the tragic fate of all non homosapiens. But at least we're coming to appreciate the lives Tuki is sharing around him for what's coming up next.
Everybody thinks we might have the world all figured out, especially in terms of belief, but maybe not as much as we think. For example Tuki being able to understand the Hapo despite time away from the supposed magic dust that allows communication. Because the kids under Tuki come to understand the Hapo fine without it as well. In terms of magic, it portrays it in a way similar to Bone and some of (Redacted) methods; by affecting physical change through perceptual change. It's a method I feel is the most realistic when it comes to magic as a discipline.
Hence why demons and the tribes who worship them appear to try and prevent the rise of civilization through fire. But in all consideration they have a right to be afraid considering what power this grants some people; especially considering the tragic fate of all non homosapiens. But at least we're coming to appreciate the lives Tuki is sharing around him for what's coming up next.
September 26, 2025
Wow! This was great! But now I need to find the second book! After reading all of Bone and Thorn, I knew I needed to find more of Jeff Smith's work. His use of silence is masterful. And this comic shows that perfectly. So many scenes where there's no dialogue at all. Just characters interacting either through battle or through expressions. You can feel every emotion through the art alone. And I think that's brilliant. Exactly what comics should be. No heavy narration. No crazy long dialogue. Let the reader figure things out and learn about the characters through the simplicity and interactions. It's phenomenal. The story follows Tuki, a man in 2 Million BCE. He is hunting for the Motherherd of all buffalo. They are a mystical force that will provide nutrients to those who protect her. And he stop at nothing to reach his goal. He will slay giants, back talk Gods, and be followed by children and monkeys? Yes. He may pick up some stragglers, but he's still hard set on reaching his goal! What an amazing story. And it's not done yet! This is the first of, what looks to be, two books! So now I need to go out and find the other one! Anyway, this was incredible and I highly recommend you get this one!
August 12, 2024
You cannot tell how good a story is until you see its ending. And in the case of Tuki, that has already been—and will continue to be—a long, long wait.
Jeff Smith, the autor of Bone, first started Tuki (or Tüki, as it was then called) as a web comic way back in 2013. The web comic quickly fell behind schedule, and after lots of waiting, Smith put it on indefinite hiatus in 2016.
A few years later, Tuki re-emerged as a Kickstarter-backed series of more traditional graphic novels. Fight for Fire is the first part of a planned six-book series, and it is mostly based on revised and expanded material from the webcomic.
I can see why Smith ended up in a dead end with the web comic – and how the graphic novels improve on the source material that now feels like a first draft. The narrative has a clearer focus, but also takes its time to build the atmosphere. Many graphic novels rush from story event to another, so I enjoyed how Smith takes his time in the beginning of the story with a long, slow scene with minimal dialogue.
It's a promising beginning.
Jeff Smith, the autor of Bone, first started Tuki (or Tüki, as it was then called) as a web comic way back in 2013. The web comic quickly fell behind schedule, and after lots of waiting, Smith put it on indefinite hiatus in 2016.
A few years later, Tuki re-emerged as a Kickstarter-backed series of more traditional graphic novels. Fight for Fire is the first part of a planned six-book series, and it is mostly based on revised and expanded material from the webcomic.
I can see why Smith ended up in a dead end with the web comic – and how the graphic novels improve on the source material that now feels like a first draft. The narrative has a clearer focus, but also takes its time to build the atmosphere. Many graphic novels rush from story event to another, so I enjoyed how Smith takes his time in the beginning of the story with a long, slow scene with minimal dialogue.
It's a promising beginning.
November 12, 2021
Another graphic novel I read to determine if it could be added to the library collection. I like everything about this graphic novel except for its size; it's oversized, and I don't see students wanting to read this unwieldy book. I wonder why the publishers chose to print it this way. Who is the intended audience? Smith's Bone books were popular, and I think tweens and teens who read them would gravitate toward the book....if only the size and shape were different.
The story lends itself to the black and white illustrations, and I like how two story arcs merge into one when Tuki takes in three lost children as they journey to find the Motherherd of buffalo. Plenty of action keeps this prehistoric story interesting. I especially like author's resources and notes. These author notes can help budding graphic novelists think about the choices made when creating graphic novels. I could see this book working well in a graphic novel class.
The story lends itself to the black and white illustrations, and I like how two story arcs merge into one when Tuki takes in three lost children as they journey to find the Motherherd of buffalo. Plenty of action keeps this prehistoric story interesting. I especially like author's resources and notes. These author notes can help budding graphic novelists think about the choices made when creating graphic novels. I could see this book working well in a graphic novel class.
July 19, 2022
I LOVE Jeff Smith. I will read anything that he puts out, forever and always.
I thought that the art in here was great (Smith continues to be able to convey emotion and story with few words when desired). I think that the characters and story just left a bit to be desired for me, relative to Bone (my favorite comic series of all time) as well as RASL.
I remember reading the webcomic version of this when it originally came out (in 2014?) and while I don't have a great memory of the webcomic at this point, it does seem like he's done a great job revisiting the original work and updating/expanding it as needed. I really appreciated his inclusion at the end of the book of the process he took to migrate the webcomic into the final form that we got to see in this TPB.
Overall, I enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to the second book, but it didn't quite have the magic of Bone nor RASL.
I thought that the art in here was great (Smith continues to be able to convey emotion and story with few words when desired). I think that the characters and story just left a bit to be desired for me, relative to Bone (my favorite comic series of all time) as well as RASL.
I remember reading the webcomic version of this when it originally came out (in 2014?) and while I don't have a great memory of the webcomic at this point, it does seem like he's done a great job revisiting the original work and updating/expanding it as needed. I really appreciated his inclusion at the end of the book of the process he took to migrate the webcomic into the final form that we got to see in this TPB.
Overall, I enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to the second book, but it didn't quite have the magic of Bone nor RASL.
March 21, 2022
This story has Smith's wonderful mix of humor, adventure, and cool art. The art is quite different from Bone in style but similar in spirit. Characters are drawn with great humor and expressiveness. I enjoyed the storyline of various hominids, myth, hunting, and more. My one complaint is that all but two of the clearly gendered characters are male, and the two girls are not very active. Couldn't the shaman have been female? Front & back matter includes anthropological & archaeological information, "in-process" sketches, and other goodies.
Great for about 3rd grade through elderly adult. (hardcore fundamentalists might want to pass--pity, they would learn something as well as enjoy a great graphic novel)
Great for about 3rd grade through elderly adult. (hardcore fundamentalists might want to pass--pity, they would learn something as well as enjoy a great graphic novel)
January 16, 2025
Tole imam že od 2021 na polici pa mislim da še nisem prej cele zgodbe prebral. Mi je všeč da se dogaja v prazgodovini, 2 miljona let nazaj, ko je še več vrst človečnjakov živelo skupaj. Mi je všeč ideja zgodbe, ma me kr na parih mestih zmoti dialog - zelo moderne fraze oz. ameriške, me mal vrže ven. Me zanima kako bo šla zgodba naprej in mi je zelo všeč kako je narisano in me tudi pomirja, k niso vsi kadri čist konsistentni - pa to sploh ne moti. K js se tko sekiram dokler ni rok oddaje preblizu.
Mi je blo pa zelo všeč, da so vključili še proces nastajanja na koncu knjige. To je bil prej web comic, in ga je Jeff predelal zdj v knjigo. Razmišljanja ob spremembah in skice, ogrodja strani - Krasno krasno !!! Js bi celo zgodbo z opombami avtorja prebral :)
Mi je blo pa zelo všeč, da so vključili še proces nastajanja na koncu knjige. To je bil prej web comic, in ga je Jeff predelal zdj v knjigo. Razmišljanja ob spremembah in skice, ogrodja strani - Krasno krasno !!! Js bi celo zgodbo z opombami avtorja prebral :)
June 21, 2025
Jeff Smith is a genius at keeping everything simple, but with enough details to keep everything interesting. The artwork provides detail that invoke emotion and do a great job setting the tone. The black + white is great for most things, but not everything. For example: at the end of the book, there are author's notes where he mentions the oranges and talks about their origin. I thought they were coconuts. I don't know how any reader would be expected to know the difference between round foods they're eating except to label it.
Interesting story and characters, looking forward to reading more from this series (Bone was one of my favorites for a really long time).
Interesting story and characters, looking forward to reading more from this series (Bone was one of my favorites for a really long time).
April 9, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kathleen Glosan and the team at Cartoon Books Inc so I could be prepared to review the second and latest installment of Tuki, and I am beyond thrilled. I love Jeff Smith and his comics in a way that reveals my age, having grown with Bone when it was a serial. I never really thought a comic about Paleo-Anthroplogy would ever pique my interest, but wow, Tuki is great so far. I cannot wait to move on to the second volume, and am anticipating that I will be super bummed to wait for the third volume.
All opinions here are my own, honest feelings.
All opinions here are my own, honest feelings.
April 5, 2022
While tons of fiction speculating about the Age of Dinosaurs and then the world of early Homo Sapiens abound, Jeff Smith has chosen the period of time when the predecessors of Homo Sapiens were still as much alive as the newly emerging ancestors that we'd recognize as modern humans. This is one of the most daring and interesting dives into speculative fiction that I have ever picked up. Seriously can't wait to read the next installments.
August 12, 2021
Anything Jeff Smith creates is worth notice ... this first installment in a graphic novel series about early people shows his depth as storyteller ... I also greatly appreciated the ending section, where he pulls back the veil on the story’s origin and how he worked and reworked ideas for years .... Note: I donated to his Kickstarter for this book.
December 6, 2021
This isn't as good as the original web comic (which I read in comic book format) for two reasons. One, the beautiful coloring is gone, leaving some panels looking sparse and flat. Second, Smith felt the need to insert pages to explain more background for the characters, and I thought they slowed down the story unnecessarily. I'm going to keep my comics and discard this collection.
April 17, 2022
Heräteostos amsterdamilaisesta sarjakuvakaupasta. Ihmiskunnan alkuhämärissä keskustellaan tulen käytön riskeistä ja tapellaan muiden olioiden kanssa. Jotain yliluonnollistakin vilahtaa, kenties.
Ihan täysin en vakuuttunut. Harmitusta lisää se, että tämä on vasta ensimmäinen osa. Saapa nähdä montako osaa tämä tarina vaatii ja tulenko koskaan saamaan niitä myöhempiä osia käsiini.
Ihan täysin en vakuuttunut. Harmitusta lisää se, että tämä on vasta ensimmäinen osa. Saapa nähdä montako osaa tämä tarina vaatii ja tulenko koskaan saamaan niitä myöhempiä osia käsiini.
June 29, 2022
Jeff Smith's Bone is my all time favorite comic book series. I enjoyed RASL, though not as much as Bone. Would I like Tuki as well?
The answer is a resounding YES! I love that he worked in real paleoanthropology with the fantasy elements of this story. I look forward to seeing where this journey will take us!
The answer is a resounding YES! I love that he worked in real paleoanthropology with the fantasy elements of this story. I look forward to seeing where this journey will take us!
September 26, 2022
This was a very cool premise, following the stories of some of human's first ancient ancestors, and how they were fighting for survival and fighting each other. This first volume spent most of its time world-building and introducing the characters so I'm intrigued to read the next installment to see where the story is going!
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