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| Calvin and Hobbes; 15 years and finally an interview with Bill | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 2 2010, 08:57 AM (268 Views) | |
| Aqua Letifer | Feb 2 2010, 08:57 AM Post #1 |
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ZOOOOOM!
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http://www.cleveland.com/living/index.ssf/2010/02/bill_watterson_creator_of_belo.html Bill Watterson, creator of beloved 'Calvin and Hobbes' comic strip looks back with no regrets This marks the 15th year since "Calvin and Hobbes" said goodbye to the comics pages. Creator Bill Watterson, who grew up in Chagrin Falls and still makes Greater Cleveland his home, recently answered some questions via e-mail from Plain Dealer reporter John Campanelli. It's believed to be the first interview with the reclusive artist since 1989. With almost 15 years of separation and reflection, what do you think it was about "Calvin and Hobbes" that went beyond just capturing readers' attention, but their hearts as well? The only part I understand is what went into the creation of the strip. What readers take away from it is up to them. Once the strip is published, readers bring their own experiences to it, and the work takes on a life of its own. Everyone responds differently to different parts. I just tried to write honestly, and I tried to make this little world fun to look at, so people would take the time to read it. That was the full extent of my concern. You mix a bunch of ingredients, and once in a great while, chemistry happens. I can't explain why the strip caught on the way it did, and I don't think I could ever duplicate it. A lot of things have to go right all at once. What are your thoughts about the legacy of your strip? Well, it's not a subject that keeps me up at night. Readers will always decide if the work is meaningful and relevant to them, and I can live with whatever conclusion they come to. Again, my part in all this largely ended as the ink dried. Readers became friends with your characters, so understandably, they grieved -- and are still grieving -- when the strip ended. What would you like to tell them? This isn't as hard to understand as people try to make it. By the end of 10 years, I'd said pretty much everything I had come there to say. It's always better to leave the party early. If I had rolled along with the strip's popularity and repeated myself for another five, 10 or 20 years, the people now "grieving" for "Calvin and Hobbes" would be wishing me dead and cursing newspapers for running tedious, ancient strips like mine instead of acquiring fresher, livelier talent. And I'd be agreeing with them. I think some of the reason "Calvin and Hobbes" still finds an audience today is because I chose not to run the wheels off it. I've never regretted stopping when I did. Because your work touched so many people, fans feel a connection to you, like they know you. They want more of your work, more Calvin, another strip, anything. It really is a sort of rock star/fan relationship. Because of your aversion to attention, how do you deal with that even today? And how do you deal with knowing that it's going to follow you for the rest of your days? Ah, the life of a newspaper cartoonist -- how I miss the groupies, drugs and trashed hotel rooms! But since my "rock star" days, the public attention has faded a lot. In Pop Culture Time, the 1990s were eons ago. There are occasional flare-ups of weirdness, but mostly I just go about my quiet life and do my best to ignore the rest. I'm proud of the strip, enormously grateful for its success, and truly flattered that people still read it, but I wrote "Calvin and Hobbes" in my 30s, and I'm many miles from there. An artwork can stay frozen in time, but I stumble through the years like everyone else. I think the deeper fans understand that, and are willing to give me some room to go on with my life. How soon after the U.S. Postal Service issues the Calvin stamp will you send a letter with one on the envelope? Immediately. I'm going to get in my horse and buggy and snail-mail a check for my newspaper subscription. How do you want people to remember that 6-year-old and his tiger? I vote for "Calvin and Hobbes, Eighth Wonder of the World." |
| I cite irreconcilable differences. | |
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| Aqua Letifer | Feb 2 2010, 09:00 AM Post #2 |
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ZOOOOOM!
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Right on Bill. I agree with this entirely and it's something I think is pretty important for any kind of writing or creative endeavor. What a great strip this was. I was incredibly pissed at the time, when the last comic was printed, but I think he made the right decision. End on a high note. -AL, who still has a framed copy of that last comic somewhere. |
| I cite irreconcilable differences. | |
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| Frank_W | Feb 2 2010, 09:06 AM Post #3 |
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Resident Misanthrope
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I love Calvin & Hobbes. Favorite comic strip ever... Calvin reminds me a lot of myself, when I was a kid. No, seriously.
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Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin." Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!" | |
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| kenny | Feb 2 2010, 09:07 AM Post #4 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I liked the strip but not as passionately as these fans apparently did. I don't understand, but respect, such depth of feeling over a comic strip. |
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| Mikhailoh | Feb 2 2010, 09:13 AM Post #5 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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I certainly respect his decision to quit when he did. It would be interesting to know what he is doing now. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| Dewey | Feb 2 2010, 11:03 AM Post #6 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Calvin & Hobbes was one of those rare comics that transcended being simply a comic strip. It was commentary on life, love, humor, even philosophy and theology, without ever becoming preachy or boring. It was, and continues to be, so popular because in it we saw the best of ourselves, or at least what we believed was the best of ourselves. Plus it was usually just damned funny. |
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"By nature, i prefer brevity." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 685. "Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you." - Anonymous "Oh sure, every once in a while a turd floated by, but other than that it was just fine." - Joe A., 2011 I'll answer your other comments later, but my primary priority for the rest of the evening is to get drunk." - Klaus, 12/31/14 | |
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| Frank_W | Feb 2 2010, 11:07 AM Post #7 |
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Resident Misanthrope
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That sums it up perfectly, D.
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Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin." Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!" | |
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| sue | Feb 2 2010, 11:11 AM Post #8 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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+1000 I too was sad when it ended, but I have major respect for him quitting before things got stale and old. Know when to fold 'em. |
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| Frank_W | Feb 2 2010, 11:14 AM Post #9 |
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Resident Misanthrope
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Contrast this with "Funky Winkerbean," which is usually the last comic in our Sunday comics. The strips, while well drawn, frequently feature people dying of cancer and other unfunny stuff. After reading through the usual syndicated and pleasant comics, "Funky Winkerbean" is like a glass of icewater thrown in one's face. Maybe the writing is honest, but it's definitely not fun, and I find myself skipping right over it. |
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Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin." Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!" | |
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| The 89th Key | Feb 2 2010, 11:18 AM Post #10 |
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C&H, FTW! It was the perfect blend of humor, memorable characters, and a subtle commentary (often involving Calvin using extremely long words) on many of life's debates. It'll always be the best comic strip! |
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| QuirtEvans | Feb 2 2010, 11:24 AM Post #11 |
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
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The Far Side was pretty damn good. |
| It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010. | |
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| QuirtEvans | Feb 2 2010, 11:24 AM Post #12 |
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
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And let us not forget Bloom County. |
| It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010. | |
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| Luke's Dad | Feb 2 2010, 11:30 AM Post #13 |
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Emperor Pengin
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Beat me to it. Bloom County was (IMO) the best of the bunch. Breathed tried to end it on top as well, but unfortunately, he kept reincarnating it, with none of the newer stuff comparing to the old.
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| The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it. | |
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| Luke's Dad | Feb 2 2010, 04:03 PM Post #14 |
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Emperor Pengin
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Thanks Aqua, this thread gave me a good excuse to look up old Bloom County cartoons today. A fairly enjoyable way to spend some time. |
| The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it. | |
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| Optimistic | Feb 2 2010, 04:18 PM Post #15 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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That reminds me, time for an avatar change. |
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PHOTOS I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up. - Mark Twain We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. -T. S. Eliot | |
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| Friday | Feb 2 2010, 05:06 PM Post #16 |
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Senior Carp
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We nver hear from Mr. Watterson, so thank you for this Aqua. btw, I LOVED how and when he ended it. |
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I agree with this entirely and it's something I think is pretty important for any kind of writing or creative endeavor. 
Favorite comic strip ever... Calvin reminds me a lot of myself, when I was a kid. No, seriously.



4:58 PM Jul 10