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An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

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Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#41

Post by walterbell »

MikeKusold wrote: post #8
vunderba wrote: post #6

Side note, but every time I DON'T see a Hobbes plushy, a Calvin bauble head, the Calvin and Hobbes TV series, etc. I'm so thankful that Watterson grimly held onto the merchandising rights of his characters. He maintained such a high standard for his comic right unto the end. Not everything in this world needs to be commoditized to death. "But how will new generations learn about Calvin and Hobbes without Calvin and H…

The counterpoint is how many children would love their own stuffed Hobbes to be sitting next to them as their parents read a few comics to them. You can merchandise things without going overboard and losing your soul.

> children would love their own stuffed Hobbes

In lieu of Hobbes™, sellers offer many choices.

https://www.amazon.com/hobbes-stuffed-tiger/s?k=hobbes+stuff...

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#43

Post by munchler »

This is from an era when the entire country was reading the same comic strips every day, watching the same TV shows, getting the same news, etc. I don't think either the interviewer or Watterson had any idea that mainstream media would be so completely fragmented within a few decades.

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#44

Post by NickC25 »

Miraste wrote: post #12
vunderba wrote: post #6

Side note, but every time I DON'T see a Hobbes plushy, a Calvin bauble head, the Calvin and Hobbes TV series, etc. I'm so thankful that Watterson grimly held onto the merchandising rights of his characters. He maintained such a high standard for his comic right unto the end. Not everything in this world needs to be commoditized to death. "But how will new generations learn about Calvin and Hobbes without Calvin and H…

I have immense respect for Watterson. He's the only artist I can think of to achieve that level of fame and success and not sell out. Selling out is barely even a concept any more because it's simply assumed, and Watterson is still out there in a cabin in the woods, communicating only by mail and refusing every corporate offer that comes his way.

>He's the only artist I can think of to achieve that level of fame and success and not sell out.

Gary Larson of The Far Side comes close but never touched the highs of Calvin and Hobbes

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#45

Post by boringg »

Miraste wrote: post #35
psunavy03 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I respect his decision, but for many people "selling out" is actually code for "financial security and stability for themselves and their families," which is not nothing and not necessarily worth scoffing at.

Watterson did get financial security and stability from the success of the comic, he wasn't distributing it for free. The point after that is where you find selling out, and that's where he drew a line.

For example i think Taylor Swift isnt a sell out, theres still more avenues to pursue merch and tour gear to achieve financial stability.

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#46

Post by CrazyStat »

khazhoux wrote: post #16
vunderba wrote: post #6

Side note, but every time I DON'T see a Hobbes plushy, a Calvin bauble head, the Calvin and Hobbes TV series, etc. I'm so thankful that Watterson grimly held onto the merchandising rights of his characters. He maintained such a high standard for his comic right unto the end. Not everything in this world needs to be commoditized to death. "But how will new generations learn about Calvin and Hobbes without Calvin and H…

Whenever the topic of copyright comes up on HN, the prevailing view in comments section is that copyrights should be relatively short and cultural artifacts should be available to everyone to use as they please. So I find it interesting ("interesting") how people seem to universally appreciate that Calvin & Hobbes are protected from any 3rd-party use, meanwhile they universally revile Disney for not allowing people t…

Mickey Mouse (and Calvin and Hobbes) would still be protected by trademark if copyrights were much shorter.

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#47

Post by CrazyStat »

vunderba wrote: post #6

Side note, but every time I DON'T see a Hobbes plushy, a Calvin bauble head, the Calvin and Hobbes TV series, etc. I'm so thankful that Watterson grimly held onto the merchandising rights of his characters. He maintained such a high standard for his comic right unto the end. Not everything in this world needs to be commoditized to death. "But how will new generations learn about Calvin and Hobbes without Calvin and H…

I recently got that boxed set for my son’s birthday. I think I’ve spent more time reading it than he has, though I’m sure he’ll get into it eventually.

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#48

Post by vunderba »

mmastrac wrote: post #9
vunderba wrote: post #6

Side note, but every time I DON'T see a Hobbes plushy, a Calvin bauble head, the Calvin and Hobbes TV series, etc. I'm so thankful that Watterson grimly held onto the merchandising rights of his characters. He maintained such a high standard for his comic right unto the end. Not everything in this world needs to be commoditized to death. "But how will new generations learn about Calvin and Hobbes without Calvin and H…

"unto the end" and "commoditized to death" made me briefly paranoid that Mr Watterson had died, but thankfully he is still quite alive: "Watterson lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio as of January 2024"

Geez, sorry about that! He's alive and well and apparently quite the avid cyclist so likely hale and hearty!

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#49

Post by Suppafly »

vunderba wrote: post #6

Side note, but every time I DON'T see a Hobbes plushy, a Calvin bauble head, the Calvin and Hobbes TV series, etc. I'm so thankful that Watterson grimly held onto the merchandising rights of his characters. He maintained such a high standard for his comic right unto the end. Not everything in this world needs to be commoditized to death. "But how will new generations learn about Calvin and Hobbes without Calvin and H…

>I'm so thankful that Watterson grimly held onto the merchandising rights of his characters.

I'm always kind of bummed about it, instead of quality official merchandise there are a bunch of peeing calvin stickers on lifted pickup trucks.

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#50

Post by Loughla »

belfalas wrote: post #14

Man was Calvin & Hobbes awesome. IMNSHO every comic strip currently in print still lives in its shadow. C&H had it all - good illustration, good writing, life insight. It was a real life line for weird kids.

I don't know. The farside is pretty good, as well as Pearls Before Swine. Oh, and Cyanide and Happiness.

None of them reach the meta level of social/theological commentary that C&H did, but they're still really, really good on their own, doing their own things.

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