An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

Post by duskwuff » Thu, Dec 05, 2024, 6:40 PM UTC

jjulius wrote: post #13

7thaccount wrote: post #5

I grew up on Calvin and Hobbes and reread the comics every 5-10 years or so. It is sad that Watterson no longer makes these comics, but I've scratched my itch by reading "Phoebe and her Unicorn". You can read it free online I think, but my daughter and I read the paperbacks. It's not quite the same (the unicorn is real), but shares a lot in common. I just thought I'd add this for any fellow Calvin and Hobbes fans on…

You'd be keen to know that, a year or two back, Watterson published his first piece of work since C&H ended. It's great - short, sweet, but great. :) https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Mysteries/Bill-Wa...

Post by dakna » Thu, Dec 05, 2024, 6:42 PM UTC

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.

Post by CSMastermind » Thu, Dec 05, 2024, 6:49 PM UTC

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…

Post by psunavy03 » Thu, Dec 05, 2024, 6:51 PM UTC

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.

Post by MrMcCall » Thu, Dec 05, 2024, 7:04 PM UTC

whartung wrote: post #28

Meanwhile, Berke Breathed is still available, still producing, still an amazing artist. Even with a million Opus dolls, I don’t think any of it has chained him down or held him back.