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An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

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Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#71

Post by dotancohen »

NickC25 wrote: post #44
Miraste wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I remember Far Side calendars, I think that many people knew the comics more from the calendars than from print. I even once compiled a Nature's Way calendar, and thought about sending it off to Gary.

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#74

Post by endemic »

khazhoux wrote: post #64
endemic wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Corporations aren't people

Many things are not other things. In this case, Disney Inc is staffed by people who care deeply about the Disney legacy. You’ll be hard pressed to find a single employee who was not awe-struck walking the halls on the first day.

My point is that stewardship of corporate IP bestowed by the long-dead founder is different than ownership of art you yourself (an individual) created.

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#75

Post by [deleted] »

alexashka wrote: post #70
khazhoux wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many things are not other things. In this case, Disney Inc is staffed by people who care deeply about the Disney legacy. You’ll be hard pressed to find a single employee who was not awe-struck walking the halls on the first day.

How do you know that? This is a rhetorical question, meaning to elicit introspection and a rare act of thought, prior to speech.

[deleted]

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#76

Post by irrational »

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 do wonder what will happen when it enters public domain. Will it have been too long, so nobody will bother creating merchandise and derivative works? Or will there be an explosion of Calvin and Hobbes material? I can’t think of a comparable test case.

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#77

Post by KPGv2 »

508LoopDetected wrote: post #19
mmastrac wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"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"

Even better, last year he published "The Mysteries", which to my understanding is his first book since Calvin & Hobbes ended! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Mysteries/Bill-Wa...

Yeah, although honestly you're paying for the art created by John Kascht. The story is compelling but very, very short. I bought it in hardback right when it came out.

I think I read the story in about five minutes.

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#78

Post by swifthesitation »

KPGv2 wrote: post #77
508LoopDetected wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even better, last year he published "The Mysteries", which to my understanding is his first book since Calvin & Hobbes ended! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Mysteries/Bill-Wa...

Yeah, although honestly you're paying for the art created by John Kascht. The story is compelling but very, very short. I bought it in hardback right when it came out. I think I read the story in about five minutes.

Same. "Fairly disappointed" would be an understatement.

Re: An Interview with Bill Watterson (1987)

#80

Post by nickserv »

boringg wrote: post #45
Miraste wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

She's not a sell out because it was never about art in the first place.
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