Bill Watterson, creator of beloved 'Calvin and Hobbes' comic strip looks back with no regrets

The Plain Dealer ^ | February 01, 2010, 5:45AM | John Campanelli

[Slings and Arrows]

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.

[stevio]

Classic. LOL.

[The Shrew]

Awesome!

Thanks.

Your comments about Schulz and Watterson are dead on accurate. But, different times need different artists.

I'm ready for the NEXT Watterson to come along and attack Doonesberry and Trudeau like a Hellfire missle.

Regards,

TS

[I still care]

How about, the reason the sand is red is Arizona is because that’s where the sun goes down. It turns all the sand red when it sets there.

Actually, my husband used to do the exact same thing to my sons.

[Billthedrill]

Yep. Trudeau and Doonesbury is what Watterson feared becoming if he didn’t quit in time.

[Sunshine Sister]

Is that something like my Mom used to say? “Because I said so” ended a lot of conversations. Ahhhh the memories.

[Biblical Calvinist]

this is how some people see Calvin and Hobbs :>) =

http://blog.newsarama.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/john_calvin-thomas_hobbes.jpg

(sorry, I don’t know how to post pictures)

[GulfWar1Vet]

[Slings and Arrows]

I very much doubt that Watterson’s choice of names was a coincidence.

[Biblical Calvinist]

Coincidence?

Not a chance! ;>)

[Tainan]

That is also my favorite Far Side comic.

[DogByte6RER]

[TheOldLady]

"Ah, the life of a newspaper cartoonist -- how I miss the groupies, drugs and trashed hotel rooms!"

And he inserts a typical C&H line into the interview. :-)

Hubby has the complete collection of C&H and rereads it every once in a while. I miss it and Bloom County the most of the defunct strips.

Did you notice his dig at "Peanuts" (a strip being run long past its time)?

[AFreeBird]

[hobbes1]

I keep this one on my desk...

[Slings and Arrows]

My thought was Garfield rather than Peanuts. Miss Berk Breathed’s work too, BTW.

[GBA]

You’re right about that famous quote. I knew that Walt Kelly did Pogo, but I never read it. I thought it was earlier than 1971. Thanks!

[TheOldLady]

Garfield still makes me lol from time to time, so I put up with the barrel-bottom-scraping, writer’s block strips. But then I do that with all the ones I enjoy.

I really don’t like Get Fuzzy. That guy hates dogs and cats.