Yeah, I think Hobbes is more derivative of Snoopy, although it wouldn't surprise me to find that Watterston watched the old Rocky-Bullwinkle series. If there's a Pogo influence to the strip, I think it's when he tries to get philosophical, which I thought were some of the weaker story lines. Walt Kelly was a master of weaving political subthemes. Watterston did on occasion, but the results were far less effective.
I wasn't claiming that Watterston stole the characters, simply that they were strong influences. From the reaction I'm getting, I may have left the impression that I thought Watterston sat down with Peanuts and Garfield strips and copied storylines, which is not the case.
I wasn't claiming that Watterston stole the characters, simply that they were strong influences. From the reaction I'm getting, I may have left the impression that I thought Watterston sat down with Peanuts and Garfield strips and copied storylines, which is not the case. Okay, fair enough. I still find it difficult to see Garfield as a particular influence on Hobbes, though, absent any comment to that effect by Watterson.