Bill Watterson, the cartoonist known for _Calvin and Hobbes_, has announced
that the strip of December 31, 1995, will be the last, stating that he is
burning out and wants to devote time to other projects.  Thus, Watterson joins
Gary Larson (_The Far Side_) and Berkeley Breathed (_Bloom County_/_Outland_)
as creators of comics with large cult followings who have closed up shop
within the past year or so.

34 responses total.

Well, its a big lost fore the fans of calvin anfd hobbes, I got icons, three
books a a lot of strips , its one of the most interesting characters that I
ever see, ....

Yeah, I'll be missing them, in theory since I don't get any papers.  

Since he's cited dissatisfaction with decreasing panel size as a reason
for departure, maybe he'll discover the perfectly legitimate art form
of comic books/graphic novels and continue his work there.

Calvin...gone?!  That rots.  I now I will miss them both.
err know, heh

BTW, I did happen to pick up the _C&H 10th Anniversary Book_, which showed
some of the best of C&H plus Bill Watterson's commentary on the strips, their
meanings, and the "cutthroat" comics business in general.  Also had the origin
of Calvin & Hobbes' names (Calvin was named after Christian Reformer John
Calvin) and some coverage of formerly taboo subjects such as "boogers" and
"Thermos full of phlegm" (the latter phrase got C&H dropped from one paper
after only a week).

Could anybody post how Calvin and Hobbes ended, and if it was a definite
closure or just another Sunday strip?  I am curious, but will not buy a
Detroit paper because I cannot support the scab workers during the ongoing
strike.

The last words, according to CNN Headline News:  "Let's go exploring."

well, a very good phrase.... I'ts better than Its an small step for a man
but.. U know!
Do U know if they are  gonna edit more super calvin and hObbes Titles?

There's a new Calvin and Hobbes book out, but it doesn't
contain the final strip, so I expect there will be at least
one more released after that.

goodbye Calvin & Hobbes i'll miss u.

You know, I really love these guys. Rereading one of my TPB made me realize
that I miss them. Wasn't Watterson going to put out new comics directly to
the book stores?

there is a story in X-Factor Annual #7 about Strong Guy helping a young boy
by the name of "Cal" deal with a bully named "Moe" both of which bear striking
resemblence to Watterson's characters.. i guess Strong Guy was meant to be
Hobbes in the story, but the other kids could see Strong Guy move and hear
him talk so.. he wasn't a very good Hobbes :P

<sigh>

oh yeah?!  <SIGH>

you  know C and H would be really cool if they were actually in a monthly
comic series. yeah!

Hmmm, that's a thought...

I wonder if Bill Waterson would make more money selling smaller books monthly
rather a whole bunch  at one time .

As much as that is an interesting idea, I believe that the 
format and style of Calvin and Hobbes wouldn't fit well in a 
comicbook format.I'm pretty sure Bill Waterson is working on a 
less constricting format... afterall he left because he was 
getting fed up with how the newspapers were presenting their 
comics. While he would have more control with a monthly comic 
book, the format is still constricting.
   I'm not sure why people conect comic strips with comic 
books. Although the are technical skills a simular (althought 
the comic strips are usaully more cartoony) the layouts are 
differentand there is more emphasis on background and hatching 
in comic books. It's not really a big deal, but it still bugs 
me. Not as bad as when people ask me if I'm doing animations 
like the flintstones...

I see what you mean , Dave, though I must say tat C and H are not your normal
cartoon strip. There is a quality to Watterson's drawings that just capture
a certiain beauty of nature and life. I love the pictures of the woods behind
his house, (or whereever they are,) they remind me of the expanse of forest
behind my house.

Where do Calvin and Hobbes live anyways? At least which state are they from?

That's a good question, probably Iowa.

why Iowa?

I 'd say Iowa because , uh , I think I was them walking by a corn field one
day.

That's a pretty thin piece of evidence to base a conclusion on, Ben.  
the correct answer is:  Wherever you think they live.  bill 
intentionally left certain things such as location open to the reader's 
imagination.  It makes for a much more satisfying comic.

i know  I was just hazarding a guess.  Actually I remember hearing that before
before

You might be confusing the issues a bit.. besides, Iowa doesn't have 
geography like that anywhere :)

tis true , tis oh so true, the poor defenseless treees:(

I dont believe it.The Universe cant end or can it.
What do you think Hobbes?

I will say sir, that the universe exists eternally, but it is certain that,
as does all matter, that the finite matter of ther universe will eventually
perish. Our souls will live on though, if our souls exist.

(I'm living in a dorm hall dubbed "The Comic Strip," and we were greeted
with images of Calvin & Hobbes bearing our names. It was a nice touch.) :)

there's a dorm here called South Hall.. 
it's nicknamed South Park Hall.. they had Cartmans with their names on them
god i hate that show

but i love Calvin and Hobbes

I am a great fan of Calvin and hobbes and am glad that you still get C& h in
the book stores. Calvin is a brilalliantly concieved character and is his own
childish logic Waterson tells us how we are polluting and destroying this
planet.

Calvin is essentially an adult come back as a child.

I respect Watterson's choice to not exploit his life's work, but how badass
would a computer-animated Calvin and Hobbes movie be?  If Brad Bird and Pixar
ever wanted to adapt something, there would be magic. Movie magic.

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