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A daily newspaper strip that I always thoroughly enjoy is CALVIN And HOBBES by BILL WATTERSON. Funny and clever in equal measure (and also often touching), it's a genuine delight to read. (The above example encapsulates, according to some, my attitude towards disagreement on this blog.)
Basically, the strip is about a six-year old boy who owns a stuffed toy tiger, which to him, in his imagination (ah, or is it?) appears to be a real one (though not to anyone else) who interacts with him. The strip started in 1985 and came to an end ten years later. Below is the last ever C&H strip.
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A 'fake' final strip was also produced, though I'm unaware of who was responsible for it. (Perhaps Watterson panels were used.)
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And then a follow-up, presumably by someone who wasn't particularly happy with the above 'ending'.
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Now, I have to warn you about what lies at the other end of this link. You simply must read it, but you'll need an extra large box of KLEENEX tissues handy. It's an absolute belter of a tear-jerker. When you've read it (and dried your eyes) come back and tell me what you think of it. Go on, jump over now.
Loved Calvin & Hobbes. Even though I hated to see it go, it was just as good when it ended as it was when I started reading it.
ReplyDeleteI think we can all relate to Calvin. I was dragged kicking and screaming into growing up. Got sort of dusty in here while I was reading that story.....Big ol' lump in the throat.
Yeah, it hits ya right there, doesn't it.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, the story with Calvin passing Hobbes on to his grandchild was not as disturbing (to me) as the cartoon where the "pills are starting to work."
ReplyDeleteI think Watterson's original ending was perfect.
Yeah, I suppose it allows them a 'timeless eternity', where there's no growing up or ending.
ReplyDeleteFor me Calvin & Hobbes was the best cartoon comic strip ever. With the possible exception of the "death" of Gwen Stacy , ending I think the end of Calvin & Hobbes was the only time I really got upset about a comic characters "ending", but Bill Watterson did the right thing when he finished the characters off in the way he did - they are timeless classics now.
ReplyDeleteThat text story could have been so twee but it was written well and yeah very emotional, think most of us are "eternal" kids and can associate with this in some way.
Very well written story, McScotty - although there were a couple of 'typos' and I though the word 'lay' (for 'lay in bed') instead of 'laid' ('laid in bed') would've been better. It would be interesting to see it illustrated, I think.
ReplyDeleteI can't say anything re typos I'm the worlds worst at that but I agree it would be interesting to see it illustrated but in what style a serious one or Bill Watterson's style (maybe by Jeff Smith of "Bone" fame)
ReplyDeleteOn another topic I went back to look for the Panini books (MWOM) in W H Smiths in Hamilton and the only one I saw was the Justice League "Trinity" edition - I asked a sales person who hadn't a clue where they were.
I think Watterson's style is such that it would work, even for such a serious tale. However, if it was a 'realistic' style (Chris Samee perhaps), which switched to Watterson's for the panels in which Hobbes is a 'real' tiger, that would also work perfectly well.
ReplyDeleteWHS's Justice League is by Titan, but in my local shop, they're kept next to the Panini mags. Ask them to check their paperwork to see if they're getting them in, McS. Don't let the lazy buggahs get away with fobbing you off.
I haven't got much to add to the above comments other than to say I love Calvin & Hobbes too! It really was a wonderful strip - wise, warm, witty and humane - and was a perfect synthesis of insightful and hilarious writing with beautifully expressive artwork.
ReplyDeleteIf you can track down a copy, Kid, there's a fantastic book called Calvin And Hobbes Sunday Pages 1985-1995 which features colour Sunday strips next to the original artwork by Watterson, with comments by the great man himself. It's a thing of beauty...
Cer, I must admit that, even 'though I read Calvin And Hobbes every day when I'm browsing through the newspapers in WHS, I didn't know I was reading a 'dead' strip until I was planning this post. I'll definitely be seeking out the books in future - guaranteed. What did you think of the link?
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of Calvin & Hobbes until about 3 or 4 years ago when there was a documentary about the strip on Radio 4 presented by Phil Jupitus. There were a number of stories on that link and they were all quite poignant.
ReplyDeleteI read a few in the comments, but some of them were a bit too clumsily worded for me, CJ. I got the impression the writers were trying too hard to be poignant, but not all of them had the requisite skill to convey it in an effective, subtle manner. There may have been a few good ones I missed 'though, as I didn't read all the responses.
ReplyDeleteOops! I meant Chris Samnee in an earlier response, not Samee.
ReplyDeleteOK Kid, I got round to reading that link... and now I'm in pieces...
ReplyDeleteBTW I went into my local comic shop ( Proud Lion in Cheltenham )yesterday and by coincidence there was a lad of probably 8 or 9 there, reading a Calvin & Hobbes book. Kind of heart-warming...
I'm definitely going to start collecting the C&H books now, Cer. Hard to believe that the last strip was published 20 years ago, eh?
ReplyDeleteI've read this before Kid and as a massive fan of the strip I'm still sitting here with tears and snotters dripping off my top lip.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Moony, but that's your normal reaction to the TV test card.
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