Why is it that Bill Watterson never allowed Calvin and Hobbes to be used as marketing tool?”
Today is Bill Watterson’s 51st birthday. I have been waiting for an excuse to gush about Calvin and Hobbes, his masterpiece, for some time, and his birthday seems like as good a reason as any. I have always been completely enamored with Calvin and Hobbes. When I was a little kid I was drawn to the strip, and now that I am nearly 21 years old, the comic is even more dear to me. Something about Calvin’s antics, his innocence, his explosive imagination, represents the way I hope to move through the world. Really, what more could one ask for than to set off everyday in search of fun with a best friend. Watterson has a way of tackling some serious issues, like those of death, faith, and war, from a beautifully simple angle: the innocent perspective of a child. His beautifully illustrated strips have always helped keep me centered and never fail to put a smile on my face. I shall consider myself lucky if I am able ever to create something that affects somebody the way Calvin and Hobbes has a
Many syndicated cartoonists complain about the new paradigm of financially successful comics, calling the creators of web-comics “salesmen” rather than artists. These print cartoonists are hypocrites. “Peanuts” made money because Charles Shultz sold his images to be used as marketing tools for insurance companies and merchandisers. “Garfield” merchandise is ubiquitous. The reason web-cartoonists make money off their merchandise is because people want it. Bill Watterson never allowed Calvin and Hobbes to be used as a marketing tool, which led to a huge bootleg industry of stickers of his character urinating on various logos. It’s best for people to license their characters and make money off it rather than allow bottom feeders to illegally use images for profit. “Dinosaur Comics” is one of the best web-comics out there. It’s too bad this name can also be applied to the vast majority of print cartoonists. They’re scared of the new model, and of changing. They’re much like their readers —
