For those that do not know, Bill Watterson is the creator and cartoonist behind my favorite comic strip of all time, Calvin and Hobbes. The strip ran from 1985-1995, and ended when Watterson wrote a short statement to the newspaper that he felt he had achieved all he could through the strip. I loved, and still love, this comic strips. I have pretty much every (maybe actually every) anthology book of it in print. I still enjoy it to this day.
Below is the letter he wrote on November 9, 1995:
Dear Reader:
I will be stopping Calvin and Hobbes at the end of the year. This was not a recent or an easy decision, and I leave with some sadness. My interests have shifted, however, and I believe I’ve done what I can do within the constraints of daily deadlines and small panels. I am eager to work at a more thoughtful pace, with fewer artistic compromises. I have not yet decided on future projects, but my relationship with Universal Press Syndicate will continue.
That so many newspapers would carry Calvin and Hobbes is an honor I’ll long be proud of, and I’ve greatly appreciated your support and indulgence over the last decade. Drawing this comic strip has been a privilege and a pleasure, and I thank you for giving me the opportunity.
Sincerely,
Bill Watterson
Watterson himself is known as a bit of a recluse and likes to stay out of the public eye. Since retiring, he has taken up painting and drawing landscapes. Staying true to his beliefs, Watterson still does not sign autographs or license his characters out. For a while, he would sneak autographed copies of the anthology books in the Fireside Bookshop (a family owned store in his hometown of Chagrin Falls, Ohio), but when he discovered most were selling the books for large profit, he stopped that practice.
Newspapers like “The Plain Dealer” and “Cleveland Scene” have sent reporters to locate and interview Watterson as recently as 2003, but had no luck. In 2005, Gene Weingarten from “The Washington Post” tried to get in touch with Watterson as well, even passing along a gift of a first edition “Barnaby” comic strip book to him. He told the friend he would wait at the hotel as long as neccesary. Watterson’s editor called the next day to say Watterson would not be showing up.
Watterson did write a review of “Schulz and Peanuts” in 2007 for the Wall Street Journal and the foreward to a book in 2008. Earlier, in 2005, he did surprise readers by answering 15 of their questions for them. I found it super interesting when I recently read it. You can see that here.
In 2009, Nevin Martell started researching and interviewing Watterson’s friends for a book called “Looking for Calvin and Hobbes : The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and his Revolutionary Comic Strip.” The book is out now, and can be found on Amazon here.
“The Plain Dealer” finally scored an interview in early 2010 for the 15 year anniversary of the Watterson retirement. A very telling quote from that brief interview was: “I think some of the reason Calvin and Hobbes still finds an audience today is because I chose not to run the wheels off it. I’ve never regretted stopping when I did.”
Wherever you spend your time, and whatever you occupy your day with Mr. Watterson, I just want to say thanks for providing me tons of laughs over and over, from early childhood to even adulthood.
If you are a cartoonist in the game today, step your game UP,
The Mixtape Monster
definitely missed
dig this post alot
agree with sliz, nice job with this one.
It’s a strange thing, I’m always both saddened and cheered by his decision to retire the strip. While I could easily spend week after week laughing at C&H I’m also glad that he never let it run aground or jump the shark and, in so doing, ensured that it will always be remembered for its quality rather than decline
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“jump the shark”…love that phrase, Tony, and totally agree. Thanks for commenting!