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Calvin and Hobbes
Exploring Calvin and Hobbes: An Exhibition Catalogue
Exploring Calvin and Hobbes is the catalogue for an exhibition by the same name at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at Ohio State University that ran in 2014. The exhibit is Bill Watterson's personal exploration of how the wonder of Calvin and Hobbes came to be. It includes original art of Calvin and Hobbes, along with Watterson's original commentary. The show also includes art from cartoons and cartoonists that Watterson has identified as influential in the development of his art, including Peanuts, Pogo, Krazy Kat, Doonesbury, Pat Oliphant, Jim Borgman, Flash Gordon, Bloom County, and Steadman. The book also includes an extensive, original interview with Watterson by Jenny Robb, the exhibition's curator. The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is the repository of the Bill Watterson Deposit Collection (including the entirety of Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes artwork).
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2015
255 people are currently reading
962 people want to read
About the author
Bill Watterson
396 books4,824 followersBill Watterson (born William Boyd Watterson II) is an American cartoonist, and the author of the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes". His career as a syndicated cartoonist ran from 1985 to 1995; he stopped drawing "Calvin and Hobbes" at the end of 1995 with a short statement to newspaper editors and his fans that he felt he had achieved all he could in the comic strip medium. During the early years of his career he produced several drawings and additional contributions for "Target: The Political Cartoon Quarterly". Watterson is known for his views on licensing and comic syndication, as well as for his reclusive nature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
April 6, 2016
The 37 page interview with Bill Watterson is reason alone to read this book. It is the only in depth interview of him since he retired in 1995. The remainder of the book contains the collection of strips that was on exhibit in 2014 at The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum in Ohio. It is a small sampling but just enough to remind you of how wonderful this comic strip was.
My favorite quotes from the interview:
"Richard Thompson...said he likes to work with small things he notices- and his example was "gravel in the street." That might be a little too small, but I agree with him. Daily minutiae are not actually trivial. It's a wonderful thing to draw your attention to tiny little moments and small episodes. There can be something simple, grounded, and true when you observe those generally unnoticed small things. I tend to like that scale. Whenever I go to a computer-animated movie, I think, "Oh, please, not another quest." You know, must we always journey to discover ourselves, find home, and save Christmas?"
"I love the unpretentiousness of cartoons. If you sat down and wrote a two hundred page book called My Big Thoughts on Life, no one would read it. But if you stick those same thoughts in a comic strip and wrap them in a little joke that takes five seconds to read, now you're talking to millions. Any writer would kill for that kind of audience. What a gift."
"I think comics are something like folk art - sometimes breathtakingly kitschy, sometimes kooky and charming, and once in a while, as interesting and significant as any fine art."
My favorite quotes from the interview:
"Richard Thompson...said he likes to work with small things he notices- and his example was "gravel in the street." That might be a little too small, but I agree with him. Daily minutiae are not actually trivial. It's a wonderful thing to draw your attention to tiny little moments and small episodes. There can be something simple, grounded, and true when you observe those generally unnoticed small things. I tend to like that scale. Whenever I go to a computer-animated movie, I think, "Oh, please, not another quest." You know, must we always journey to discover ourselves, find home, and save Christmas?"
"I love the unpretentiousness of cartoons. If you sat down and wrote a two hundred page book called My Big Thoughts on Life, no one would read it. But if you stick those same thoughts in a comic strip and wrap them in a little joke that takes five seconds to read, now you're talking to millions. Any writer would kill for that kind of audience. What a gift."
"I think comics are something like folk art - sometimes breathtakingly kitschy, sometimes kooky and charming, and once in a while, as interesting and significant as any fine art."
October 22, 2017
Is there any Calvin & Hobbes book that doesn’t deserve 5 stars? Even if you have all the strips and all the other books, this one is special. In a rare peek behind the curtain, this book (a companion for a Watterson-approved exhibition of the strip at the Cartoon Library and Museum at Ohio State University) offers rare treats for fans: a wide-ranging interview with Watterson, a look at the history and variations of his strip leading up to the launch of the C&H, and an academic analysis of its components with archival-quality originals in their blurry, pen and ink (and white out) glory. At once a great behind-the-scenes look, this book is also a great showcase of an artist and his craft.
Perhaps not for the casual Calvin & Hobbes fan, but who doesn’t want to see Watterson’s college cartoons and work from his brief stint as a political cartoonist? Who wouldn’t want to view the early drafts of strips he tried of non-C&H characters? How great is it to see the earliest strips when Calvin was drawn differently and watch (with carefully selected examples) just how much artistry and growth the strip saw in its 10-year run?
As with almost every C&H book, this one knows just how special this comic strip is, and it’s lovingly rendered to share the joy and art and fun of this world with all who turn its pages. If you own a single Calvin & Hobbes book, this is worth adding to your collection.
Perhaps not for the casual Calvin & Hobbes fan, but who doesn’t want to see Watterson’s college cartoons and work from his brief stint as a political cartoonist? Who wouldn’t want to view the early drafts of strips he tried of non-C&H characters? How great is it to see the earliest strips when Calvin was drawn differently and watch (with carefully selected examples) just how much artistry and growth the strip saw in its 10-year run?
As with almost every C&H book, this one knows just how special this comic strip is, and it’s lovingly rendered to share the joy and art and fun of this world with all who turn its pages. If you own a single Calvin & Hobbes book, this is worth adding to your collection.
December 28, 2018
Bill Watterson is a genius and Calvin and Hobbes is art. If I could only have one book to read for the rest of my life, I think a Calvin and Hobbes collection might have to be it. Watterson's ability to convey in concise words and economical lines all the truths one needs for life. This collection is fabulous (I love all the additional material that is part of an exhibition of his works) and means a lot since my cutie brother gave it to me for my birfday.
March 4, 2024
My favorite kind of way to appreciate Calvin and Hobbes, mixed with words talking about Calvin and Hobbes. This starts out with a pretty decent interview. And a one-paper on the artist's tools. And then there are tons of some of the best art from Calvin and Hobbes. The painted color pages especially are beautiful. Includes art from some of the artist's influences as well. And really makes me want to see the art in person.
December 23, 2017
An interesting interview to preface the exhibition comic strips-I've always loved Calvin & Hobbes!
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August 23, 2020It’s certainly not long enough—this brief overview really leaves you just hungering for more Calvin and Hobbes—but the interview with the notoriously ducks-the-spotlight-Watterson was awesome and I suppose there are worse complaints to have about a book.
January 16, 2022
A very refreshing account of Calvin and Hobbes journey. The book has a detailed interview of the creator Bill Watterson, his thought process into developing the characters which became an eternal comics classic! It's nostalgic, artistic, adorable, and as always, hilarious!
May 25, 2015
A lovely re-introduction to Calvin and Hobbes that has made me want to reread the entire thing all over again. Loved it as a kid and I've still loved it every time I've reread them. The interview with Bill Watterson was insigtful and I liked seeing his influences as well as the tools that he used to draw the strip. He's even witty whilst describing drawing supplies!
Ah, fond childhood memories of copying Calvin and leaping into the swimming pool with an oversized umbrella. Probably not one of my cleverest moments...
Clear Plastic Thing With Holes: I don't even know what this thing is called. The idea is you stick your pencil in various holes and drag the gizmo along your T-square. This will give you evenly spaced, ruled lines for lettering. If you fuss with it and turn the little wheel, you can subdivide your lines for even greater lettering accuracy. I used that feature exactly zero times.
Crow Quill Pen: ...I used any nib that would fit in the plastic holder.
Ah, fond childhood memories of copying Calvin and leaping into the swimming pool with an oversized umbrella. Probably not one of my cleverest moments...
April 11, 2015
A great book for any one interested in cartoons or art itself. An absolute must for any Calvin and Hobbes fan. It includes a rare interview with Watterson covering his views on artistic integrity, his childhood, his inspirations and the million dollar question - Is he going to write a new comic?
It also goes over recurring plot devices, Watterson's fav comic strips and the tools of his trade!
It has some rare strips which never made to print such as the strips before Calvin had spiky hair and the strips with Marvin who eventually becomes Calvin.
It also goes over recurring plot devices, Watterson's fav comic strips and the tools of his trade!
It has some rare strips which never made to print such as the strips before Calvin had spiky hair and the strips with Marvin who eventually becomes Calvin.
November 1, 2018
If I could give this book more than five stars - I would.
If I were a kid picking up this book in the heyday of my Calvin and Hobbes love...I’d have skipped right past the first chunk of the read. Too many words. But in my old age (reflective and appreciative) it was this part of the book I was looking forward to most.
A 35-page Q&A with the man himself, Bill Watterson, absolutely takes this offering to another level. The book is a celebration of the works and career of Watterson as it is celebrated at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. The gallery showing is highlighted by this fantastic back and forth between Watterson and the curator. It really gives a great, first hand insight into the career arc of Calvin and his stuffed tiger. I enjoyed every minute of it.
And then to top it off, highlights of his works, his early craftings, insight into his tools of the trade and wonderful - hysterical cartoons. I found myself laughing out loud numerous times....as I knew I would. The work never seems to grow old.
This is beyond a must-read for any Calvin and Hobbes fan (and I’m kind of miffed I didn’t know of this title sooner). It really gives a reader like me who is dying for something new from Watterson a great sense of relief and closure of this iconic chapter.
Again.....if I could give it more stars - I would.
Oh....and I almost forgot. After reading this book, I’ve decided that one of my goals this winter is to read the Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Pillar to post.
I. Can’t. Wait.
If I were a kid picking up this book in the heyday of my Calvin and Hobbes love...I’d have skipped right past the first chunk of the read. Too many words. But in my old age (reflective and appreciative) it was this part of the book I was looking forward to most.
A 35-page Q&A with the man himself, Bill Watterson, absolutely takes this offering to another level. The book is a celebration of the works and career of Watterson as it is celebrated at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. The gallery showing is highlighted by this fantastic back and forth between Watterson and the curator. It really gives a great, first hand insight into the career arc of Calvin and his stuffed tiger. I enjoyed every minute of it.
And then to top it off, highlights of his works, his early craftings, insight into his tools of the trade and wonderful - hysterical cartoons. I found myself laughing out loud numerous times....as I knew I would. The work never seems to grow old.
This is beyond a must-read for any Calvin and Hobbes fan (and I’m kind of miffed I didn’t know of this title sooner). It really gives a reader like me who is dying for something new from Watterson a great sense of relief and closure of this iconic chapter.
Again.....if I could give it more stars - I would.
Oh....and I almost forgot. After reading this book, I’ve decided that one of my goals this winter is to read the Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Pillar to post.
I. Can’t. Wait.
January 9, 2022
I can’t believe it took me so long to read this (only about seven years, but still…). I had a Calvin and Hobbes childhood, roughly corresponding exactly with the strip’s run in the papers. I read the collections. I wondered for years if Bill Watterson would ever resurface. This particular book is the only complete and authorized look behind the curtain, both into the strip and Watterson’s life. In the quarter century since he retired, I’ve since discovered I don’t actually draw all the same conclusions about life as Watterson did, and yet I’ve also never found so close a kindred spirit as the boy and his tiger always seemed. For that I can be nothing but grateful. This is an essential, authoritative, indispensable addition to the experience.
February 28, 2019
Nothing about Calvin can be disappointing. :)
May 9, 2019
Oh god , what's not to like?
August 4, 2024
A great interview with Watterson here. I'd love to see more of his early pre-Calvin stuff.
January 27, 2020
Almost as good as seeing the exhibit in person, I imagine. Watterson has always been an artistic influence of mine, and it’s wonderful to read his insights
July 15, 2015
I believe it was a introductory essay to one of the original Calvin and Hobbes collections that taught me the phrase "Bullwinkle effect" (something that is "funny at five, funnier at fifteen, and hilarious at twenty-five" - a handy phrase to describe a phenomenon that not only ages well but spans generational gaps). That explanation works for Bullwinkle -and Monty Python - and Ren & Stimpy - but, honestly, doesn't apply to Calvin and Hobbes, the thing I recall the phrase was posited for. Because Bullwinkle ultimately caps out at "hilarious." It reaches its peak in its third appraisal. Whereas Calvin and Hobbes transcends and transcends and presumably transcends some more. I've been a fan of Calvin and Hobbes since year one. Now, in my late thirties, Calvin and Hobbes isn't merely "hilariouser" than it was ten years ago; it's positively sublime. And sweet. And beautiful.
I was pleased that Bill Watterson feels the final two years of the strip represent his best work. He feels it is the best work he was personably capable of - hence the reasoning behind retiring the strip in 1995. This is not the same as a cultural enigma choosing to "go out on top." It is something reserved for true artists and literary voices. I recall Watterson's months-long sabbatical in 1993. When he came back to work in 1994, it was literally epochal. Calvin and Hobbes had changed - and it had the feeling of being in a final cycle. Even at the time, it seemed clear that Watterson was building to a climax.
I also recall watching Peanuts age and age and age. There was nothing morbid about Peanuts's transition into old age. And, in many ways Schultz found the same serendipity in his fin de seicle voice as Watterson, only on a longer, less certain scale. But Peanuts stopped being imminent decades before his final 90s strips. Peanuts, spanning five decades (!!!), is an opus. Aficionados and students alike feel a need to contextualize it, as it applies to the social situations of, first, the 1950s, then the 1960s, then the changing perspectives of a middle-aged man - then a superannuated one - living in an increasingly foreign century. In it, the fundamental weirdness, pathos, and serendipity of Peanuts is overshadowed leaving us with something more academic than sublime. I would not have wanted to see Calvin and Hobbes share that fate.
It's also wonderful to experience Watterson explaining himself. Exploring Calvin and Hobbes has the most comprehensive interview with Watterson I've ever come across. In it, he debunks the popular narrative of himself as the Salinger of the comics world, or as a sanctimonious elitist. We see, satisfyingly, that he's actually just an intelligent person with well developed opinions and the confidence and principles to allow them to drive his decisions. Watterson's reputation as a highly principled paragon of integrity is strengthened here.
This is a catalog to an exhibit that was, undoubtedly, well curated (why didn't I take advantage of a friend living in Ohio as an excuse to see the show in person?!). I long for a book that gives a closer inspection of Watterson's influences (I got Peanuts and Pogo on my own (and am I alone in seeing traces of Peyo too?), obviously but didn't have the familiarity with Flash Gordon to catch that without being shown). But I really wish we could hear Watterson talk more. 130 pages is a poor way to reflect on Calvin and Hobbes. There's really no substitute for my experience of being seven when it debuted and eighteen when it ended and being present and devouring it the whole time as I grew from a small child into a nascent adult. Barring that good fortune, the complete collection (worth every penny of its current $150 or so price tag) is the next best thing. Instead of 130 pages of selected pieces and brief editorial, I dream of a DVD or book of collected writing from the artist himself, explaining and sharing and generally clearing up the small misconceptions that have accrued over the years. Maybe one day.
I was pleased that Bill Watterson feels the final two years of the strip represent his best work. He feels it is the best work he was personably capable of - hence the reasoning behind retiring the strip in 1995. This is not the same as a cultural enigma choosing to "go out on top." It is something reserved for true artists and literary voices. I recall Watterson's months-long sabbatical in 1993. When he came back to work in 1994, it was literally epochal. Calvin and Hobbes had changed - and it had the feeling of being in a final cycle. Even at the time, it seemed clear that Watterson was building to a climax.
I also recall watching Peanuts age and age and age. There was nothing morbid about Peanuts's transition into old age. And, in many ways Schultz found the same serendipity in his fin de seicle voice as Watterson, only on a longer, less certain scale. But Peanuts stopped being imminent decades before his final 90s strips. Peanuts, spanning five decades (!!!), is an opus. Aficionados and students alike feel a need to contextualize it, as it applies to the social situations of, first, the 1950s, then the 1960s, then the changing perspectives of a middle-aged man - then a superannuated one - living in an increasingly foreign century. In it, the fundamental weirdness, pathos, and serendipity of Peanuts is overshadowed leaving us with something more academic than sublime. I would not have wanted to see Calvin and Hobbes share that fate.
It's also wonderful to experience Watterson explaining himself. Exploring Calvin and Hobbes has the most comprehensive interview with Watterson I've ever come across. In it, he debunks the popular narrative of himself as the Salinger of the comics world, or as a sanctimonious elitist. We see, satisfyingly, that he's actually just an intelligent person with well developed opinions and the confidence and principles to allow them to drive his decisions. Watterson's reputation as a highly principled paragon of integrity is strengthened here.
This is a catalog to an exhibit that was, undoubtedly, well curated (why didn't I take advantage of a friend living in Ohio as an excuse to see the show in person?!). I long for a book that gives a closer inspection of Watterson's influences (I got Peanuts and Pogo on my own (and am I alone in seeing traces of Peyo too?), obviously but didn't have the familiarity with Flash Gordon to catch that without being shown). But I really wish we could hear Watterson talk more. 130 pages is a poor way to reflect on Calvin and Hobbes. There's really no substitute for my experience of being seven when it debuted and eighteen when it ended and being present and devouring it the whole time as I grew from a small child into a nascent adult. Barring that good fortune, the complete collection (worth every penny of its current $150 or so price tag) is the next best thing. Instead of 130 pages of selected pieces and brief editorial, I dream of a DVD or book of collected writing from the artist himself, explaining and sharing and generally clearing up the small misconceptions that have accrued over the years. Maybe one day.
October 12, 2017
American cartoonist Bill Watterson's creation Calvin and Hobbes continues to be one of the most endearing comic strip characters who amused, entertained and enlightened families worldwide. Calvin is an adventurous, intelligent and articulated six-year-old while his companion Hobbes is caustic and mischievous. While their stories are true to their characters, what is strange about them is how Bill Watterson named them after John Calvin, a theologian, and Thomas Hobbes, a philosopher.
For fans of Calvin and Hobbes, Exploring Calvin and Hobbes: An Exhibition Catalogue will come as a delightful surprise, especially for those who have made Calvin and Hobbes a part of their families. While some may argue that these two comic strip characters are for small kids, they have never failed to amaze and surprise me with their wit and wisdom. May be, there is a child somewhere in my soul which makes me want to shout out their names every time I come across them. If there is a small child somewhere inside your big body, Exploring Calvin and Hobbes: An Exhibition Catalogue will surprise and delight you.
For fans of Calvin and Hobbes, Exploring Calvin and Hobbes: An Exhibition Catalogue will come as a delightful surprise, especially for those who have made Calvin and Hobbes a part of their families. While some may argue that these two comic strip characters are for small kids, they have never failed to amaze and surprise me with their wit and wisdom. May be, there is a child somewhere in my soul which makes me want to shout out their names every time I come across them. If there is a small child somewhere inside your big body, Exploring Calvin and Hobbes: An Exhibition Catalogue will surprise and delight you.
July 2, 2018
Ah... the memories! I loved Calvin and Hobbes growing up, and reading this retrospective brought back all of the memories of why I loved it so much! It was nice to read an actual interview with Bill Watterson... he doesn’t give very many.
April 6, 2016
A great look behind the scenes of the greatest comic strip of all time. I especially enjoyed the 35-page interview with the notoriously media-shy Watterson. Amazing stuff!
January 13, 2019
Great overview
This is a solid overview of the history of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. The interview at the beginning with Bill Watterson is the truly meaty part of the book.
This is a solid overview of the history of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. The interview at the beginning with Bill Watterson is the truly meaty part of the book.
January 2, 2020
This is the first "new material" I've had to read from Calvin and Hobbes in years. Although I was born two years after Watterson finished his run on the famed comic strip, the collections found their way to me (curiosity of my older brother) when I was younger. The strip itself remains one of my favorite comics of all time (newspaper or not) and I don't how it can't be considered to be the greatest the strip of all time. From Watterson's artwork that only grew stronger with time to his simple and careful storytelling that was funny, heartfelt, and most of all, thoughtful. Maybe I didn't know at the time but looking at my own creative work now I can see some of the impact the stories made on me not in terms of plot but storytelling philosophy.
For Christmas my older brother once again got me this, a book I've been meaning to get since it came out. Exploring Calvin and Hobbes isn't new material or showcasing brand new strips that Watterson had been secretly slaving away at after all these years. It's as the title suggests, an exhibition. Thus it reprints and revisits many of the strip's best moments and covers some of the same ground as the Tenth Anniversary book but it does so in a beautifully designed and eye-appealing manner. The true highlights for me were the way it gives insight into the creative process for Watterson. We see his work process and it offers a snapshot way of how the strip evolved and changed. We get to see some of Watterson's influences showcased in the book (which has given me new comic strips to check out).
But just because there isn't any "new material" doesn't mean we don't get to see "new stuff". In the book are some of the earliest versions of the strip. These early versions are fun to read because it shows the early nugget of ideas that would eventually grow. The book ends (the only way it should) with the final Sunday paper "Let's Go Exploring" and seeing the early versions of the strip contrasted with that is quite something to take in.
The real highlight is the new in-depth interview that Watterson gives within the book. This is his first interview in years and hearing new words from the private creator is worth the price of the book alone. Some big Calvin and Hobbes fans might be familiar with some of the material covered in this book but seeing it done with such care and depth made me smile as I slaved over the 35-page interview.
So whatever might feel like a retread is made up for with a wealth of creative information and all presented in a beautifully designed book. Any Calvin and Hobbes fan would want to check this out.
For Christmas my older brother once again got me this, a book I've been meaning to get since it came out. Exploring Calvin and Hobbes isn't new material or showcasing brand new strips that Watterson had been secretly slaving away at after all these years. It's as the title suggests, an exhibition. Thus it reprints and revisits many of the strip's best moments and covers some of the same ground as the Tenth Anniversary book but it does so in a beautifully designed and eye-appealing manner. The true highlights for me were the way it gives insight into the creative process for Watterson. We see his work process and it offers a snapshot way of how the strip evolved and changed. We get to see some of Watterson's influences showcased in the book (which has given me new comic strips to check out).
But just because there isn't any "new material" doesn't mean we don't get to see "new stuff". In the book are some of the earliest versions of the strip. These early versions are fun to read because it shows the early nugget of ideas that would eventually grow. The book ends (the only way it should) with the final Sunday paper "Let's Go Exploring" and seeing the early versions of the strip contrasted with that is quite something to take in.
The real highlight is the new in-depth interview that Watterson gives within the book. This is his first interview in years and hearing new words from the private creator is worth the price of the book alone. Some big Calvin and Hobbes fans might be familiar with some of the material covered in this book but seeing it done with such care and depth made me smile as I slaved over the 35-page interview.
So whatever might feel like a retread is made up for with a wealth of creative information and all presented in a beautifully designed book. Any Calvin and Hobbes fan would want to check this out.
December 8, 2024
Las primeras 35 páginas son de entrevista con Bill Watterson. Eso lo dice todo. Este hombre es tan esquivo y su proceso y relación con el cómic me parecen tan fascinantes, que el mero hecho de pagar por poder leer la entrevista me vale la pena. Como consejo, cualquier persona que quiera ahondar en las opiniones del autor, no puede perderse el El último libro de Calvin y Hobbes: Éste no es el décimo aniversario de Calvin y Hobbes que ofrece un excelente compendio de viñetas con comentario de mr. Watterson en cada una de ellas. He devorado ese libro con absoluta devoción durante años.
Exploring Calvin and Hobbes funciona como texto de guía en una exhibición retrospectiva sobre el autor. Puedes imaginar los pequeños párrafos explicativos estampados en las paredes de la galería. Sinceramente lo más impagable del libro es la ya mencionada entrevista. La selección de material que acompaña es excelente pero se queda muy atrás de mostrar la totalidad del universo de Calvin y Hobbes o su encantador reparto de personajes secundarios. Aun así, es todo un regalito para cualquier fan.
Exploring Calvin and Hobbes funciona como texto de guía en una exhibición retrospectiva sobre el autor. Puedes imaginar los pequeños párrafos explicativos estampados en las paredes de la galería. Sinceramente lo más impagable del libro es la ya mencionada entrevista. La selección de material que acompaña es excelente pero se queda muy atrás de mostrar la totalidad del universo de Calvin y Hobbes o su encantador reparto de personajes secundarios. Aun así, es todo un regalito para cualquier fan.
December 24, 2016
My Dad says it was my brother and I who introduced him to Calvin and Hobbes through the books. We always believed it was our Dad who showed us the comics. Regardless, in our family, this comic is spoken of with true affection, if not outright love.
I am grateful for this book as it has finally given me something I have always longed for; insight into Bill Watterson himself. The reclusive artist responds to an extensive interview. Not only that, but both he and the curator of the exhibit have done an exquisite job of making the pieces they selected about the true theme of the comic, the friendship of Calvin and Hobbes. Messy, loving, never perfect but just what we needed. I can open any one of my many Calvin and Hobbes books to a random comic and find that it will not only make me laugh out loud, but it will likely warm my heart in just the way that I needed in that moment.
So grateful for this book!
I am grateful for this book as it has finally given me something I have always longed for; insight into Bill Watterson himself. The reclusive artist responds to an extensive interview. Not only that, but both he and the curator of the exhibit have done an exquisite job of making the pieces they selected about the true theme of the comic, the friendship of Calvin and Hobbes. Messy, loving, never perfect but just what we needed. I can open any one of my many Calvin and Hobbes books to a random comic and find that it will not only make me laugh out loud, but it will likely warm my heart in just the way that I needed in that moment.
So grateful for this book!
December 10, 2020
I got acquainted with Mr. Waterson’s work ten years ago, when I already had reached middle-aged. Soon I became enthralled by the wit of his dialogs and the quality of his drawings. The comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes” well deserves all the kudos it has received throughout the years.
The exhibition catalogue is an excellent opportunity to have a broad view of Mr. Waterson’s inspirations, thematic choices and technical expertise. It is well organized and beautifully illustrated. The long interview with the author is a must-read. He himself downplays the sharpness of his sentences on the meaning of life, current cultural moods and other philosophical questions. He also remains an extremely private person. Still, we can get glimpses on his intellectual trajectory as an undergraduate and young professional.
The books explores several themes, like the passing seasons, Spiff’s interplanetary travels and Calvin’s social commentaries. Other could be added, like the many facets of his snowmen, his perorations toward Santa Claus or his witticism on a sled while going downhill. Anyway, reading this book is real gift for any true fan.
The exhibition catalogue is an excellent opportunity to have a broad view of Mr. Waterson’s inspirations, thematic choices and technical expertise. It is well organized and beautifully illustrated. The long interview with the author is a must-read. He himself downplays the sharpness of his sentences on the meaning of life, current cultural moods and other philosophical questions. He also remains an extremely private person. Still, we can get glimpses on his intellectual trajectory as an undergraduate and young professional.
The books explores several themes, like the passing seasons, Spiff’s interplanetary travels and Calvin’s social commentaries. Other could be added, like the many facets of his snowmen, his perorations toward Santa Claus or his witticism on a sled while going downhill. Anyway, reading this book is real gift for any true fan.
July 16, 2021
The book consists of selected comic strips for an exhibition at The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, the Ohio State Library universities. In addition, it features an interview with the creator Bill Watterson – his early days, struggle with sticking to the limit of newspaper size, finding a syndicate for publication, avoiding public interviews, his inspirations (Peanuts and Pogo), and most important of all art and how Calvin (and Hobbes) came into existence. Every time I read Calvin and Hobbes, I always felt Watterson must be opposite of Calvin – really organized and disciplined, and he would have wanted to be like Calvin. Indeed, the guess was correct (don’t skip the interview excerpts).
Evolution of 6-year old Calvin (the only person I know who has not aged in 10 years :D ) – Marvin, a little boy who had a friend named Hobbes -> Calvin with eyes covered by his hair -> Calvin we know with spiky hairstyle. (Two things that remained unchanged – Hobbes and Calvin’s wits)
Evolution of 6-year old Calvin (the only person I know who has not aged in 10 years :D ) – Marvin, a little boy who had a friend named Hobbes -> Calvin with eyes covered by his hair -> Calvin we know with spiky hairstyle. (Two things that remained unchanged – Hobbes and Calvin’s wits)
August 9, 2024
ahhh what nostalgia. calvin and hobbes will forever be tied to such fond memories from childhood, when i’d rent the books from my library and my brother and i would read them. i read a lot of books as a kid, and the fact that these have stuck with me speaks volumes
this collection was awesome, since it has an interview with bill watterson himself (who seems awesome), goes into his influences and tools, and then organizes some of his strips under a few different themes
it’s amazing the way the comic captures the joy of being a child (imaginative, yet fearful and whatnot) and also puts some real adult-themes/concerns as well, all wrapped up in an incredibly enjoyable art style
big fan and makes me wanna read all the books😊
this collection was awesome, since it has an interview with bill watterson himself (who seems awesome), goes into his influences and tools, and then organizes some of his strips under a few different themes
it’s amazing the way the comic captures the joy of being a child (imaginative, yet fearful and whatnot) and also puts some real adult-themes/concerns as well, all wrapped up in an incredibly enjoyable art style
big fan and makes me wanna read all the books😊
September 5, 2017
Although this is a book of cartoons, its greatest value is the personal input of Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson. It is extremely rare for Watterson to share as much information as he did in his stimulating interview with curator Jenny Robb when the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum put up an exhibition of his work on the Ohio State University campus.
The exhibition materials themselves are quite fascinating, being a retrospective of the ten year run of Calvin and Hobbes, but the interview and Watterson's personal comments on the work are what makes this volume truly remarkable.
A must for all Calvin and Hobbes fans!
The exhibition materials themselves are quite fascinating, being a retrospective of the ten year run of Calvin and Hobbes, but the interview and Watterson's personal comments on the work are what makes this volume truly remarkable.
A must for all Calvin and Hobbes fans!
September 11, 2020
This is the closest fans will get to a Watterson memoir.
Though a renowned recluse, Bill is interviewed at the start of the book about his work. He talks at length about his roundabout start in cartooning, his struggles to please news editors as a political cartoonist, his initial comics, how he created Calvin and Hobbes, his artistic inspirations, his training, and intense discipline. He shares why he stopped after only 10 years and his opinions on the comic industry.
Aspiring artists will learn a lot about his creative process and his meticulous drawing and painting of this iconic rambunctious boy. A rare treasure for Calvin collectors.
Though a renowned recluse, Bill is interviewed at the start of the book about his work. He talks at length about his roundabout start in cartooning, his struggles to please news editors as a political cartoonist, his initial comics, how he created Calvin and Hobbes, his artistic inspirations, his training, and intense discipline. He shares why he stopped after only 10 years and his opinions on the comic industry.
Aspiring artists will learn a lot about his creative process and his meticulous drawing and painting of this iconic rambunctious boy. A rare treasure for Calvin collectors.
September 10, 2024
I had this book since it was released, but I finally read it in its entirety last week. Outstanding book. The interview with Bill is worth the purchase alone and his page on tools he used to make Calvin and Hobbes strips. I’m reviewing this with the mind frame of an artist and fan of these strips. As a fan alone it’s a nice book. Has some great strips in as close to their raw form as possible (without visiting the Billy Ireland Museum to look at these strips in person). But that alone really doesn’t warrant the purchase. As an artist and aspiring cartoonist, Bill’s interview is really good. Eye opening at times when he talks about the craft and dedication to producing comic art. I really enjoyed seeing the inspiration pages on comic strips that were an influence for Bill and what he liked, which led him to creating the strips he wanted to, and that we love today.
September 16, 2024
Like every exhibition at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum I miss, I'm bummed I missed this one. What a gift to have this beautiful exhibition catalogue to document what the exhibit covered. This book is worth purchasing for the thoughtful, insightful 35-page interview with Watterson alone, and in addition you get examples of other classic comic strips that inspired him to create Calvin and Hobbes, plus reproductions of all the original art that was in the exhibit, as well as most (or all?) of the full-color art that Watterson created. Throw in some of Watterson's post-strip paintings and photographs, and this book is a must-have for any serious Calvin and Hobbes fan!
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