When you read this comic, it makes you realize that it shouldn’t have been surprising that Bill Waterston retired the strip suddenly and moved to a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere to paint watercolor landscapes.
Honestly, the fact that Calvin and Hobbes had an ending makes us all look more fondly upon it.
Bill Watterson’s approach was the exact opposite of what Jim Davis did, which was selling out completely with no regard to the actual quality of the comics. Garfield is basically a brand at this point, Calvin and Hobbes was art.
Jim Davis specifically made a character to sell shit. He did some interesting development with his comic for the first decade-ish, then unabashedly launched a media empire. Good for him, frankly-- not everything has to be high art and hawking shit to the masses is a valid way to live your life.
Throw in the fact the he appreciates (and has never tried to sue) derivative works like Garfield Minus Garfield or I’m Sorry Jon makes him ok in my book.
I know it was the plan to begin with. I’m just highlighting the difference to how Calvin and Hobbes is regarded today as opposed to Garfield. One is seen as art, the other as a brand.
At least Jim Davis isn’t the Dilbert guy, though. And he doesn’t live in a Garfield shaped house (although maybe he has a Garfield shaped pool? I forget).
When you read this comic, it makes you realize that it shouldn’t have been surprising that Bill Waterston retired the strip suddenly and moved to a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere to paint watercolor landscapes.
Honestly, the fact that Calvin and Hobbes had an ending makes us all look more fondly upon it.
Bill Watterson’s approach was the exact opposite of what Jim Davis did, which was selling out completely with no regard to the actual quality of the comics. Garfield is basically a brand at this point, Calvin and Hobbes was art.
Jim Davis specifically made a character to sell shit. He did some interesting development with his comic for the first decade-ish, then unabashedly launched a media empire. Good for him, frankly-- not everything has to be high art and hawking shit to the masses is a valid way to live your life.
Throw in the fact the he appreciates (and has never tried to sue) derivative works like Garfield Minus Garfield or I’m Sorry Jon makes him ok in my book.
I know it was the plan to begin with. I’m just highlighting the difference to how Calvin and Hobbes is regarded today as opposed to Garfield. One is seen as art, the other as a brand.
At least Jim Davis isn’t the Dilbert guy, though. And he doesn’t live in a Garfield shaped house (although maybe he has a Garfield shaped pool? I forget).
Being better than Adams is a bar that is so low it may have struck oil.
I’m a bit out of the loop what happened with the comic that was basically the office but broadcasted via newspaper
Behind the Bastards have done a few episodes on him. Quite long but well worth a listen. He’s apparently always been a bit… off…, but more recently since an injury and then Trump he’s gone off the deep end.
Here’s his house:
The creator is some kind of right wing whacko on twitter now I believe