Lucy: I seem to recall a mud puddle and you just hosing off my hoofs so your dad wouldn't yell at us again...
Danae: Hey, if you want your memoir to sell, you've got to embellish a little.
No, MatureCanadian. Lucy is not a stuffed toy. She’s Danae’s horse, just as Petey is Kate’s dog. Instead of Danae having the usual pet, I thought it would be more fun for her to have a horse. After all, what little girl doesn’t want her own horse?
Ripping off Watterson’s scenario of the stuffed toy being real to the character would be beyond lame an unimaginative.
I love the fact that the author (I disdain the term “cartoonist” for talented people like Wiley) monitors and chimes in with comments and clarifications. I also love the fact that my 8-year-old granddaughter is more like Kate than Danae ;-)
I love Calvin & Hobbes as much as any of you, but Bill Watterson is not the be-all and end-all of comics.
After all, Calvin’s adventures with Hobbes was simply an update of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh. (You know, a little boy’s imaginary adventures with a stuffed toy?)
So please, loose all the “Gee, you’re stealing from Bill Watterson” remarks. If that’s all you think of Non Sequitur, you haven’t been reading it for long.
But if you can only relate cartoons and stories as far as Calvin and Hobbes, go to the library.
Kids and their animals in comics have been around for more than a hundred years, going back to Buster Brown and his dog Tige (who debuted in 1902).
They were the creation of Richard Outcault, who also created the Yellow Kid, the first American comic strip.
Why? What’s wrong with that? I appreciate the sentiment, but I am a cartoonist and there’s nothing wrong or derogatory about the term. Unfortunately, it has been used as an epithet of sorts, demeaning it as a lesser form by the literary elite, probably because it remains more popular with the majority of readers than anything else in the newspaper. Always has, always will.
I’m not sure I can explain it, but I’ve been in love with Lucy since she first appeared. I have always been enamoured of draft horses and Lucy has the cutest “hoofies.” Her being paired with Danae makes it all so fascinating. Thank you, Wiley!
science fiction was another genre that was looked down upon by the literati. i have much respect for all authors and cartoonists who can consistently entertain me. and both comic strips and science fiction have obtained a higher regard in recent years. about time, i say. thank you for sharing your talents with us Wiley.
I haven’t been reading this strip all that long either, so I wondered about whether Lucy is supposed to be “real” or whether she just comes alive in Danae’s imagination. But then Lucy said something about getting her “hoofs” washed and I didn’t think one would do that for a toy. Then I saw Wiley’s clarifying comment. I’m still not sure if anyone besides Danae can hear Lucy when she talks.
On my horse one day…
Out to romp, out to play….
Having stepped in mud, so vile…
Sadly disturbed a crocodile…
But mind to wit…
And lasso so quick…
Did save my horse’s bleeep awhile…
(While I made up even more salacious adventures!)
Wiley, I do apologize for intimating that your strip was dirivitive of another’s. I had forgotten the beginning. Had the book but it was taken away by my children when I kept having “accidents” from laughing so hard. Will put it on my wish list for upcoming gift-giving events. Again, mea culpa.
pouncingtiger about 14 years ago
How do you think made-for-television or “based”-on-a-true-story movies came to existence.
Sisyphos about 14 years ago
Never trust a mud puddle (something I learned from reading Danae’s memoirs).
Ice_Bear66 about 14 years ago
Lucy can READ?! Since when?
Coyoty Premium Member about 14 years ago
Lucy prefers hose over wearing crocs.
GROG Premium Member about 14 years ago
Those memoirs are likely going to end up to be pure fiction.
Joe.Hilbig about 14 years ago
It’s so nice to see that very young children read the comics on line!
But why do adults never comment?
ses1066 about 14 years ago
^ @ Joe.Hilbig ^ ^ Because we reserve our comments for the comment commentators. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Lurah about 14 years ago
Cute!
coot31 about 14 years ago
Several years ago I overheard an old vet say, “Hell! We all remember things that never happened.”
Trebor39 about 14 years ago
C’mon Danae, that croc wasn’t nearly that big.
RonBerg13 Premium Member about 14 years ago
D@mnit! I’ve been reading this comic strip for several years now.
Would someone please tell me…
The pony - is it real or is it Hobbes?
Blessings on those who answer this burning question.
Justice22 about 14 years ago
To answer Ron,,, Yes!
milano99 about 14 years ago
Lucy is real……
MatureCanadian about 14 years ago
Sorry Ron, Lucy is real only to us and Danae. Other “Grown-ups” see only a stuffed toy. But just like Tinkerbell, we believe!
Auslander47 about 14 years ago
What’s the logo on Danae’s shirt?
Wiley creator about 14 years ago
No, MatureCanadian. Lucy is not a stuffed toy. She’s Danae’s horse, just as Petey is Kate’s dog. Instead of Danae having the usual pet, I thought it would be more fun for her to have a horse. After all, what little girl doesn’t want her own horse?
Ripping off Watterson’s scenario of the stuffed toy being real to the character would be beyond lame an unimaginative.
lazygrazer about 14 years ago
SEE?—Wiley’s above comment is a perfect example of today’s comic. He types out whatever he wants and we tend to fall for it. What if he’s lying??
Wildmustang1262 about 14 years ago
Danae, do not write the adventure like Indiana Jones and the Ark and etc….
Auslander47 said, 25 minutes ago
What’s the logo on Danae’s shirt?
Danae’s shirt has a “yellow heart with white skull.”
Wiley creator about 14 years ago
For those who want the whole story, it was compiled in a book a few years ago. Go here and buy a few dozen to pass around to your friends and family!
http://astore.amazon.com/ucomicscom/detail/0740750992
milano99 about 14 years ago
I love the fact that the author (I disdain the term “cartoonist” for talented people like Wiley) monitors and chimes in with comments and clarifications. I also love the fact that my 8-year-old granddaughter is more like Kate than Danae ;-)
Can't Sleep about 14 years ago
Let’s get something straight –
I love Calvin & Hobbes as much as any of you, but Bill Watterson is not the be-all and end-all of comics.
After all, Calvin’s adventures with Hobbes was simply an update of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh. (You know, a little boy’s imaginary adventures with a stuffed toy?)
So please, loose all the “Gee, you’re stealing from Bill Watterson” remarks. If that’s all you think of Non Sequitur, you haven’t been reading it for long.
But if you can only relate cartoons and stories as far as Calvin and Hobbes, go to the library.
Kids and their animals in comics have been around for more than a hundred years, going back to Buster Brown and his dog Tige (who debuted in 1902).
They were the creation of Richard Outcault, who also created the Yellow Kid, the first American comic strip.
Jaroca2 about 14 years ago
You can’t tell how deep a puddle is from the top…………..
my grandson is proof of that
Wiley creator about 14 years ago
milano99 said, “I disdain the term “cartoonist”…
Why? What’s wrong with that? I appreciate the sentiment, but I am a cartoonist and there’s nothing wrong or derogatory about the term. Unfortunately, it has been used as an epithet of sorts, demeaning it as a lesser form by the literary elite, probably because it remains more popular with the majority of readers than anything else in the newspaper. Always has, always will.
lin4869 about 14 years ago
I’m not sure I can explain it, but I’ve been in love with Lucy since she first appeared. I have always been enamoured of draft horses and Lucy has the cutest “hoofies.” Her being paired with Danae makes it all so fascinating. Thank you, Wiley!
yyyguy about 14 years ago
science fiction was another genre that was looked down upon by the literati. i have much respect for all authors and cartoonists who can consistently entertain me. and both comic strips and science fiction have obtained a higher regard in recent years. about time, i say. thank you for sharing your talents with us Wiley.
JP Steve Premium Member about 14 years ago
So Danae got her facts a little mixed up – it must have been a muddle puddle!
MobyD about 14 years ago
I haven’t been reading this strip all that long either, so I wondered about whether Lucy is supposed to be “real” or whether she just comes alive in Danae’s imagination. But then Lucy said something about getting her “hoofs” washed and I didn’t think one would do that for a toy. Then I saw Wiley’s clarifying comment. I’m still not sure if anyone besides Danae can hear Lucy when she talks.
Joseph Krois about 14 years ago
On my horse one day… Out to romp, out to play…. Having stepped in mud, so vile… Sadly disturbed a crocodile… But mind to wit… And lasso so quick… Did save my horse’s bleeep awhile… (While I made up even more salacious adventures!)
Joseph Krois about 14 years ago
Hey, what’s with the expletive deleter function? Lasso is a word!!!!
cutiepie29 about 14 years ago
I see the word “lasso” in your poem. Just not one word in the next line.
MatureCanadian about 14 years ago
Wiley, I do apologize for intimating that your strip was dirivitive of another’s. I had forgotten the beginning. Had the book but it was taken away by my children when I kept having “accidents” from laughing so hard. Will put it on my wish list for upcoming gift-giving events. Again, mea culpa.
Joseph Krois about 14 years ago
Just for the record, when I first posted my comment, “lasso” appeared as “lbleeepo”. I thought I was having a senior moment ! STG!