Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for June 29, 2012

So collectible tiger figurines is a no?

If you make it in sterling silver, someone will buy it.Not kidding…in a local jeweler’s shop I was amazed to find, in among the silver pheasants and deer and gundogs, a solid silver Tyrannosaurus and a Triceratops. Each about 8 inches high. Also a natural-size solid silver fiddler crab.Go figure.

I love Hobbes in the last panel.

I think this whole arc was one of Bill Watterson’s numerous digs at the syndicates who were constantly pressuring him to license and merchandise Calvin and Hobbes — which Bill flatly refused to do, as he saw merchandising his characters as a betrayal of the art form: in other words, he saw it as selling out. It’s one of the main reasons that he finally ended the strip.

Watterson had morals, unlike some.

I like Hobbeses tiger and I would buy it!

but I care you Hobbes… ha ha

I’m with you Hobbes.

“Does Jesus Care?”

…even if nobody else cares!

@mythreesons,Don Grady dies at 68!

Calvin seems to be having one of his Polosi tantrum moments.

I’m buying Hobbes’s tiger.

Doesn’t this site sell framed editions of any strip? In essense…. upholding Calvin’s idea.

Many excellent comments yesterday on art and originality. Perhaps there is a “nature vs. nurture” question involved. As humans, we are all born as unique individuals. At the same time, we can never escape the time and place in which we grow up, or the influences of those who have come before us. So our own attempts at the creation of something original can never be as unique as the individual creation that we ourselves are.Many who are religious would say that we are created in the image of God. But an image of something is not the same as the original. Perhaps our attempts to be completely original represent a deep longing to be something that we can never fully be in this life – the one who uniquely created us.Or, has someone already said that?

Sooooo…..It’s not all about the money?

@masterskrain: In any field, there are always some frauds who would fit your description. But I think that many avant-garde artists are actually highly-talented people who are really struggling to be original at a time when so much has already been done. For example, I’m not a great fan of avant-garde “classical” music; but many people like it, and some of it requires a whole lot of talent in order to create it. And, of course, there is always the standard argument that Beethoven, Schubert, and others were avant-garde in their day.On the other hand, the fact that many great classical works of art were originally avant-garde, doesn’t mean that all avant-garde works of today will be considered great in the future.As Pat Paulsen once said, “It is true that all of the current presidential candidates once denied that they had any intention of running. But the fact that I am also a liar, doesn’t make me a candidate.”

No way is Watterson broke. He sold millions of copies of each of the 17 Calvin and Hobbes books plus the 3 volume “Complete Calvin and Hobbes,” not to mention the fact that he was in ~2400 newspapers once the strip got popular. If he was making $1 per week for every paper he sold to, that’s still over 1$120,000 a year. He was making much more than that per week.

“I just wanted to make it.” The essence of true art.

Hobbes will get rich, so many people buying his tiger!!

Good for Hobbes. He makes this strip what it is.

Calvin is pee off because he didn’t think of something like that first. I really like the last panel, nice jester by Hobbes, This certainly ruined Calvin’s day.

Fantastic!

Look out! He’ll probably run for President!!

Think about it Calvin its not that important to us the consumer.

Hobbes u should be an artist.

Calm down, Calvin!

I love Hobbes’ creative side.

xxx

When I was in college and someone asked my opinion of a “genius avant-garde artist,” I would pause, fix my eyes on the middle distance and say slowly, “Most…effective.” The person I was answering had no idea that in my personal lexicon that phrase means “a total pile of pants.”Most if not all of those “avant-garde geniuses” went the way of all flesh, fish and good red herring a couple of decades ago and no one remembers them.

It’s not necessary to by jealous. You can admire the art of your friend and be happy with it! Everyone has talents, not all people the same ones, it is good so, so the world is more manifold and colourful! You can admire the art of other ones and appriciate your one talents!

Calvin’s mother needs to sprinkle a LOT more Prozac on Calvin’s breakfast cereal….

Will agree that Hobbes is often pretentious. But interesting and sometimes very funny. We try to accept each other, warts and all. No one is perfect.

As for art being an attempt to “create something unique.” I just don’t buy it. Much of art (including my own) is merely an attempt to re-create from ones own perspective. None of it has ever been original. Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Pollack (even Kinkade, Watterson, and Dogsniff) were all trying to catch the magic of already existing things in their own hands. Tricky job, that, and a wonder when you succeed.

Calvin: You’re a fanatic! Bleah!

:p

Calvin looks like his dad in the last panel again.

I’d take Hobbes’ clay tiger sculpture over anything Calvin “creates” any day! Snobby? Elitist? Aesthetic? Who cares indeed?!?!? I’m just glad he wanted to make it!!!!! ;-)

do I wonder if they are a balanced individual ? hmmm

You prove my point…unique in its arrangement, yes; but all still drawn from previously existing images, it’s just the compilation that is unique. He has not created anything, just arranged it in startling ways. If Giger claims he is not influenced by others before him…delusional. Note: his work is also really COOL!

Oh man, totally. Jim Davis should have stopped about 20 years ago.

Genius at work!…and lies in the eyes of the beholder.

I have ALL his books. More philosophy than some religions.

@rogue53YES, just wondered was @LX013 being tongue in cheek or straight. But personally enjoy both Hobbeses!

Art.

Now THERE’S an Old-School Concept: Actually doing something sans need for audience!!