Not that it's any of my business, but I am concerned about Bill Watterson. The brilliant creator of "Calvin and Hobbes" has now been in retirement for almost eight years, living VERY quietly in Chagrin Falls, supposedly painting landscapes and then burning them, refusing interviews, autographs, communication with the outside world.
I went to high school with Bill, knew him well enough to chat amiably (he illustrated two stories I wrote for the school literary mag), knew his now-wife better from playing in the marching band together, and was very excited and gratified by his success.
I understand taking a break from the circus, I understand shunning the starmaking machinery, I understand burn-out, I understand preferring the quiet life of low responsibility, hassle, and noise. But dude, don't let it turn pathological, don't let the insularity become its own rationale, don't be resentful of the interest and attention, don't be a hermit, buddy!
The Cleveland Scene weekly has a feature on him this week, but there is nothing new to report, and I found the whole exercise rather dispiriting, although the writer, James Renner, makes a perceptive comparison between Watterson and J.D. Salinger. Man, I hope he isn't that far gone.
Bill, life is too short, come out to play at least once in a while, acknowledge your gift and the joy it has brought to millions, see it as a privilege rather than a burden, lighten the hell up! You're not John Lennon, you're a fucking cartoonist. Don't make us worry about you anymore, okay?
Article comments
1 - Nick Hodges
That was kind of my feeling as well when I read the Cleveland Scene piece. Calvin and Hobbes still captures the fancy of people of all ages. My eight year old goes through the books like a hot knife through butter, and I read Calvin everyday on the web. I respect his desire for privacy, but at the same time I would love to hear from him every once and a while -- a graduation speech, and interview with a respected journalist, something.
2 - Eric Olsen
Thanks Nick, it's a real concern at this point. I think it's the kind of thing that gets harder and harder to break out of as time goes on. I hope he is okay, I really do.
3 - Craig Lyndall
I always knew there was something about you Eric. Not a bad thing, but something that turned my stomach a bit just the same. You went to Chagrin Falls high school? That must be it. As a West Geauga alum, I give you my deepest apologies. :-)
4 - Eric Olsen
I am a proud Tiger from high school and college, although I only lived in Chagrin for three years between '72-75. It's weird because my family has been in Aurora since '75, I've lived here (again) since '90, and my son goes to Aurora, so even when we play Chagrin I root for Aurora. But I'm still a proud Tiger.
I remember beating West G in baseball at least twice back in the Stone Ages.
5 - Craig Lyndall
This might be the "duh" moment of the year, but is that why Watterson had a tiger in his comic?
6 - Eric Olsen
Perhaps so, grasshopper.
7 - Tom Johnson
I'll add to this Gary Larson. Gary's off playing jazz guitar, which is cool, but I can't believe there isn't a part of him that still wants to cartoon. Someone who creates something like The Far Side never truly stops - he may only be thinking the kinds of things he used to illustrate, but I don't believe that he doesn't still have a book of new pieces in him, at least. I suppose, for now, we'll have to "settle" for that giant anthology that was recently released . . . but I sure he takes ink to paper at some point in the future.
8 - Eric Olsen
I can only imagine the burn-out factor of having to come up with something great every day, but this all-or-nothing approach seems very strange also. You'd think there could be a middle way, but perhaps the very idea of returning pen to paper makes some of these guys recoil in horror.
9 - Tom Johnson
I can entirely understand that, Eric. The kinds of stuff a guy like Larson comes up with is the kind of thing that just strikes you. Actively trying to think stuff up like that saps it of both creative energy and the excitement of discovery. I really don't know how he kept up at it for so long (4300 panels!) But conversely, someone who does come up with such odd thoughts probably doesn't ever stop thinking like that, either. But, yeah, maybe after having churned out, literally, thousands of cartoons, maybe he really is completely burned out.
10 - JR
"But conversely, someone (Larson) who does come up with such odd thoughts probably doesn't ever stop thinking like that, either."
Yeah, makes me really curious about what his music sounds like...
11 - Eric Olsen
"magic scientism" like the strip
12 - Particleman
Back when i thought i had any art skills, i used to practice by tracing Calvin comic strips. I bought one of the big Calvin books and bookmarked it to infinity.
I sure hope Bill's ok.
13 - Eric Olsen
P-man, I am sure there are many like you, millions ofpeople who would like to hear from him.
14 - Bill Peschel
Larson devotes a lot of time every day to jazz guitar, and sometimes plays in public. He appears to be doing what he likes. He even occasionally picks up the pen, like the "Hair in My Soup" book, or the New Yorker cover. Anyway, he has an outlet for his creativity.
Watterson does as well, and if he's happy in what he's doing, I'll accept his gift of Calvin and move on. On the other hand, I'd love to hear his thoughts on this form of the creative process. Can he really find satisfaction from creating paintings no one will ever see? Can a man really that be that self-contained and not have serious mental issues?
I say this, not just because I admire the man and his work, but because I don't recall anyone else acting like this. To reach the state where he became something of a hermit, J.D. Salinger suffered serious trauma as an infantryman in World War II. Did something like this happen to Watterson?
15 - Eric Olsen
Very interesting Bill, and I agree this is a strange way to enjoy life.