My Influences: Bill Watterson

When I was younger, I can remember when there were just whole days where I would do absolutely nothing but read book after book of comics. Sure the only real thing that broke me from the comics was the call of a good meal, but who's counting, really? Most parent would probably be concerned hearing their child laughing hysterically by themselves for hours on end, I'm glad my parents weren't.

Bill Watterson's Calvin & Hobbes is what kept me laughing by myself, hours on end. Possibly the most acclaimed comic strip of its era, Calvin & Hobbes ran from 18 November 1985 to 31 December 1995. Calvin is a six-year-old boy, Hobbes a stuffed tiger who in Calvin's presence, and Calvin's presence only, comes to life and is capable of speech. From harrowing adventures in space and against Mutant snow goons to just dealing with the baby sitter and his parents, it follows Calvin through all aspects of life.

Yet the real appeal to this comic for me, even as a young child, were it's themes.  Calvin and Hobbes are always discussing the weightier matters of life like religion, politics, and the meaning of life. Yet, it never seems heavy handed, Calvin & Hobbes take the issues an adult may prefer to leave theoretical, and apply them to everyday life with amazing simplicity and a healthy dose of humor.

Though, I do love Watterson's handling of line weight and simplicity, his style is not what i want to emulate. At some point I will want to do a story very near and dear to my heart. It's about someone in my life that I feel addresses a lot of issues. When I do decide to make it, I do NOT want to it to be heavy handed. If anyone could learn anything from Watterson, is to make light of a situation and to present an uncomfortable issue in a, well, comfortable light.