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Comics for the Soul

There is a sad reality in this day in age; the comic strip is a dying art. Kids these days
don't wake up and run outside to grab the newspaper. Instead, they run out to the couch and grab
a remote to turn on Saturday cartoons. This is a troubling realization since comic strips are truly
a great form of literature. Just a few illustrations coupled with calculated statements can portray
a thought provoking idea that a 10 page paper provides or topical joke. But probably the greatest
comic strip satire came from the pencil tip of Bill Watterson, the creator of Calvin and Hobbes.
Wattersons satirical genius captivated his audience for years through the immature yet wise boy
named Calvin and his stuffed pet tiger, Hobbes. Through their adventures, Watterson illustrates
his views on society and the way to live life. Even though comics have been considered low
art catered for children, Calvin and Hobbes breaks the mold with its topical themes about the
school system, media, and government, making Watterson not only a great illustrator, but also a
truly amazing author.
In 1958, Bill Watterson was born in Washington, D.C. to James and Kathryn Watterson.
At the young age of 6, Bill and his family moved to Ohio where he has stayed for the majority of
his life. Unlike his rambunctious wild creation that is Calvin, Watterson was a fairly good child
that never really got himself into any trouble. But at an early age, his flame for drawing burned
bright and has continued to burn throughout his impressive career. He doodled as a kid, was a
cartoonist for his colleges newspaper, and was given a job as a political cartoonist in Cincinnati
right out of college. Wattersons passion for illustrating helped him persevere through the loss of
his job, and five years later, found himself creating the masterpiece that is Calvin and Hobbes.
Calvin, a six year old boy, struggles with the daily obstacles of school, his babysitter, and daily
chores around the house. Always by Calvins side is his stuffed tiger, Hobbes, who only comes

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to life when the two are alone. And this comic is where Wattersons voice could be heard
through these two characters, who are named after philosophers John Calvin and Thomas
Hobbes.

In this strip, Calvin is explaining to Hobbes that he would like a logo on his shirt.
Naturally, this comes across as an odd conversation between a 6 year old and his stuffed tiger,
but that is what Watterson intended. Here, Watterson is poking fun at how companies in society
use logos on their products as another form of advertisement. He is also criticizing how people
are so wrapped up in what [they] buy that they naturally look for name brand clothes to
demonstrate a certain pride in the clothing that they wear. The look of bewilderment on Hobbes

face in the second frame shows how Calvins thinking/ reasoning is backwards to what most
people think. Now, I'm not sure that a child would fully comprehend the message behind this
strip. But according to Watterson, people, Americans specifically, endorse products to show
individuality which seems backwards when you come to think about it. This is how society is
today because a lot of people care too much about the brand of their clothing and shoes, myself

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included, and if someone isn't wearing a name brand article then they are considered different.
And in only a few pictures, Watterson delivers his message of criticism demonstrating his

authorship.

Along with criticizing corporations, Watterson also finds faults with the media and what
stories are actually reaching the viewing audience. In this strip, for example, Calvin and Hobbes
are discussing the about what they learn from the media. Calvin says that he knows more about
the lives of celebrities than [he] does about any government policy which is troubling. Yes,
Calvin is a 6 year old kid and shouldn't know anything about the government, but this is true for
adults as well. The fact that Watterson depicts this conversation while Calvin and Hobbes are
riding down a hill in a wagon goes to show the absurdity of it. Watterson is suggesting that the
media and society focus more on content that has little to no impact on their lives while topics
regarding government and the economy are put on the back burner. Its a call to action for
people to pay more attention to topics that have an effect on their lives instead of worrying and
caring more about meaningless garbage. Even though these comics were published in the late
80s and early 90s, this problem is absolutely relevant today. With advancement of televisions,
phones, and the internet, the availability of information is at an all time high. That being said,

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most people arent checking stocks when they go online. Through this childrens comic
Watterson brings this problem to forefront, suggesting that something must be done to fix it.

Since Calvin is only 6 and he attends school, Watterson grasps the opportunity to deride
the school system. For example, in this strip, we see Calvin taking a test. It asks for the year
when the pilgrims landed in America and Calvin gives the correct answer. But instead of just
moving on to the next question, Calvin continues to elaborate on his answer by saying that he has
memorized this utterly useless fact long enough to pass a test question and that the teacher has
taught me nothing except how to cynically manipulate the system. So in this situation,
Watterson is demonstrating how the education system is flawed emphasizing how students just
memorize to get a good grade on a test instead of actually learning the material and remembering
it. This is an issue that has troubled teachers for years and is constantly being addressed. Most
if not all students can relate to this issue. Personally, I dont remember some of the facts right
after I take a test. But its the good teachers that constantly instill information into you
understand the concepts being taught instead of them just being memorized. Here, Watterson is
highlighting this problem with this crazy response because no kid in his/her right mind would
ever write that on a test (I hope).

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Bill Watterson was never a writer, he was and will always be an illustrator. However, his
pictures portrayed so many topical subjects that really made the reader think. Wattersons
messages come across with a little humor since its a 6 year old kid and his stuffed tiger
delivering them. Not too many kids understand the topics that sometimes come through these
comics, I know I didn't when I was a kid. The simplistic doodles and punchlines are absolutely a
form of authorship. And looking back, I can see how Watterson criticized society in only a few
pictures and even fewer words, like an author. It takes some great genius to use a children's
comic strip, which is perceived as a low art, and turn it into satire. Even what is considered to be
the lowest form of art demonstrates a high level of authorship.

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Works Cited
Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 05 Sept. 2014.
"Fivezenses Of Reading." Mini Review: 'The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book' ~.
Web. 05 Sept. 2014.
"Nailed It | Mark a Rayner | Scribblings, Squibs & Sundry Monkey Joys." Mark a Rayner
Scribblings Squibs Sundry Monkey Joys. Web. 05 Sept. 2014.
"Vincit Omnia Veritas." Vincit Omnia Veritas. Web. 05 Sept. 2014.