Scan barcode
allyoop's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I don't know what I expected/wanted from this book. (I only found it while searching for Calvin & Hobbes at my library.) It's weird for someone to try and offer so much "insight" into the comic strip with any input from the author, or without any allowed reproduction of the comics. If that's the case, perhaps he should have abandoned this idea.
Martell notes his love and "profound respect" for Bill Watterson, and then goes to all sorts of lengths to pry into aspects of his life -old teachers, friends, random people from his hometown, his brother, his mother. Nice effort, but it seems like if you respect someone (profoundly, even) then you can respect their wish for privacy. Something really doesn't fit.
I also felt like there was something off about Martell's writing style. The words didn't flow very naturally -like he'd systematically tried to craft each sentence, and thus lost all true personality. He talks about himself a lot, but since there's no genuine first person feel it has no impact.
I did enjoy the heaps of love other writers/artists gave to Calvin & Hobbes. They mentioned specific qualities to the strip that I'd never really thought about before, particularly in the drawing stage.
All in all, I'd advise against reading this. Bill Watterson is quoted heavily from the 10th Anniversary book, so why not just read that instead and enjoy some snazzy comic strips in the process?
Martell notes his love and "profound respect" for Bill Watterson, and then goes to all sorts of lengths to pry into aspects of his life -old teachers, friends, random people from his hometown, his brother, his mother. Nice effort, but it seems like if you respect someone (profoundly, even) then you can respect their wish for privacy. Something really doesn't fit.
I also felt like there was something off about Martell's writing style. The words didn't flow very naturally -like he'd systematically tried to craft each sentence, and thus lost all true personality. He talks about himself a lot, but since there's no genuine first person feel it has no impact.
I did enjoy the heaps of love other writers/artists gave to Calvin & Hobbes. They mentioned specific qualities to the strip that I'd never really thought about before, particularly in the drawing stage.
All in all, I'd advise against reading this. Bill Watterson is quoted heavily from the 10th Anniversary book, so why not just read that instead and enjoy some snazzy comic strips in the process?
ambermarshall's review against another edition
3.0
This book is as much about the author as the subject, and the voice is first person, which is unusual for a biography where the narrator necessarily disappears. But it's not really a biography but a combination of collated information about Watterson and the life of the Calvin and Hobbes comic, and the process the author went through to find the material. A lot of the information is available elsewhere, but I hadn't seen it and this puts it all in one convenient place. Your mileage may vary on the fanboy gushing and the a laundry list of other cartoonists (and others) praising Watterson.
To me, Watterson seems like someone who didn't expect to be this successful and found that success did not agree with his personality. He sure doesn't come across as warm and friendly, and I agree with the cartoonists who felt slighted by his snubbing his own award events. I sure didn't expect to read that he only emerged to give the occasional ranting speech (though I agree with him about the old "dinosaur" comics kept in horrible unlife by descendents or replacement artists, hogging up the comics page. Luckily the demise of newspapers and the democratization of the internet gives newer, better artists more room).
I also thought it a little ironic that someone who was disappointed by Charles Schultz's form letter would do the same to his fans later on (I dated a guy who had a framed form letter reply from Watterson on his bedroom wall). Really, his incredulity at everyone's adoration seems less humble and more ignorant. Like really, how the hell could you not know why we're still obsessed after all this time?
I'm a fan of Calvin and Hobbes and read it to my son, and I think mainly this book proves the adage about not meeting one's heroes (which makes it just as well that Martell didn't manage to pry Watterson out of his hidey-hole).
And Stephen Pastis is right: would it be so bad for the kids to have a Hobbes doll? Luckily you can find more than one free pattern on the internet to crochet him (I did for my son). And by declining to merchandise you really only have yourself to blame for all the Calvin pissing on Ford logos, Bill. He could have done some very limited licensing rather than go balls to the wall like Scott Adams or Jim Davis. The whole merchandizing kerfuffle reminds me of a talented fellow student in my college pottery class whose response to the instructor asking if she ever considered selling her work was to burst into angry tears and sob, "How could you say such a thing? I'm an ARTIST!"
But whatever, we still have Calvin and Hobbes, and nothing can take that away from us. Overall, unless you're truly curious about the genesis of C&H, give this one a skip.
EDIT: One thing that bothered me: no pictures? Plenty of descriptions of photos, early comics, political cartoons, locations, etc, and not an image to be found. Is it because Martell couldn't get permission to reprint anything? Because everything belongs to Watterson and he's impossible? For such a visual medium as comics, and me being used to photo inserts in biographies, I felt the lack. I understand why the cover has a fragment of what might be Calvin's shoe and Hobbes' tail but I'm amazed there's absolutely no imagery incorporated at all.
To me, Watterson seems like someone who didn't expect to be this successful and found that success did not agree with his personality. He sure doesn't come across as warm and friendly, and I agree with the cartoonists who felt slighted by his snubbing his own award events. I sure didn't expect to read that he only emerged to give the occasional ranting speech (though I agree with him about the old "dinosaur" comics kept in horrible unlife by descendents or replacement artists, hogging up the comics page. Luckily the demise of newspapers and the democratization of the internet gives newer, better artists more room).
I also thought it a little ironic that someone who was disappointed by Charles Schultz's form letter would do the same to his fans later on (I dated a guy who had a framed form letter reply from Watterson on his bedroom wall). Really, his incredulity at everyone's adoration seems less humble and more ignorant. Like really, how the hell could you not know why we're still obsessed after all this time?
I'm a fan of Calvin and Hobbes and read it to my son, and I think mainly this book proves the adage about not meeting one's heroes (which makes it just as well that Martell didn't manage to pry Watterson out of his hidey-hole).
And Stephen Pastis is right: would it be so bad for the kids to have a Hobbes doll? Luckily you can find more than one free pattern on the internet to crochet him (I did for my son). And by declining to merchandise you really only have yourself to blame for all the Calvin pissing on Ford logos, Bill. He could have done some very limited licensing rather than go balls to the wall like Scott Adams or Jim Davis. The whole merchandizing kerfuffle reminds me of a talented fellow student in my college pottery class whose response to the instructor asking if she ever considered selling her work was to burst into angry tears and sob, "How could you say such a thing? I'm an ARTIST!"
But whatever, we still have Calvin and Hobbes, and nothing can take that away from us. Overall, unless you're truly curious about the genesis of C&H, give this one a skip.
EDIT: One thing that bothered me: no pictures? Plenty of descriptions of photos, early comics, political cartoons, locations, etc, and not an image to be found. Is it because Martell couldn't get permission to reprint anything? Because everything belongs to Watterson and he's impossible? For such a visual medium as comics, and me being used to photo inserts in biographies, I felt the lack. I understand why the cover has a fragment of what might be Calvin's shoe and Hobbes' tail but I'm amazed there's absolutely no imagery incorporated at all.
elston's review against another edition
4.0
I generally like biographies, and believe that everyone has an interesting story to be told. I'm sure Bill Watterson does, but he made it as difficult as possible to tell it. I can respect that, and it made the angle of this book different than most biographies. The author tiptoed around Mr. Watterson, interviewing friends and relatives, but being extremely careful not to step on any toes. I respect that approach, but it made the book more of a mystery. I certainly found out things I didn't know, and you definitely get a closer look at the man, but I don't think I've ever read a biography that told so little. Yet I still enjoyed it.
reverenddave's review against another edition
2.0
It didnt break any particularly new ground on Watterson but it did collect and compile all the interesting details about the elusive cartoonist that used to be scattered between old newspaper articles and the occasional essay at the beginning of C&H compilations. And it gave some interesting backstory to a few of the classic strips.
My only real complaint would be that the author attempted, especially at the end to try to evoke the same combination of whimsy and depth that the comic strip achieved, and fell predictably short.
My only real complaint would be that the author attempted, especially at the end to try to evoke the same combination of whimsy and depth that the comic strip achieved, and fell predictably short.
laurla's review against another edition
-"of course i know who bill watterson is, calvin and hobbes is the best comic strip ever! if you screw this book up, you will be pissing on some of my fondest memories of my youth. dont *&@I#? with my inner child..."
-the calvin and hobbes creator draws on the simple life. "calvin and hobbes will not exist intact if i do not exist intact" said watterson.
-my favorite of these embarrassing episodes is when calvin brings a lone snowflake into school. "i think we might all learn a lesson from how this utterly unique and exquisite crystal turns into an ordinary boring molecule of water, just like every other one, when you bring it into the classroom," calvin lectures. "and now, while the analogy sinks in, i'll be leaving you drips and going outside."
-these characters (teachers, principal, students) represent censorship, they embody the idea of institutional control and loss of self. they seek to dampen calvins imaginative life by trying to force him, an unusually shaped peg, into a square hole. their goal is to lead him away from who he truly is - a mundane outcome for such an exceptional boy."
-people who have no other virtues necessarily are somehow made into these things that we devour... there's something very strange about our fascination with other people's lives that i dont think is entirely healthy. as part of this devouring process, people love to have you, and then they use you up and theres's nothing left. they're not interested anymore. its a cyclical thing.
-watterson was especially afraid of this devouring because of the negative effect it could have on the sustainability of his work.
-"why tamper with what's important to me." said watterson
-"the idea of a hobbes doll is especially noxious because the intrigue of hobbes is that he may or may not be a real tiger. the strip deliberately sets up two versions of reality without committing itself to either one. if i'm not going to answer the question of who or what hobbes is, i'm certainly not going to let (stuffed toy manufacturer) answer it. it makes no sense to allow someone to make hobbes into a stuffed toy for real, and deprive the strip of an element of its magic."
-"to one's fans, the toys aren't junk at all." berke breathed (outland, bloom county). "but if watterson didnt want to see his work in plush dolls, jolly good. junk is junk. although its an opportunity to extend their affection for your work into something more tangible in their lives: a figure on their work desk that will make them smile. to deny them that - to tell them that their wish for the little vinyl figure is corrupt - is an abstract bit of selfishness maybe."
-in the absence of any official merchandise, a number of contraband products flooded the market.
-watterson wanted to control his creation and ensure that no licensing ever happened. without this assurance he was willing to walk away from his career. everyone in the room knew it wasn't a bluff. it was either his way or no way at all. after six years of bitter disputes, universal caved in and relinquished the full ownership of the strip to watterson. this meant there would be no merchandise of any kind and that universal was giving up millions of dollars in potential revenue. it must have hurt the syndicate to sign away such a promising revenue stream. they hoped the new arrangement would placate watterson enough that he would continue to draw calvin and hobbes for years to come without interruption.
-"if good things lasted forever, would we appreciate how precious they are?" hobbes asked calvin.
-watterson reminded you that imagination is more powerful than despair.
-the author wrote this entire book without ever interviewing watterson (who did not respond to his attempts).
-the calvin and hobbes creator draws on the simple life. "calvin and hobbes will not exist intact if i do not exist intact" said watterson.
-my favorite of these embarrassing episodes is when calvin brings a lone snowflake into school. "i think we might all learn a lesson from how this utterly unique and exquisite crystal turns into an ordinary boring molecule of water, just like every other one, when you bring it into the classroom," calvin lectures. "and now, while the analogy sinks in, i'll be leaving you drips and going outside."
-these characters (teachers, principal, students) represent censorship, they embody the idea of institutional control and loss of self. they seek to dampen calvins imaginative life by trying to force him, an unusually shaped peg, into a square hole. their goal is to lead him away from who he truly is - a mundane outcome for such an exceptional boy."
-people who have no other virtues necessarily are somehow made into these things that we devour... there's something very strange about our fascination with other people's lives that i dont think is entirely healthy. as part of this devouring process, people love to have you, and then they use you up and theres's nothing left. they're not interested anymore. its a cyclical thing.
-watterson was especially afraid of this devouring because of the negative effect it could have on the sustainability of his work.
-"why tamper with what's important to me." said watterson
-"the idea of a hobbes doll is especially noxious because the intrigue of hobbes is that he may or may not be a real tiger. the strip deliberately sets up two versions of reality without committing itself to either one. if i'm not going to answer the question of who or what hobbes is, i'm certainly not going to let (stuffed toy manufacturer) answer it. it makes no sense to allow someone to make hobbes into a stuffed toy for real, and deprive the strip of an element of its magic."
-"to one's fans, the toys aren't junk at all." berke breathed (outland, bloom county). "but if watterson didnt want to see his work in plush dolls, jolly good. junk is junk. although its an opportunity to extend their affection for your work into something more tangible in their lives: a figure on their work desk that will make them smile. to deny them that - to tell them that their wish for the little vinyl figure is corrupt - is an abstract bit of selfishness maybe."
-in the absence of any official merchandise, a number of contraband products flooded the market.
-watterson wanted to control his creation and ensure that no licensing ever happened. without this assurance he was willing to walk away from his career. everyone in the room knew it wasn't a bluff. it was either his way or no way at all. after six years of bitter disputes, universal caved in and relinquished the full ownership of the strip to watterson. this meant there would be no merchandise of any kind and that universal was giving up millions of dollars in potential revenue. it must have hurt the syndicate to sign away such a promising revenue stream. they hoped the new arrangement would placate watterson enough that he would continue to draw calvin and hobbes for years to come without interruption.
-"if good things lasted forever, would we appreciate how precious they are?" hobbes asked calvin.
-watterson reminded you that imagination is more powerful than despair.
-the author wrote this entire book without ever interviewing watterson (who did not respond to his attempts).
mephelan's review against another edition
2.0
A biography of a man who clearly doesn't want biographies written about him. Martell interviews Watterson's friends, teachers, and dozens of fellow cartoonists to learn about an intensely private man. I did learn some things about Watterson's editorial cartooning days, but overall there's not much here that you don't get from reading the commentary to the 10th Anniversary C & H. The audiobook did help pass the miles on a roadtrip with my own Calvin though.
melanietownsend's review against another edition
2.0
I actually didn't finish this book. I read the prologue. I read the first chapter and I just didn't care. So I read the last 5 pages and I quit. Bill Watterson wants to be left in peace, let's leave him there.
thesgtrekkiereads's review against another edition
3.0
2.5stars
Got a tad obsessive..
He got the extra 0.5 for his 2nd epilogue...
Got a tad obsessive..
He got the extra 0.5 for his 2nd epilogue...
livesinthetub's review against another edition
2.0
book #23 of 2021: Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: the Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip by Nevin Martell (pub. 2010) so this was another book that could def have used some heavy editing. the author talks way more than he should about his own interest in the subject, which is pretty meaningless, as a reader/listener. that said, I got a view into the profound level of intelligence and integrity this entirely reclusive cartoonist exhibits. the extremely few interviews he’s allowed, nine of which were with this book’s author, show vastly deep and considered thought, as well as stunningly acerbic wit. I give Bill Watterson 5/5 as a cartoonist and as a human being, but I give this book 3/5. highly recommend just reading the interviews available online: the books doesn’t really add anything beyond: he inspired a lot of other cartoonists, he took on his publisher for the rights to his strip - and won, and he’s a major recluse. I’m honestly glad the author didn’t get an interview: he isn’t smart enough to talk to Watterson. and now for something completely different....
notes: quotes by Bill Watterson and some other relevant quotes are in the comments. if you like those quotes, Watterson’s interviews are definitely worth checking out.
notes: quotes by Bill Watterson and some other relevant quotes are in the comments. if you like those quotes, Watterson’s interviews are definitely worth checking out.