Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for March 31, 2013

Phantasy is not far away from reality!

I like today’s Calvin and Hobbes because it also says a lot about the adult Bill Watterson.Calvin is ahead of his time, absorbed in the future. Bill Watterson was ahead of his time as a cartoonist, like his heroes/mentors George Herriman (Krazy Kat), Walt Kelly (Pogo), and Charles Schulz (Peanuts) before him.Calvin is most creative when he is lost in the world of his own imagination, disconnected from the “real” world. Similarly, Bill Watterson’s creativity depended on him being disconnected from the rest of the world to a large extent.Calvin lets out a sigh at the end of today’s strip, because he is being brought out of his own world and into the “real” world, against his will. Similarly, I can picture Bill Watterson sighing like this when he has been forced to deal with the “real” world, rather than being left alone in his own world where he has always been the most comfortable.Calvin’s imagination is pure genius. Bill Watterson’s imagination is pure genius. But then, come to think of it, Calvin’s imagination is…….. Bill Watterson’s imagination.

Click here: FoxTrot (October 4, 2011)Today isn’t the first time that Calvin didn’t hear what his Mom was saying. Remember this one? It’s a very early strip that we read during the reruns of the sabbatical reruns a couple of years ago.Click here: Calvin and Hobbes (June 18, 1986)Click here: Red and Rover (November 24, 2012)Click here: Peanuts (April 15, 1965)Click here: Pearls Before Swine (January 5, 2008)

Calvin meets the Flintstones

“Reality is a major cause of stress for those in touch with it.” Lily Tomlin

Gotta love 2213 Calvin and Hobbes LOL

He really gets into his day dreams,make believe,whatever.

Mom knows about Calvins mind drifting from the present so she may know the truth about Hobbes ?

Calvin’s nothing like George’s boy, Elroy, but Watterson must have loved The Jetsons, as I do.

Bill Watterson is 54, so he’s the right age to have grown up watching the Jetsons.

Hi Snoopster. Glad to see that you are still here.

I know that “Where are all my Cool FUTURE Tech Stuff?!?!” feeling too, sadly…-If I knew Reality’s address, I go over to it’s house and give it a GOOD BLOODY BEATING every week… for messing-up everyone’s (what could have been a very cool) future.

Futurerologists have been promising us personal rocket packs for decades now.I want mine while I’m still young enough to enjoy it!And they’d better hurry, cuz I ain’t that young!

Why are all the comments made in groups, timewise?

I wonder if Hobbes and Astro would get along?

That was way, way better than The Jetsons.

In the future (the one that people who grew up in the 1960s thought would happen), I bet the robots still couldn’t control Calvin’s hair.

We were heading towards that glorious Jetson’s future until the Vietnam war, greed, more wars, greed, more wars, the Patriot Act, the Surveillance State, societal dumbing down, Gen X, Y, and Z… until all of those got in the way. Maybe in another 1000 years. We missed the chance.

There’s a TV antenna on their roof. You mean to tell me that with all that gadgetry, they still don’t have cable?

I <3 Jetsons!

This is so cool! A lot of The Jetsons’s in this one. So much detail, Mr. Watterson was just brilliant here. Just fun.

Note that digital TV hasn’t been invented yet. The picture is rolling like in the old analog days, and the robot is trying to adjust the vertical hold.

Good to see you again Hobbes.

lovely boy

Tim Wilson wonders “where the (bleep) is my jet pack?”Google it.

Gotta love mom’s “waist rings” and epaulettes! She looks like she’s ready to lead the crew of the Enterprise against the Klingons!

BTW: wonder if Amazon stocks those “Boy-o-matic” units?! I’d love one for those for mornings when I’m running late (which is usually everyday!).

This is one of my favorite comics. I would spend so much time just looking at all the details as a kid. Amazing work.

George Herriman (Krazy Kat), Walt Kelly (Pogo), and Charles Schulz (Peanuts)I would have added Al Capp (Li’l Abner) to this list.

I’d like to add to “Hobbes” comments up there: Watterson’s artwork was always at its most … impressive … when Calvin was daydreaming. Spaceman Spiff Sunday strips are my favorite art-wise! (Thanks, too, for the links to the other memborable strips, Hobbes.)

Hi Tacopielvr. Red and Rover is a wonderful current strip, set in the 1960s, with some very nice artwork. Here is one of my favorites:Click here: Red and Rover (September 4, 2011)

They promised us jetpacks.

Actually, would Calvin really like that future? I mean, with the robots watching you all the time, how would you get away with anything? It is a brilliant strip, though.

Hi GROG. Could make it hard to get work done at times. But that’s not always a bad thing.

Hi, Hobbes. Which is why that – and certain other prints – are not hanging on my office wall at the plant.

I’ve always loved Basset’s Sunday strip art. I have a few from Red & Rover and Adam @ Home.

I’ve added this one to my “buy a print” queue. Eventually this one will be gracing one of my walls.

@GROG: Sounds like you may have to start buying additional walls before too long.

Women’s clothes of the future always has odd shoulder and skirt outfits and look like they would be painful to wear sitting down.

Thanks, AStarofDestiny and others. Happy Easter to you too.

I wish I could get ready for school like that…

Would I love a morning machine like that!