For the two greatest of TP's homiez to have had the plug pulled in my lifetime: Calvin & Hobbes. There's an interesting article from CNN on the intensely private creator, Mr. Bill Watterson, of the greatest comic strip ever.
I was fascinated to learn that the strip is modeled after Watterson's own life in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. I'd always had the strong sense that C&H was set somewhere in the Midwest, though I never knew exactly where. Maybe like Springfield, it's better not to know.
The article notes,
Watterson ended the strip on December 31, 1995, with a statement: "I believe I've done what I can do within the constraints of daily deadlines and small panels. I am eager to work at a more thoughtful pace, with fewer artistic compromises."
The last strip shows Calvin and Hobbes sledding off after a new fallen snow. "It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy ... let's go exploring!" Calvin says in the final two panels.
Calvin & Hobbes, simply the best ever. We here at TP salute you, Mr. Watterson, and we salute you too, Spaceman Spiff, and above all, we salute you Mr. Hobbes, you whose misanthropy rivals that of your namesake.
To you we pay homage from the words of Pete Rock and CL Smooth: "Not an imitator but a crowd motivator/it's time to get wrecked with the Creator."
Calvin and Hobbes were beyond great. Our paper is rerunning the strip, which makes me very happy.
On a football note: Dolphins lost! Jets lost. Let's be happy for the Bears, shall we?
Posted by: Citations | October 25, 2005 at 12:12 AM
Dolphins have been losing for a while, now. It's going to take Saban some time to turn things around down there. The Jets, however, are just beginning their slide, especially if Pennington can't come back. They have age at key positions (Martin, Mawae).
Bears, schmears.
Posted by: TP | October 25, 2005 at 11:15 AM
If the Dolphins hadn't made such a HUGE mistake in hiring Wannstedt, they'd be in much better shape now.
But gosh, you think the Jets are old? I mean, Vinnie's only 43! (Which is 74992 in football years.)
Somehow "Bears, shmears" doesn't seem to rhyme...
Posted by: Citations | October 25, 2005 at 02:50 PM
I saw this too. Very interesting article.
Also, I was in Barnes & Noble this past weekend and saw the 3 volume complete set of C&H-- it's awesome!! I sat and read several pages. Great stuff.
Posted by: Coob | October 25, 2005 at 10:30 PM
Hey Coob,
Nice to see you around again. C&H is the best ever.
Posted by: TP | October 28, 2005 at 09:33 AM