Bill Watterson

Bill Watterson--creator of Calvin and Hobbes (http://mysite.verizon.net/vzesvylf/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/billheader.gif)

Calvin and Hobbes—an awesome comic strip created by the one and only Bill Watterson. He has inspired me by his fantastic drawing skills and his witty jokes. Although one might not think this is “educational”, it is. Bill Watterson uses many vocabulary words in his comic strips, as well as some math and science facts. He’s a smart fellow, believe me.

William B. “Bill” Watterson II was born July 5, 1958, in Washington, D.C. On 1980, Watterson graduated from Kenyon College, with a BA in political science. Soon, the Cincinnati Post offered him a job drawing cartoons. During the first few months, Watterson was fired from his job. Hard to believe.

Calvin and Hobbes (http://www.thegreenhead.com/imgs/Complete-Calvin-Hobbes.gif)

While drawing Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson worked on grocery ads. On November 18, 1985, the first Calvin and Hobbes was published. His family was very much involved in the comics. For example, Calvin’s father’s urges to “build character” came from Watterson’s own father, and Sprite, Bill’s cat, encouraged the physical features and personality of Hobbes.

Bill Watterson spent a large part of his life trying to change the climate of newspaper comics. He opined that art should not be judged by “high art” and “low art.” Watterson was awarded the National Cartoonists Society Humor Comic Strip Award in 1988, and awarded the society's Reuben Award in 1986. Wow. However, Watterson has refrained from creating any more of Calvin and Hobbes. Sigh, I wonder why. He was such a great artist and a teacher, in a way.