No More Calvin & Hobbes...

They say that life is about change, and that a person's maturity can be measured by the ability to adapt to change. If so, we're in an immature state of mind at the moment. Bill Watterson has stopped writing Calvin & Hobbes and we are heartbroken. In fact, we feel like heaving our heads back and throwing our mouths open as wide as they will go and emitting a Calvin-like scream... Aaghhghhh! When we first heard the rumors, we couldn't believe it was true. This can't be happening. There's a law somewhere against this...

But, unfortunately it was true, Watterson had decided to retire from Calvin & Hobbes. This engaging chronicle of a six-year-old's psyche, appeared in more than 2,400 newspapers when it ceased publication January 1, 1996. Since it was first syndicated in 1985, Calvin and Hobbes gained worldwide appeal. More than 23 million Calvin and Hobbes books are in print, and each of the 14 book collections has been a million-seller within the first year of publication. The collection, The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book, was published in the fall of 1995 by Andrews and McMeel and was a New York Times #1 Best-seller. It remained on best-seller lists across the country for weeks after publication.

In a letter to newspaper editors announcing his retirement, Watterson stated: "This is not a recent or easy decision, and I leave with some sadness. My interests have shifted, however, and 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. I have not yet decided on future projects, but my relationship with Universal Press Syndicate will continue." A copy of the actual letter can bee seen below.

We wish him the best of luck with his new projects!

And finally: Here is the last Calvin & Hobbes strip Watterson made: