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[Exotoro]

The story-line this week has a second grader taking over Stephan’s strip. Some have speculated that Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson is the drawing the strips. See examples from yesterday and today:

This week's Pearls strips will contain a mind-blowing surprise. I promise. pic.twitter.com/bzLS9zkBdF

— Stephan Pastis (@stephanpastis) June 2, 2014

Via

So what do you guys think? Apparently we'll get the answer on Saturday.

UPDATE: It has been confirmed. Check post 64.

 

[SmokeMaxX]

<3 Pearls Before Swine

 

[Elfforkusu]

The 2nd panel of the second strip is a dead giveaway...

Watterson's imagination >>> *

 

[Loxley]

It certainly looks a hell of a lot like his style, that second strip is straight-up Spaceman Spiff. If it's not him, it's a damn good imitation.

 

[vagabondarts]

I think it is, and let me say that it's awesome

 

[Kano on the Phone]

Yep. That's dope.

 

[PaulExcellent]

The one for today was pretty fantastic.
This little series is always neat, and this would make it even better. lol

 

[Warm Machine]

The joke in the second comic 3rd panel is a Watterson giveaway. That was his crusade.

 

[BronsonLee]

I could see it more likely just being an imitation. That being said..

The joke in the second comic 3rd panel is a Watterson giveaway. That was his crusade.

Bingo. I still remember the elaborate full page strip where Calvin has this Rube Goldberg Machine-esque plan to hit Susie in the face with a snowball. Dude wants the page.

 

[Pillville]

"I could do better if I had more space"

That sure sounds like him.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Watterson#Changing_the_format_of_the_Sunday_strip

One of the more common ways is to cut the top two panels out, which Watterson believed forced him to waste the space on throwaway jokes that did not always fit the strip. While he was set to return from his first sabbatical, Watterson discussed with his syndicate a new format for Calvin and Hobbes that would enable him to use his space more efficiently and would almost require the papers his strip ran in to publish it as a half-page.

 

[MisterHero]

The lettering is all over the place but that second strip clearly has Watterson's style.

Coloring seems kinda off.

 

[Enron]

Oh please let this be real ;_;

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

It's either him or heavily teasing that it's him.

 

[CrankyJay]

The 2nd panel of the second strip is a dead giveaway...

Watterson's imagination >>> *

yep

 

[alfredofroylan]

Next strip

 

[BronsonLee]

Next strip

LOL WHAT
Oh christ

 

[Pillville]

100% guaranteed.

 

[Vyroxis]

It's certainly seems his style. I would be amazed though, once he retired he hid himself away pretty well.

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

It's certainly seems his style. I would be amazed though, once he retired he hid himself away pretty well.

In the last year or two he's been poking his head up juuuust a little bit.

 

[Elfforkusu]

I didn't realize how much I wanted to read another Watterson comic strip.

Doesn't have to be C&H! Please just draw more comics, Bill!

 

[Mike M]

I'm inclined to think it's someone aping Watterson's style. Pearls Before Swine is an okay strip, but nothing earth-shaking. How would this guy get the access to Watterson to even pitch this idea? I can't believe a scenario where Watterson approached him first.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

A bit OT, but:
I need to watch that documentary on Watterson that's on Netflix.

Any good?

 

[lovely ladies]

The eyes and the exclamation mark seem to hint it's him, pretty cool if he did.

 

[The Technomancer]

I'm inclined to think it's someone aping Watterson's style. Pearls Before Swine is an okay strip, but nothing earth-shaking. How would this guy get the access to Watterson to even pitch this idea? I can't believe a scenario where Watterson approached him first.

Stephan is a pretty big guy in the comics scene (one of the biggest at the moment), and also an all around friendly, fun person. I wouldn't be surprised if he was able to get Watterson to do it

 

[Warm Machine]

I didn't realize how much I wanted to read another Watterson comic strip.

Doesn't have to be C&H! Please just draw more comics, Bill!

Chances are he has done a ton of drawing over the last 18 years. When he is ready he will dump it on the public. His skills have only improved over time so it is likely he had drawn something weekly.

What if this is all a teaser for a all new strip?

 

[mclem]

The croc lettering in the first panel reminded me of Moe's lettering in C&H...

 

[Mike M]

Stephan is a pretty big guy in the comics scene (one of the biggest at the moment), and also an all around friendly, fun person. I wouldn't be surprised if he was able to get Watterson to do it

Yeah, I haven't looked at a comics page in a decade, I have no idea what's going on these days.

I so want to believe that Watterson's growing tired of the hermitage thing. I have recurring dreams where new volumes of Calvin and Hobbes are released all the time : (

If he did a web comic, it's probably become the #1 strip overnight

 

[kirblar]

That's awesome.

*dreams of a Watterson-helmed Space Dandy episode*

 

[Bobby Roberts]

That's him.

Goddamn.

 

[Volimar]

I've seen so many people aping his style over the years, I've learned not to jump to conclusions.

 

[Secret Fawful]

If it isn't him, it's a damn good copy of his style.

 

[thefro]

I've seen so many people aping his style over the years, I've learned not to jump to conclusions.

Usually it's not as good as this when people ape his style though.

 

[mre]

Looks like him to me, as well!

 

[Walter White Walker]

Either him or his doppleganger.

 

[Mike M]

Usually it's not as good as this when people ape his style though.

Maybe not when they do *Calvin and Hobbes* specifically, but when applied to other subjects, they can be pretty good.

(EDIT: Actually, this looks like it may be a straight trace job...)

 

[V_Ben]

If it isn't him, someone is doing a damn good impression of his style. Whoa.

 

[subrock]

Next strip

Those girls are straight up Archie

 

[Intheflorsh]

The lettering is a perfect match, it has to be him.

 

[dorkimoe]

A bit OT, but:
I need to watch that documentary on Watterson that's on Netflix.

Any good?

its alright. No new information on anything. They talk more about the art of comics. I was hoping for them hunting him down haha.

Worth a watch if you love comics

 

[sixteen-bit]

Those girls are straight up Archie

definitely evocative of archie comics

 

[MisterHero]

Those girls are straight up Archie

Betty/Veronica/Josie?

 

[Snkfanatic]

Wow really does look like his style.

 

[super-heated plasma]

I just watched it a couple nights ago. Was interesting. The thing that worries me is what will happen when he passes. When interviewing the guy in charge of the syndication, he said they have the contractual right to license out Calvin and Hobbes, and only didn't because they didn't want to upset Bill. By doing so they left hundreds of millions on the table. When Watterson is out of the picture, I'm afraid Calvin and Hobbes will be everywhere, and the commercialism will finally ruin it.

 

[Vyroxis]

I just watched it a couple nights ago. Was interesting. The thing that worries me is what will happen when he passes. When interviewing the guy in charge of the syndication, he said they have the contractual right to license out Calvin and Hobbes, and only didn't because they didn't want to upset Bill. By doing so they left hundreds of millions on the table. When Watterson is out of the picture, I'm afraid Calvin and Hobbes will be everywhere, and the commercialism will finally ruin it.

I thought bill had final say in merchandising, and he told them to stuff it?

 

[ManDudeChild]

I thought bill had final say in merchandising, and he told them to stuff it?

Dead people can't say no

 

[Massive Nights]

It's certainly seems his style. I would be amazed though, once he retired he hid himself away pretty well.

He recently done the cover art for the cartooning documentary 'Stripped', he also done an audio interview it.

 

[Makai]

I just watched it a couple nights ago. Was interesting. The thing that worries me is what will happen when he passes. When interviewing the guy in charge of the syndication, he said they have the contractual right to license out Calvin and Hobbes, and only didn't because they didn't want to upset Bill. By doing so they left hundreds of millions on the table. When Watterson is out of the picture, I'm afraid Calvin and Hobbes will be everywhere, and the commercialism will finally ruin it.

It's already everywhere anyway. I have seen a million unlicensed T-shirts. I don't think official commercialism would ruin it. I remember how much I wanted a Calvin and Hobbes movie or tv show as a kid,

 

[RurouniZel]

That's awesome.

*dreams of a Watterson-helmed Space Dandy episode*

Why'd you have to put this idea in my head. Now I totally want one to! :-/

 

[Valhelm]

Did Stephan Pastis' wife actually leave him?

 

[chubigans]

This is so him. Now I'll be disappointed if it isn't, hah.