this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2024

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The invention (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 years ago by lawrence@lemmy.world to c/comicstrips@lemmy.world

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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 123 points 2 years ago (5 children)

You know what I love most about Bill Watterson, even more than his absolute genius at comics and amazing insight? The fact that he was never interested on making a bajillion dollars through merchandising. He was regularly offered to have companies make everything from plush Hobbes toys to Saturday morning cartoons and he turned them all down. He could have been as rich as Jim Davis (net worth $5.8 billion) but he cared about Calvin and Hobbes too much. And then, one day, he decided he didn't want to do it anymore before it got stale. So he quit.

So much respect for that guy.

Incidentally, a book just came out that he did the illustrations for. I haven't read it myself.

https://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/book/the-mysteries/

[–] Maeve@kbin.social 32 points 2 years ago

You’re right; he wasn’t greedy, so Calvin and Hobbes stayed pure. That’s why it never got yucky. Glad to know about the new book. Thanks for the head’s up!

[–] boyi@lemmy.sdf.org 23 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Jim Davis (net worth $5.8 billion)

Where did you get this figure? I can only find sources with figure about $800 million.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 41 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Ah! Sorry! I looked up the wrong Jim Davis. Apparently there is also a really rich Jim Davis who runs New Balance footwear.

Still, $800 million is filthy rich.

[–] moody@lemmings.world 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

There's also a Jim Davis who's a professional MTG player and content creator. I'm sure he's no billionaire though.

[–] Sotuanduso@lemm.ee 7 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Why are there so many Jim Davi? Did someone leave the factory running?

[–] moody@lemmings.world 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I think the correct plural is Jim Davises or Jims Davis. I think Jim Daves may also be acceptable.

[–] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

Jim Davi.

[–] hydrospanner@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I mean...have we ever seen them all in one place at the same time?

[–] boyi@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 2 years ago

no prob. that explains it.

[–] dditty@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I think of this every time I see a pickup with a window decal of Calvin peeing on the opposing truck Brand's logo. They are so common and all unauthorized usage! Also it's way more childish than Calvin would ever do.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

Calving praying is worse.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This is why I proudly have Stupendous Man tattooed on my body. The comic had such a profound role in my childhood. It's an honor to have such a special character on my skin, along with other important reminders of who I am as a person. Watterson is a hero for expanding the meaning of imagination.

[–] Rodeo@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 years ago

I feel like that's the kind of commodification Watterson would have frowned upon.

[–] turkalino@lemmy.yachts 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What about the millions of American cars that have pissing Calvin bumper stickers

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Not legally licensed.

https://triviahappy.com/articles/the-tasteless-history-of-the-peeing-calvin-decal#.U7R2vkJdVR4

[–] turkalino@lemmy.yachts 2 points 2 years ago

Sad!

[–] paddirn@lemmy.world 25 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Did Bill Watterson coin the term “simp”?

[–] Altofaltception@lemmy.world 39 points 2 years ago (2 children)

In this context I believe it was short for simpleton.

[–] rob_t_firefly@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago

Which is an old use of "simp," far predating the modern online slang. "Simp" short for "simpleton" was being thrown around school playgrounds in the early 1980s to my knowledge, maybe earlier than that.

[–] dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Isn't that the modern meaning of it as well? You'd have to be a simpleton to donate money to a titty streamer.

[–] Aggravationstation@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I've heard that it stands for "Sadly Idolising Mediocre Pussy" but that could be something that was coined after it started being used to describe internet simps.

[–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 17 points 2 years ago

Behold Ronald, in his only named appearance!

[–] aeki@slrpnk.net 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Ohh those pencil sharpeners on the wall, such nostalgia.

[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Do they not have those anymore? 👴

[–] ThatWeirdGuy1001@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I haven't been in school for 10 years now and they were being replaced by electric sharpeners even then

[–] turbowafflz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

My high school had them in every room at least until last year when I graduated. And they weren't like old leftover ones or anything, the building is only about 12 years old

[–] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I mean, they worked, they weren't difficult to use and you didn't have to worry about batteries, electrical hookups, fried motors, etc. As long as you're still using pencils, why not use hand-cranked pencil sharpeners?

[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yeah, an electric pencil sharpener seems like a huge waste of money

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

They're about the same price.

[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 1 points 2 years ago

Maybe at time of purchase. I can almost guarantee the old school one will last longer and cost less over its lifetime.

[–] therealjcdenton@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 years ago

That's funny