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I’m A Snowflake On The Wind
Bill Watterson and “Calvin and Hobbes” are two of the primary reasons I started making comics. Those of you who donate or subscribe to The Vault, have seen my earlier attempts to emulate his work (“it’s like Calvin and Hobbes but with a robot instead of a tiger!”).
I don’t know of a cartoonist that doesn’t list Watterson in his top three influences, so I won’t bore you with my treatise on how his work sparked my young imagination and ignited a lifelong love of comic strips and cartooning. I bet he wouldn’t be too thrilled with me aping his style to make a Joss Whedon/Serenity reference, nor would I be shocked if he didn’t get said reference.
I always looked forward to his snowman strips because they straddled a line between childlike innocence and subversion. I guess that same can be said for the whole of “Calvin and Hobbes,” but those particular strips (along with Spaceman Spiff) resonated loudly with me. My favorite was the snowmen looking on in horror after another snowman had been hit by Dad’s car.
Calvin’s Dad was a patent attorney. “The More You Knoooow!”
Tags: bill watterson, calvin and hobbes, firefly, joss whedon, serenity, wash
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December 29th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Great comic! And a great tribute to a great comic series.
December 29th, 2008 at 2:17 am
Seconded!
December 29th, 2008 at 2:17 am
Seconded! Or is it thirded?
December 29th, 2008 at 3:22 am
Watterson's pretty cool, so I think he got the reference. And it's great! I loved the strip too and still wish he was doing it.
December 29th, 2008 at 3:42 am
/Great/ strip. Its well executed, hilarious, and beautifully sad. Those strips were the closest thing I had to holy growing up. Wonderful.
December 29th, 2008 at 3:52 am
All I can suggest, sir, is that you go 跟猴子比丟屎・跟猴子比丢屎 ("gun HOE-tze bee DIO-se")!
December 29th, 2008 at 5:13 am
[insert words I couldn't find to describe the brilliance and awesomeness of this strip]
-D
December 29th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Because he dies in a horrible way? teehee
December 29th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Next'd!
December 29th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Cuz he's round and bald and meeting his doom?
December 29th, 2008 at 5:42 am
jesus fuck even I will *next'd* this one.
December 29th, 2008 at 6:16 am
That is so wrong! And awesome.
December 29th, 2008 at 6:25 am
This is without a doubt the most amazing thing ever!
December 29th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very well done. Very.
December 29th, 2008 at 6:38 am
c'mon. every comic cant be a shirt. It would be a decent print though.
December 29th, 2008 at 6:39 am
sadder for Calvin or Wash?
December 29th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Hah! Double Sad!
December 29th, 2008 at 6:40 am
translation: "Even I, the guy that hates this piece of shit comic, thought this was less than shitty."
December 29th, 2008 at 6:41 am
All of the above.
December 29th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Calvin's Dad Unfair!
December 29th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Cool yes, but also a curmudgeonly hermit. I seriously wouldnt be shocked if his disdain for media has prevented him from watching TV or seeing movies for 20 years.
December 29th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Wash, for sure. D:
December 29th, 2008 at 6:44 am
this would actually make an awesome white hoodie
December 29th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Dont forget the Captain's behind the scenes eff-ups: ""gun HOE-tze bee DIO-se-fuck-fuckity-shit-fuck!"
December 29th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Boner. The word is boner. Perhaps bonersplode.
December 29th, 2008 at 6:46 am
i couldnt get one more "very"? just one more?
December 29th, 2008 at 7:34 am
No, but as you're producing shirts to order how easily could you adapt the strips (or specific frames thereof) to a shirt-printable format?
Obviously such bespoke orders would garner a slightly higher fee
but how could would it be to have your favourite strip as a shirt!!
December 29th, 2008 at 7:37 am
You would have, if only the strip was coloured. Too bad.
December 29th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Pour Serenity joke into Calvin and Hobbes mold, chill until frozen, serve (being careful of any protruding sharpness
December 29th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I want to marry this comic! Nice work!
December 29th, 2008 at 8:46 am
This might just be the best HE comic I've read…I stopped reading any print comics after Watterson retired, and this just brought back beautiful memories. Thanks much, Joel.
December 29th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I- I can't look! To many sad memories!
*cries in a corner*
(but in a good way)
December 29th, 2008 at 9:11 am
*slow claps*
Please Joel, pleeeease make that into a T-shirt!
December 29th, 2008 at 9:16 am
glad you liked it. I feel the same way. people talk about how newspaper comics are starting to die:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/business/media/...
but I think they died when Calvin did.
December 29th, 2008 at 9:18 am
why bother. California will just repeal your right to do so.
December 29th, 2008 at 9:20 am
that's a recipe for a sadsicle.
December 29th, 2008 at 9:21 am
ummm….
I….
i have no idea where to start.
Bless you.
December 29th, 2008 at 9:26 am
PLEASE tell me you're not serious…
December 29th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Well done, sir. Not only did you make me nostalgic for the days of actually wanting to read the comics section of the newspaper, but you brought a tear to my eye with the Serenity reference.
December 29th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I also think mini-"Calivin"-ized-Joel is adorable.
December 29th, 2008 at 9:45 am
This is either an extremely clever comment, or one entirely full of fail.
December 29th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Yes, child-sized Joel is full of win
December 29th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Maybe I'll just elope to Canada, eh? Of course they'll have to be ok with polygamy too.
December 29th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Let's hope its the first choice.
December 29th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Correct.
In fact, this is one of your least shitty, ever. Don't make me turn this into a real compliment, it will ruin my reputation on the show.
December 29th, 2008 at 10:23 am
But you built a perfect mold, man. Out of awesome!
Also, you got posted on Whedonesque:
http://whedonesque.com/comments/18495
December 29th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Great holiday cartoon, can't think why the snowman would remind me of Josh tho…
December 29th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Haha, I love this one. I always loved the snowmen strips from Calvin & Hobbes, as well.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:15 am
That's what Utah's for.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Now you need to work that word into a non-pr0n HE comic.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Commodore 64'd
December 29th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
This is a total rip off of Calvin & Hobbes, jerk!
December 30th, 2008 at 1:10 am
You're so loving and supportive of your friend's venture
December 30th, 2008 at 3:32 am
I'd buy it in a heartbeat! Tiny Joel is adorable!
December 30th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Reading ftw!
December 30th, 2008 at 4:45 am
Calvin and Hobbes is #1 of my top three comic strips.
December 29th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
This is the greatest comic ever and the best C&H reference since the very disturbing Robot Chicken segment I saw some time ago…..
December 30th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Wow – combining Calvin and Hobbes with Firefly/Serenity with a touch of Hijinks Ensue magic – must be Christmas!
December 30th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Touche!
December 31st, 2008 at 4:01 am
Ooooh, burned.
December 31st, 2008 at 4:35 am
I'm surprised there are so few negative comments. I guess I'm just one of those rare individuals who doesn't enjoy looking at bastardized versions of calvin & Hobbes combined with references to mediocre Sci- Fi?
December 31st, 2008 at 5:07 am
Yeah because an homage of a beloved comic that ended more than 10 years ago is SACRILEGE! And I would love to see what you think great or even good Sci-Fi is.
You know what they say about opinions, and I guess yours is a particularly self-righteous asshole.
December 31st, 2008 at 5:48 am
Really? Your surprised that the people that read and enjoy this comic dont make more negative comments? I guess that's what you would expect from the internet in general, but whats the point of chiming in just to ruin everyone else's fun? If you don't like the comic, forget about it and move on to something you do like. There's plenty of internet out there. Maybe you'll find a site that appreciates your negativity, but it isn't welcomed here.
December 31st, 2008 at 5:48 am
Really? You're surprised that the people that read and enjoy this comic dont make more negative comments? I guess that's what you would expect from the internet in general, but what's the point of chiming in just to ruin everyone else's fun? If you don't like the comic, forget about it and move on to something you do like. There's plenty of internet out there. Maybe you'll find a site that appreciates your negativity, but it isn't welcomed here.
December 31st, 2008 at 6:28 am
Thanks, Janell. I appreciate the compliment.
December 31st, 2008 at 6:30 am
The other 2?
When I was 7 it was Calvin, Dennis the Mennace and Farside.
Later I enjoyed Zits, and The Norm but that was probably the end of my affair with newsprint comics.
December 31st, 2008 at 6:30 am
Whedon bless us, every one.
December 31st, 2008 at 8:50 am
Okay, maybe I was a little harsh. (I didn't call anyone an asshole at least) For what it's worth, I was actually surprised that there weren't any real critical comments. If I can elaborate, I just don't like that show/movie but I do like Calvin and Hobbes. Homages are made out of respect for the original. Combining two things you like which have nothing to do with each other doesn't necessarily make it a homage and I think you made my point when you said Bill Watterson probably wouldn't get the reference.
I'm curious to know if anyone would like to defend those Calvin pissing on a truck logo stickers. The people who put those on their trucks probably like Calvin and Hobbes too but I doubt Mr. Watterson considers himself honored.
December 31st, 2008 at 9:15 am
Watterson has mentioned is several interviews that he's never licensed the character of Calvin for any merchandise (other than a calender and I believe one short lived t-shirt), and the "pissing on" logos get to him but they arent worth pursuing legal action.
The flaw you've pointed out in my gag (using one thing to make fun of an unrelated thing) is basically what HijiNKS Ensue is about. Some people enjoy it, and others don't and that's totally cool with me. The reason you don't see any criticism is that I have worked hard to foster a respectful and fun environment here and on the forum. The regular readers that post here are looking for geeky fun and negativity just brings every one down. What's the point?
If my readers have a problem with the content, or they are offended, they generally email me about it and always get a respectful response. Im not suggesting no one should criticize my work, but it should be done on a one on one basis. There's no reason to involve the community and ruin their fun.
Ive never understood the forum/comment common practice of "I HATE THIS AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW HOW CLEVER I AM WITH MY HATRED!!LOL11!!"
Im not saying that's what you did, but it's the reason the HE community doesn't tolerate negative posting.
Feel free to browse the archives and see if there are any comics to your liking. If you really want to air any grief with me, feel free to email.
Thanks,
Joel
December 31st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Okay, maybe I was a little harsh. (I didn’t call anyone an asshole at least) For what it’s worth, I was actually surprised that there weren’t any real critical comments. If I can elaborate, I just don’t like that show/movie but I do like Calvin and Hobbes. Homages are made out of respect for the original. Combining two things you like which have nothing to do with each other doesn’t necessarily make it a homage and I think you made my point when you said Bill Watterson probably wouldn’t get the reference.
I’m curious to know if anyone would like to defend those Calvin pissing on a truck logo stickers. The people who put those on their trucks probably like Calvin and Hobbes too but I doubt Bill Watterson considers himself honored.
January 1st, 2009 at 1:27 am
so you redraw calvin and hobbes but put a different title at the top?
January 1st, 2009 at 2:47 am
Nope, thats not what I did at all. Sorry if you didnt get the references or the joke. Its pretty specific, so I dont expect everyone to enjoy it.
January 1st, 2009 at 4:12 am
Egad Bad Dad!
January 1st, 2009 at 5:03 am
For the record I didnt call anyone an asshole, If you reread my post you will see that I called you (and your asshole) self-righteous
January 1st, 2009 at 10:14 am
I miss wash… (taps plays quietly in the distance)
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:47 am
Also, if anything about this were to make Bill Watterson mad, seeing that t-shirt would definitely be high on the list. He does. not. appreciate. the. mer
July 11th, 2009 at 5:09 am
[...] to leave PmConnectionManager running? It would be very nice for those who have used zeropoint46’s method to make it leave ip forwarding [...]
September 12th, 2009 at 12:26 am
My favourite C&H snowman comic was the one where the snowmen are arranged to look like one of them is eating ice cream while the other is dead on the floor and has an ice cream scoop sticking out of his back.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:15 am
[...] offering certain comics as larger prints in the store. Maybe 11X14 instead of 8.5X11. The Calvin and Hobbes/Wash/Firefly comic comes to [...]
November 11th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
[...] you interested in “I’m A Snowflake on The Wind” holiday cards? Are you interested in giant sized “Snowflake” comic prints? Those [...]