Classic Peanuts should have a companion

Every Sunday I read classic Peanuts and continue to admire how relevant and timeless the strip is. But it got me to thinking about other comic strips that could be just as good today as during their heyday.

There is only one other comic that I can think of that could still work day in and day out as a "classic" offering like the fine work of Mr. Schultz. Sure, the syndicates could probably get away with throwing old Garfields, Wizard of IDs and Beetle Baileys out there without many people suspecting, but that is because for the most part, they are bland and don't really speak to reader on any significant level. There is no spiritual or philosophical depth to those strips.

Now, I have a feeling that most of you are catching onto where I am heading with this, and have a good idea of which particular strip I am talking about. If you don't, I will spell it out: Calvin and Hobbes. Even though I have almost all the books for this strip, I still miss seeing it week in and week out, and it sort of saddens me that a whole generation of kids may be missing out on this wonderfully well-thought out strip.

I know that Bill Watterson grew tired of having to meet the deadlines and fight for the integrity of his work, and while I was saddened at the time that he decided to move on, in adulthood, I now understand his decision, and respect it. He knew that there was going to be a point where the comic was going to slide into a safe, comfortable mediocrity, or he was going to be pressured to make compromises he thought would ruin the strip. In retirement, he can now pursue his artistic whims with total freedom and probably just as importantly, with some privacy as well, and I can't begrudge him that.

After he retired, I also learned that he fought battles to have his strip run the way he wanted so that he would have the artistic freedom to try new things and experiment visually with his elements, and some of my favorite comics from the series are the result of this fight.

Watterson showed great admiration for Peanuts, and demonstrates his modesty when he wrote: "May there someday be a writer-artist-philosopher-humorist who can fill even a part of the void "Peanuts" leaves behind." Because at least in my eyes, Calvin and Hobbes was my generation's Peanuts, and even after over a decade away, I wish there was more. Or at least a reminder every day from an old, warm-hearted friend.

It was a magical world indeed.

Tags: calvin and hobbes, bill watterson, peanuts, charles schultz, sunday comics, artist, garfield, wizard of id, beetle bailey