Sunday, October 19, 2003

THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY

Today's Non Sequitur comic is a total emulation (dare I say rip off) of Calvin and Hobbes, in form, style and substance. Imagine Calvin as Danae (the girl), Hobbes as the horse, and Calvin's Dad as the father. The dialogue transfers perfectly. The first frame depicting an imaginary scene that amusingly segues into the 'real' scene is completely a device developed by Bill Waterson. The use of the animal to satirize human nature was, well not invented by Waterson, used supremely well in comic strip form by him. The interplay between Danae and her father is totally reminiscent of that between Calvin and his Dad. The cynical line at the end is totally Calvin.

Bill Waterson's cartooning in the eighties and early nineties truly re-invented and established the new standards of cartooning. Few can match his brilliance except through emulation.

Posted by Matthew @ 3:49 a.m.