This study explores the genre of newspaper comic strips through the lens
of 'Calvin and Hobbes' by Bill Watterson. Published between 1985 and
1995, the series was translated into over thirty languages and continues
its road of success around the world. Watterson's popularly acclaimed
series demonstrates his artistic intention for the genre of newspaper
comics to go beyond light entertainment. In his short comic strips, he
creates pieces of art which address universal concerns in a humorous
way. The examination of Watterson's comics is based on the historic
evolution of newspaper comic strips and the general conventions of
underlying artistic narrative and visual techniques in graphic
representations. In 'Calvin and Hobbes', the comic strip artist makes
use of these conventions but also transcends them to sketch a world in
which postmodern ideas are reflected and parodied.