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clavus · 04-24-2003, 03:57 PM

Bill Watterson drew the amazing comic strip Calvin & Hobbes from 1985 to 1995. He resisted all efforts to merchandise the characters. There were no official Hobbes plush tiger toys, no Calvin-ball game sets and no Calvin stickers to affix to the back of your Pontiac Fiero.

Right about the time asinine the “baby on board” stickers moved off our cultural rear window, unofficial Calvin & Hobbes stickers affixed themselves instead. First it was just the happy kid and his tiger. But that quickly changed to a picture of Calvin urinating.

Calvin peed on everything – NASCAR numbers, Raiders logos, Chevy emblems, you name it. There was even a sticker with Calvin in a sombrero whizzing on “La Migra.” I doubt it occurred to anyone who thought a picture of Calvin peeing was a neat thing to have on their car, but they were ripping off Bill Watterson.

Mr. Watterson owned the copyright, and he didn’t make a dime for those stickers. And (to stick with the urine-theme) those stickers pissed him off.

As if defacing the mighty Calvin by making him a NASCAR fan wasn’t enough, now there is a new trend in these rip-off Calvin stickers – Calvin & Jesus. I see these things all over the backs of expensive SUVs and minivans: Calvin praying, Calvin kneeling at the cross, Calvin crying in front a crucifix, Calvin with a Bible…

Listen, people - just because you are Christians, doesn’t mean you get to steal. These unofficial stickers rip off Bill Watterson and pervert his creation just as badly as the stickers with Calvin peeing on a 49ers logo. The only difference is that you are using your stolen design to promote a religion which tells you not to steal in the first place.

Wouldn’t it be simpler to spray paint “Hypocrite” on your tailgate?

Am I the only one pissed off by this?

04-24-2003, 03:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
clavus pow! Location: NorCal	Calvin, Hobbes, and Chirst...CHRIST! Bill Watterson drew the amazing comic strip Calvin & Hobbes from 1985 to 1995. He resisted all efforts to merchandise the characters. There were no official Hobbes plush tiger toys, no Calvin-ball game sets and no Calvin stickers to affix to the back of your Pontiac Fiero. Right about the time asinine the “baby on board” stickers moved off our cultural rear window, unofficial Calvin & Hobbes stickers affixed themselves instead. First it was just the happy kid and his tiger. But that quickly changed to a picture of Calvin urinating. Calvin peed on everything – NASCAR numbers, Raiders logos, Chevy emblems, you name it. There was even a sticker with Calvin in a sombrero whizzing on “La Migra.” I doubt it occurred to anyone who thought a picture of Calvin peeing was a neat thing to have on their car, but they were ripping off Bill Watterson. Mr. Watterson owned the copyright, and he didn’t make a dime for those stickers. And (to stick with the urine-theme) those stickers pissed him off. As if defacing the mighty Calvin by making him a NASCAR fan wasn’t enough, now there is a new trend in these rip-off Calvin stickers – Calvin & Jesus. I see these things all over the backs of expensive SUVs and minivans: Calvin praying, Calvin kneeling at the cross, Calvin crying in front a crucifix, Calvin with a Bible… Listen, people - just because you are Christians, doesn’t mean you get to steal. These unofficial stickers rip off Bill Watterson and pervert his creation just as badly as the stickers with Calvin peeing on a 49ers logo. The only difference is that you are using your stolen design to promote a religion which tells you not to steal in the first place. Wouldn’t it be simpler to spray paint “Hypocrite” on your tailgate? Am I the only one pissed off by this? __________________ Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.