After decades as one of the most beloved and reclusive artists in the world, Bill Watterson is back, with The Mysteries! Described as “A fairy tale for grown ups”, it’s a collaboration with famed artist John Kascht.
Bill Watterson, bestselling creator of the beloved comic strip Calvin &Hobbes, and John Kascht, one of America’s most renowned illustrators, create a “fairy tale for grownups.” a mysterious and beautifully illustrated fable about what lies beyond human understanding.
For the book’s illustrations, Watterson and caricaturist John Kascht worked together for several years in unusually close collaboration. Both artists abandoned their past ways of working, inventing images together that neither could anticipate—a mysterious process in its own right. Some examples have been released, seen above.
John Kascht’s satirical drawings have appeared on the pages or covers of: TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Time, The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, LIFE, Forbes, Oprah, and MAD magazine, among others. His work has also appeared on book covers, billboards, Broadway marquees “and more than a few cocktail napkins.”
Bill Watterson is the creator of Calvin &Hobbes, one of the most popular and well-regarded cartoon strips of the twentieth century. Calvin &Hobbes appeared in newspapers from November 1985 until Watterson’s retirement in 1995. Watterson is the youngest person to win the Reuben Award, is honored on a US postage stamp, is among the most syndicated comic artists of all time, and collections of his work continue to sell millions worldwide today. Since his retirement he only surfaces for brief appearances, like a tribute to Charles Schultz. He still paints every day.
“…a long-ago kingdom is afflicted with unexplainable calamities,” reads the publisher’s description of the book. “Hoping to end the torment, the king dispatches his knights to discover the source of the mysterious events. Years later, a single battered knight returns.”
The Mysteries is out on October 10, 2023 (more on this as it becomes available). The book is from Andrews McMeel Publishing. You can pre-order it now by following this link Amazon. (Add the Complete Calvin and Hobbes.)
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David Raiklen wrote, directed and scored his first film at age 9. He began studying keyboard and composing at age 5. He attended, then taught at UCLA, USC and CalArts. Among his teachers are John Williams and Mel Powel.
He has worked for Fox, Disney and Sprint. David has received numerous awards for his work, including the 2004 American Music Center Award. Dr. Raiklen has composed music and sound design for theater (Death and the Maiden), dance (Russian Ballet), television (Sing Me a Story), cell phone (Spacey Movie), museums (Museum of Tolerance), concert (Violin Sonata ), and film (Appalachian Trail).
His compositions have been performed at the Hollywood Bowl and the first Disney Hall. David Raiken is also host of a successful radio program, Classical Fan Club.
