They indulge in exaggaration and absurdity, helping us to see the world with fresh eyes and reminding us how important it is to play and be silly. Comics depict the ordinary, mundane events of our lives and help us remember the importance of tiny moments. They cleverly sum up our unexpressed thoughts and emotions. Sometimes they show the world from the perspective of children and animals, encouraging us to be innocent for a moment. The best comics, that is to say, are fun house mirrors that distort appearances only to help us recognize, and laught at, our essential characteristics.
Surprise is the essence of humor, and nothing is more surprising than truth.
When cartoons dig beyond glib punch lines, cheap sentimentality, and tidy stories to depper, truthful experiences, they can really touch people and connect us all. As frustrated as I am by the way this business works, I continue to believe that comics are an art form capable of any level of beauty, intelligence, and sophistication. I've written and drawn over three thousand 'Calvin and Hobbes' strips now, and to the extent that the strip reflects my interests, values, and thoughts, my cartoons are a sort of self-portrait. The longer I've worked, the more I've used the strip to explore personal issues. When I come up with an idea that surprises me, I'm happy to offer it to anyone who shares my interests.