4 ms·

Taking a comic strip online in 1988 would have not been a smart move -- nobody would have been able to read it.

by freeone3000 6y ago

jefftk 6y ago
Waterson ended Calvin and Hobbes at the end of 1995; slightly early for moving online but not by much.
- joshmaker 6y ago
  > In 1995, the Pew Research Center did just that, finding 14% of U.S. adults with internet access.4 Most were using slow, dial-up modem connections—just 2% of internet users were comparatively screaming along with an expensive 28.8 modem. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2014/02/27/part-1-how-the-internet-has-woven-itself-into-american-life/ https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2014/02/27/part-1-how-t...
  - jefftk 6y ago
    I can't tell where you think we disagree?
    - freeone3000 6y ago
      if 86% of households don't have internet, it's much too early for launching a comic strip, not merely slightly. This sets aside the fact that revenue streams were not present for comics on the internet, as monetized webpages did not exist yet. He was paid by newspapers directly. It's an absurdity to give up 70% distribution and a guaranteed paycheck for 14% maximum distribution and no income stream at all.
      - jefftk 6y ago
        > monetized webpages did not exist yet The first banner ad was 1994; By the end of 1995, when he would have been deciding to go online, internet advertising was definitely a thing people were aware of. On the other hand, Waterson hated advertising. > 70% distribution ... 14% maximum distribution These numbers are not comparable: 70% is the fraction of newspapers he was in, but not everyone got a newspaper. > It's an absurdity to give up 70% distribution and a guaranteed paycheck for 14% maximum distribution and no income stream at all. He was done with newspapers, so he was giving up that guaranteed paycheck regardless. His alternative, which he took, was retiring.
- webmaven 6y ago
  > Waterson ended Calvin and Hobbes at the end of 1995; slightly early for moving online but not by much. Dilbert was the first syndicated comic online that same year. As for whether Waterson could/would/should have done the same, why would he if he was ending the strip anyway?
  - jefftk 6y ago
    Waterson talked about how he was unhappy with the constraints of the newspapers; it's possible that he would have found webcomics, with essentially no restrictions, interesting enough to keep going?
    - spc476 6y ago
      He also said he had said what he wanted with Calvin and Hobbes, and all that was left was variations on a theme, over and over again. Might as well end on a high note and be remembered, rather than just fade into the background, like Peanuts.

Taking a comic strip online in 1988 would have not been a smart move -- nobody would have been able to read it.

jefftk 6y ago

Waterson ended Calvin and Hobbes at the end of 1995; slightly early for moving online but not by much.

joshmaker 6y ago
> In 1995, the Pew Research Center did just that, finding 14% of U.S. adults with internet access.4 Most were using slow, dial-up modem connections—just 2% of internet users were comparatively screaming along with an expensive 28.8 modem. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2014/02/27/part-1-how-the-internet-has-woven-itself-into-american-life/ https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2014/02/27/part-1-how-t...
- jefftk 6y ago
  I can't tell where you think we disagree?
  - freeone3000 6y ago
    if 86% of households don't have internet, it's much too early for launching a comic strip, not merely slightly. This sets aside the fact that revenue streams were not present for comics on the internet, as monetized webpages did not exist yet. He was paid by newspapers directly. It's an absurdity to give up 70% distribution and a guaranteed paycheck for 14% maximum distribution and no income stream at all.
    - jefftk 6y ago
      > monetized webpages did not exist yet The first banner ad was 1994; By the end of 1995, when he would have been deciding to go online, internet advertising was definitely a thing people were aware of. On the other hand, Waterson hated advertising. > 70% distribution ... 14% maximum distribution These numbers are not comparable: 70% is the fraction of newspapers he was in, but not everyone got a newspaper. > It's an absurdity to give up 70% distribution and a guaranteed paycheck for 14% maximum distribution and no income stream at all. He was done with newspapers, so he was giving up that guaranteed paycheck regardless. His alternative, which he took, was retiring.
webmaven 6y ago
> Waterson ended Calvin and Hobbes at the end of 1995; slightly early for moving online but not by much. Dilbert was the first syndicated comic online that same year. As for whether Waterson could/would/should have done the same, why would he if he was ending the strip anyway?
- jefftk 6y ago
  Waterson talked about how he was unhappy with the constraints of the newspapers; it's possible that he would have found webcomics, with essentially no restrictions, interesting enough to keep going?
  - spc476 6y ago
    He also said he had said what he wanted with Calvin and Hobbes, and all that was left was variations on a theme, over and over again. Might as well end on a high note and be remembered, rather than just fade into the background, like Peanuts.