The Mysteries
Bill Watterson, story; John Kascht & Bill Watterson, pictures
Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2023
Bill Watterson is the creator of the beloved comic strip Calvin and Hobbes; Johan Kascht is a renowned caricaturist. So, this little fable for adults was bound to attract attention. The story is about the Mysteries, who live in the forest and are shrouded in mist. People are afraid of them: they are reputed to possess bizarre and terrifying powers. Finally, the King summoned his Knights and ordered them to capture a Mystery. After years of searching a Knight captured a Mystery.
But the great unveiling of the Mystery was unexpected: it looked surprisingly ordinary. And over time each new Mystery they discovered was even less impressive. Gradually the people stopped fearing the Mysteries. They spread over the land after cutting down the forest. After many strange occurrences people grew alarmed. But centuries passed, eons passed. The universe continued as usual, and the Mysteries lived happily ever after.
The Mysteries are never explained, which is their nature. Maybe that is the whole point of the story. The illustrations are atmospheric black and white, effective but unlike Watterson's previous work.
Replies
This sounds very interesting. Calvin and Hobbes was so popular that Watterson lobbied for, and won, the right to have his Sunday strips presented in full form, with no "throwaway panels" to be cut by local editors. (The introduction to one of his softcovers was a thorough exploration of this issue, and I regret trading all my C&H softcovers in when the three-volume, slipcased hardcover set was released.) That signaled to me that he wanted more space to experiment with panel arrangements and pacing, and perhaps he might be interested in doing comic books. He was asked that question when he retired and he pretty much shot it down. I was disappointed but I'm down for any graphic story he might decide to teel. I hadn't heard of this; thanks for bringing it to my attention.