Early Days

In his early days, this guy lasted but 6 months as a Cincinnati local editorial cartoonist, and among various jobs here and there, he created some illustrations for the Mark Twain Journal (looking a great deal like Pat Oliphant's world-renowned cartooning style).

And then he became pretty world-renowned himself:

© Bill Watterson

Santa Won't Come Until We're Asleep, You Know

Santa as drawn by 5 great cartoonists:

George Herriman

Bill Watterson

Patrick McDonnell

Jeff MacNelly

Hal Foster

Ashcan Oddity

Speaking of great comic strips, here is an oddity and maybe a rarity—an 'ashcan' comic book of Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes. I have no idea from whence this came, as it was part of a large lot that I got at a small auction many years ago, when Calvin was in its first run heyday.

Watterson deplored the notion of merchandising his strip in any way. So perhaps this was some enterprising publisher trying to persuade him otherwise. Obviously unsuccessfully.