This is the sort of thing, the sort of mini-story that Bill used to put inside a Calvin comic, as Calvin’s imaginations in his head. It’s very Bill, but not a Calvin and Hobbes strip. It’s like one of heavy setups without the punchline.

What Bill says about the process of making the illustrations says it all, and why some will like it and some will hate it: “We were trying to make pictures that didn’t show things for a story that didn’t say things — which was probably the aspect of the book I liked the best,” he says.

Surprised he collaborated.
Surprised and fascinated and blown away by many of these images. Haunting and different. Amazing and simple. Let is be what it is. Hope Bill brings out more.

After finding out more about who-did-what in the collaboration, the part that aches is that bill collaborated at all. Like many fans, I want all Bill. Doesn’t need to be Calvin and Hobbes, but I loved his art his style his sensibility.
The behind the scenes video they made about this makes clear that it’s Bills rough paintings in the background with John Kascht’s sculptures and realism in the foreground, forming a haunting mixed media landscape. While the end result is incredible, it’s disappointing that I only like John’s side of things and didn’t get a real taste of Bill’s familiar style. There are sketches that were rejected or made for illustration in the making-of video they made that were totally bill Watterson and I’d have chosen that way. Much love for John Kascht now though.