Nemo Entwhistle

And a good bit of Ed’s life has been about aesthetic - we see that in the way he sets up his cabin on the QAR and in his costuming as Blackbeard. He understands pageantry and design. But he doesn’t know how to do it for someone else, to express his love like that. Stede did it for him, constructed breakfasts and outings and things that he thought Ed would like.

but then I think, if this many people believe it does that mean I'm the one who's wrong? or is it that the creators fumbled that storyline when they should have been clearer about it? or maybe it's just that most people on here have had their reading comprehension scorched away by Sherlock Holmes conspiracy theories and Steven Universe discourse. I can't tell. sometimes I think the internet may have been a mistake.

No they're wrong here's what's going on. People all read this shitty fic called Hell or High Water where Ed was everything the Izzy stans say he was and then instead of realizing that Ed is sad everyone regressed into thinking that the Kraken Era TM was going to be incredibly violent, like serial killing blond men because they look like Stede levels of violence. Even if you didn't read HoHW you saw art or read fic from people who had engaged with this fic and succumbed to it's premise. So there's been this background radiation of misunderstanding what the Kraken is on the fandom for several months. So inevitably when Ed did some mild violence and then attempted suicide by threatening murder until the crew took matters into their own hands, which is not abuse or torture by any stretch, btw, it's a murder-suicide at worst (I say at worst because I consider it fuckery-suicide I don't think Ed was trying to kill people I think he was trying to force them into a situation where they thought it was kill or be killed so that they would choose to kill him, but that is my interpretation and you are free to think it's a botched murder-suicide I have no problem with that), which, murder is something the show has never condemned and if it did it would be horribly inconsistent. So anyway, Ed's whole Kraken Era was categorized in the show by him being sad and doing so many drugs and begging someone please god anyone to kill him and trying to break Ned Low's record out of the evil boredom, but because it had a murder-suicide element to it and Izzy's toes were getting removed and he waved a gun around at everyone once (in a way that felt to me like he was trying and failing to work up the nerve to blow his own brains out but I digress) people who liked HoHW and were mad that people had called it out were like "see hes being violent HoHW author vindicated" as if anything Ed did rose to the level of that fic

And you want to know how I know this read is bullshit? Because when I watch the show with people who don't read fic or interact with the fandom and then I gauge their reactions without showing my hand they all implicitly understand that Ed is reacting to Izzy in a way appropriate to how pirate captains react to threats from subordinates. The spectrum of reactions has been from "hey isn't it weird how Ed was the Kraken because his dad was abusive and now he's the kraken because of Izzy? Maybe there's something there but idk" to "I don't think you can apply the logic of domestic abuse to a pirate captain and first mate but also Izzy had it coming" to "I cannot feel bad for Izzy after last season, I'm sorry." To "lmao Izcel" and I've showed this show to roughly everyone I know. The only thing I can conclude from the fact that people who don't engage with OFMD fic almost unilaterally thinking that Izzy is in the wrong and then coming online to see people thinking the opposite is that Izzy as victim and Ed as abuser is pure fanon, like how Stede is a cinnamon roll who talks like Azeriphael.

of course, any rational person would understand this is bullshit, especially in the context of the show. but as a POC, the reaction online is eerily similar to my own experiences: a white person can attack you with words as many times as they want, but the moment you respond with anger, you’ve crossed a line. it’s a way white people get away with violence — since verbal abuse is “just words” any reaction (even if that reaction is also verbal) is an unreasonable and uniquely dangerous response

Ed removes Izzy's first toe on screen for threatening him. This is not a supposition, this is explicit, because Ed says the words "don't" and "threaten" after cutting off the toe.

When Ed decides to remove Izzy's fourth toe, it's explicitly because Izzy is reporting the crew's refusal to follow orders, and it's Izzy's job as first mate to make the crew follow orders, and he's failed it. Note that Ed does not threaten the crew, even knowing they are outright refusing to follow orders (also unrelated but in what world are you protecting someone by *reporting their insubordination to the boss*), only Izzy, because ultimately he holds Izzy responsible. He's also still clearly pissed at Izzy over last season, because Frenchie also defies orders as first mate and lies to his face, and Ed does fuck all about it.

Also note that Izzy doesn't at any point object to the toe thing. In fact, what's playing over his head when he breaks down in front of the crew is the threat to his job, not in any threat to his body.

In the regular world, your boss cutting off your toe would absolutely be some kind of workplace abuse and also super fucked up. In the pirate world, where killing a man gets you fame and recognition and setting another on fire makes everyone want to hang out with, physical violence and violent retribution are clearly seen differently.

When Ed shoots Izzy in the leg and orders him killed, he's firing him, and he's also punishing him for saying everything is fucked up because of his feelings for Stede - he's doubling down on s1's ending.

He's wiping Izzy off the board because Izzy stabbed a sore spot that he helped create.

And yeah, HoHW and fics that sparked off from it definitely helped contribute to this background thought process - but it's also just the absolutely baffling number of people who chose to watch a white man denigrate an indigenous man for being *sad about his boyfriend* and tell him he should have died, on the punch a bigot site, and got mad when said indigenous man got his own back.

I love that Stede was brave enough to leave the toxic society that had failed him and so many others - to make a better life or die trying. And he succeeded! He made a better society. He found love. He inspired the other characters on the show to be better people and he inspired me to be brave in my own life. I am forever grateful.

I love that Ed, who had lived with abuse and hardship and seemed so isolated when we met him, had kept his optimism, his sense of playfulness. He fought against a negative self image and a belief that he was undeserving of happiness. He tried some self care and he too found happiness - and also the love of his life.

I love the crew - all with their own problems, but who also find themselves and grow; a good part of it being down to Stede's philosophy. Jim learns that revenge will twist you and is freed by letting go. Pete learns to be gentle, love and show care for people and is so loved in return. Lucius goes through hard times but survives and learns what is truly important. Olu shows us a true supportive friendship. Frenchie grows into responsibility with compassion. Roach knows his worth. Buttons shows Ed that change is possible and gets to change himself to be with his own true love. Wee John gets to be himself to the full and to encourage others to do the same. The Swede gains confidence and learns he is desirable. Izzy learns the value in belonging. Fang is so caring and will stand up for what he believes. Archie gives us confidence and enthusiasm. Jackie is simply a goddess. Mary B takes the opportunity freedom awards her to grab a life she was otherwise denied. Anne and Mary are able to start afresh. Auntie learns that a bit of softness is important too, and Zheng that she can have it.

We see a group of people grow from a group of individuals into a supportive community. We see so much varied and wonderful representation where people learn that they can be themselves without labels or judgement. And they thrive! And what's better, they seem just like us.

There is so much joy and positivity in this show. If you embrace Stede's supportive philosophy you thrive. If you reject it and try to maintain the poisonous status quo you mostly end up dead. They are good to each other. They support each other. They show what it means to be part of a crew. And there are lessons and inspiration in it for all of us.

Calvin's last name has never been given, and neither has any of his parent's names. This was actually why his uncle Max only showed up for a brief storyline; the creator of the comic, Bill Watterson, ultimately felt that while it was fine to have him as someone for his parents to talk to, it felt far too awkward to never have Max refer to them by name and he never made a return appearance.

The general tone of the comic is fairly light-hearted, with a big emphasis on goofy slapstick comedy contrasted by clever wordplay and often surprising adult-centered jokes that'll hit you like a slap. A big part of the comedy is, as Watterson put it (paraphrased) "It's really funny to me when people express deeply stupid ideas with really fancy terminology." One notable example you might have seen is that one bit where Calvin asks his mom for money to buy a Satan-worshiping rock album and his mom replies that there's nothing genuine about them and they're just putting on the attitude for shock value, and comisserates with Calvin as he deplores that mainstream nihilism can't be trusted. He concludes that childhood is disillusioning.

There is a LOT of criticism of the extreme materialism and selfish mentality of the late 80s, when the comic was initially written. This may go a long way to explain how its aged so well; much of what it criticizes resonates well with people today.

Bill Watterson views comic strips a legitimate form of artwork, and repeatedly fought to have more space to draw more beautiful and artistic backgrounds, which was a very hard fight and unpopular even with other comic strip artists. He eventually did win some compromises and a lot of Calvin And Hobbes' artwork shows it, with the use of space to indicate time as well as a sharp contrast between the often plain environments of mundane life contrasted by the wildly beautiful imagery of Calvin's imagination (which often sports realistic depictions in an art shift of sorts).

Hobbes is explicitly not an imaginary friend, by word of Watterson himself. We don't know WHAT he is exactly, and Hobbes is apparently unaware of the strange nature of his reality; people look at him and only see an ordinary stuffed tiger plushie, but he has a tangible effect on the world that would be physically impossible for Calvin to do on his own. He's apparently been around for a while, and was apparently around when Calvin was a young baby.

On that note; Hobbes has implicitly killed (notably treated as both a gag and also with the vibe of 'he's a tiger, duh') and while he doesn't do it again on-screen, he doesn't have any moral issues about it. Calvin claims that he's never had trouble bringing Hobbes to school because the last time he did, Hobbes killed and ate a bully named Tommy Chestnut and simply comments that it was gross and he needed a bath. Calvin's tried to repeat this again, but Hobbes was grossed out at the thought having to eat a kid raw and not being allowed to use an oven first, or complaining that children are too fattening.

OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH

@lutraslutra drew Blackbeard and I drew Mermaid Stede. The result is so cool and I'm so grateful to have a fandom where I get to meet amazing people like Lutra and fill my days with positivity