The Mysteries

8 reviews for The Mysteries

1. 

   Josh Mauthe – March 21, 2025

   Let go of expectations and open yourself up to the imagination and thoughtfulness
   There’s no way that anything could possibly live up to people’s hopes when you’re talking about Bill Watterson’s first published work since the end of Calvin and Hobbes 28 years ago, but even by those standards, The Mysteries is a bit of a curveball – and yet, it’s one where the expectations are overshadowing how interesting of a book it is. A collaboration between Watterson and caricaturist John Kascht, The Mysteries is an allegorical fable for adults; for all of its picture book trappings, this is undeniably a strange work at times, with unusual composition (my daughter was quite unsettled by the unnatural faces being up close to the frame in one image) and a haunting, odd style that leaves far behind the rich, colorful imagination of Calvin. Instead, you get a stark, gothic black and white, one filled with a sense of the grotesque – but just as Calvin would sometimes set you up in one kind of frame or style only to shift into another, The Mysteries changes into a whole different book as it progresses, changing from a story about a kingdom haunted by mysterious entities into…well, it feels weird to say that I don’t want to spoil something you can read in a few minutes, but I still don’t want to. Suffice to say that The Mysteries feels spiritually like a follow-up to Calvin – a story about the importance of seeing the wonder in the world, a cynical tale about what humans are doing to society and our planet, and a story that still finds beauty in its own way. It’s an odd little tale, with haunting and unsettling art and a take that’s undeniably downbeat…and yet, I think all of that makes it all the more interesting and compelling. Expectations are a difficult thing, but The Mysteries deserves to be judged on its own merits, not on what people wanted – and on its own merits, it’s quite wonderful.

2. 

   L – March 21, 2025

   It stands alone
   This is a lovely book that answers to no one. I admire it for what it is, and nothing else. The very critical reviews here make me rather sad. This is a work of art. If you enjoy it, that’s wonderful. If you do not, then perhaps it’s not meant for you.
   The story is an allegory, and while many reviewers have made attempts to make its meaning explicit, I will do no such thing. Honestly, I feel that to do so would be in direct opposition of what I just read.
   Suffice it to say that it’s a beautiful, haunting book that can be read in only a few minutes if you really want, with just a few words on each page; or it can be lingered on for longer, to slowly absorb the precisely worded story and darkly enchanting artwork. The whole thing feels like the embodiment of a dream, or (long shot) if anyone’s familiar with Marillion’s 21st Century, like something manifested from that song.
   It’s physically smaller than I expected, well made, and has a hard, cloth cover that feels good to hold.
   While it’s called a fable for adults, there’s no reason is can’t be read by children who happen to find it lying around.
   Personally, I’m glad it exists.

3. 

   Ryan – March 21, 2025

   An extremely well-executed fable. What are these 3 star reviewers actually reviewing?
   As would hopefully be obvious from literally everything about this book: it’s not Calvin and Hobbes. It’s not funny, or light. Here we meet Watterson dealing less with imagination and grappling more with the demons that haunt you as you begin to lose things that you love.
   The book offers a parable – a seemingly simple story with deeper implications for how we should think about our world. It defines the boundaries between fear, curiosity, and complacency that ultimately remove us from our greater surroundings.
   I expect this book rewards multiple rereadings and contemplation. It’s a beautiful and simple meditative tome placed well in today’s age. Whether it’s “The Archer” or the “Tao Te Ching” or the “Bible,” a set of well crafted, spiritually enriching texts is a boon for anyone.
   Finally, dismissing something offhand that a great artist and a great writer have spent – literally – years of their life working on because you don’t get it in five minutes feels short sighted. Watterson was notoriously an artist who spent years both innovating and respecting the integrity of his medium. Why should we not grant him the creative freedom to work on what he believes is important.
   Give it a chance – pick it up a few times. You may find yourself surprised at what you see.

4. 

   Rogelio Rendon – March 21, 2025

   Not your usual style from Waterson. But different.

5. 

   EVREN YILDIRIM – March 21, 2025

   Nice book, I have been expecting this one for a long time. The page layout could be better, there’s little text in the book, do it could be arranged better. The paper quality is high but unfortunately it is glossy which is not so ideal for a book with lots of images.

6. 

   MM – March 21, 2025

   …something completely different.
   Is it what I expected it to be, when I preordered it at the first announcement? No, absolutely not.
   Is it short? Text- and pagewise: Yes.
   But the impressions this book might leave in your mind are deep and last long.
   Going through it is like having a strange dream.
   I don’t know, how often I read this book now, but it still gives me the same feelings I had at the first time.
   For me, it’s an absolutely awesome piece of art.
   A big “Thank you!” from the bottom of my heart to Bill Watterson and John Kascht!

7. 

   Stefano Nicotri – March 21, 2025

   un libro illustrato dall’aspetto misterioso, dallo stile molto diverso rispetto a quello di Calvin & Hobbes, per cui Watterson è conosciuto, ma ugualmente bello e interessante

8. 

   J – March 21, 2025

   First off, this is a short read. A very short read. If you are picking this up expecting a novel, or something to chew through over a few hours, you will be disappointed.
   What this is, is a short story that you can read through quite quickly, that can leave you thinking for quite a while. The story itself came off as very cynical towards humanity, and hit much the same as some of the better Calvin and Hobbes Sunday strips. The art is excellent, and very detailed, and worth picking the book up for just to look at.
   In short: short read, great art, cynical take on humanity, I loved it.