Meet My Friend, Wallace

 Meet My Friend, Wallace

     As far back as I can remember, I have loved comics of all kinds.    My parents introduced me to comic books (Justice League, Avengers) when I got my tonsils out at age 5, and thus making superheroes my first love, but, I eventually found myself checking the Worcester Telegram and Gazette after my dad finished so I could read Snoopy, Garfield, B.C, and Wizard of Id.  As I got older and my sense of humor matured, I couldn’t get enough of The Far Side or Doonesbury.  But, the gold standard will always and forevermore be (drum roll please) the Sam Watterson classic, Calvin and Hobbes.

     Calvin and Hobbes is the apex.  It is what comic strips were meant to be, in my opinion, because it was so relatable for both children and parents.  His take on the over-the-top dark side of a loveable little boy and the stuffed animal/imaginary friend that acted as his conscience, was genius.  And the reactions of his parents, neighbors, teachers, etc. became more real to me as I grew into my own role as a teacher and parent.  It was hysterical on many levels. I mourned the day that Watterson hung up his pens and paints for good, and felt like I would never again experience those feelings again.

      That was until I met Wallace.

 

     When the Telegram and Gazette made the sad choice to stop running Calvin and Hobbes reprints, I was first introduced to Wallace the Brave by Will Henry.  I got to know Wallace,  his friends and family, and the community of Snug Harbor.  I won’t lie, it took me a little bit to warm up to them, but the New England shoreline feel gave me an immediate comfort.  As I got to know the characters and their personalities, I became more and more invested in each of their personalities and the clever way they interacted with each other.  The unexpected was what made me laugh out loud, and it kept happening.  The Calvin and Hobbes comparison is not perfect, and not necessarily evident, but the more I read the strip the more I could see and hear the echoes of Calvin in Wallace.

     Wallace is one of the most energetic, positive, loyal, and adventurous little boys you could ever meet.  He pulls others into his orbit with a Ted Lasso-like optimism and kindness, often oblivious to the bad in the world, or the possibly catastrophic physical consequences of his stunts on himself.  Yet, his moral compass is true north, and it never wavers.  Even when he gets in trouble, it is due to positive intentions, and he stands by them even in defeat.

 

    Wallace’s best friend is a young man with a rectangle-shaped head named Spud.  Spud is an enigma.  He returns Wallace’s loyalty twice-over, and will do anything that Wallace is willing to do despite his fear of… everything.  When he does realize he is in over his oversized head, which is often (and mostly from walking off a pier because he is not paying attention), it is too late and he accepts his fate.  But, if the mood hits him, he can’t help but break into the principal’s office and use the intercom to throw down some sweet rap lyrics.

 

      The third member of the friend group is Amelia, a sass-infested agent of chaos who in moments of boredom comes up with the best ways to amuse herself at other’s expenses.  She is also the object of Spud’s affection, which she seems to find irritating and nauseating, but somehow still can’t quit him.  

 

     The most recent and least likely addition to the friend group is Rose, a super-smart, super-motivated, super-rule follower that finds herself hanging with a group of people that she has little in common with, which maybe makes her the most special.  In a social media dominated cancel-culture, Rose proves that the strengths of friendship and acceptance can poke holes in the inflexible steel wall of rule enforcement, and the sun will still set.

 

     As a reader of the strip, maybe the most relatable character is the ever-present seagull, a pet-like observer who follows the group in everything that they do and just happily watches, often having the same reaction that I find myself experiencing, without a word.

 

     Then there is Wallace’s family.  His mega-chill, lobster fisherman dad is a perfect compliment for the protective, understanding-to- a-point, surfer, stay-at-home mom.  Both have their hands full, not just with Wallace’s exploits, but especially with the uni-brow, demon spawn little brother named Sterling (who may be the funniest in the strip).

 

     All of this takes place in the cozy community of Snug Harbor, which is filled with the exact kinds of people you would think a New England fishing community would.  It’s the perfect place for these characters to explore and day dream in.

 

     Wallace became a daily part of my life.  The more I read, the more I enjoyed it, and soon realized I needed to know who the genius was behind this world (which felt so close, but still a world away).  So, I cranked up my Google machine and did a “deep dive”, and learned about William Henry Wilson, a Rhode Island native living in Jamestown.  He shortened his name to Will Henry to avoid confusing Google searches that could lead to an older comic strip he once did.  He is Rhode Island through and through, and with his embrace of his Scottish heritage, I felt like we were part of the same New England brotherhood

 

     But none of this is what made the comic so special to me.  What this local artist did, without ever knowing it, was allow me to form a stronger connection with my youngest child, Bee.  Bee didn’t enjoy sports or many of the movies that I used to share with my older three children, so there were often quiet gaps.  That was until I introduced Wallace to her.  It became a habit for me to save the day’s newspaper for her so she could catch up on Wallace and friends, and it gave us something to talk and laugh about.  When the pandemic hit, it was one of the few bright spots we could both lean on. 

     And then we made a connection that I didn’t expect.  I saw a post on Facebook that invited any fans to journey to Jamestown and meet Will as he signed books to draw support to a local bookstore, so Bee, my wife Pam, and I took the hour long drive.  It was not our first trip to Jamestown, but we did enjoy the mellow, on-the-water community, and listened to Will talk about Wallace and his own family, as well as draw some of his favorite characters for some younger audience members.  It was a great afternoon, and Bee was able to share some drawings that she made of his characters (her own interpretation of them, and amazingly done).  He could not have been more attentive or appreciative, and I realized we were talking with a real person.  It became clear to me how Wallace came to be, because that type of inspiration could not be found in a person who does not truly care for others or have an authentic positivity.  It was all coming together.

 

    We have since been to numerous book signings, all at Will’s wife’s cake shop (Isis Cakes) in Wakefield, and he has been the same person each time.  If you ever plan on attending, prepare to be there awhile, because he will make every person feel like they are the only person in the room, and he is in no rush for you to leave.  His family is often in attendance, and it is clear that each event is heavily centered on family and friends, much like Wallace.

     This most recent visit, Bee gave him one last drawing.  This one was of her in her graduation cap, surrounded by Wallace, Spud, Amelia, and Rose.  It was a special moment for Bee, Pam, and I, but it appeared to be special for Will, too. 

  

      These are the best parts of life.  The little connections you didn’t expect.  They aren’t big, and don’t often last long, but they hold a place in your world forever.  

        And I want to thank Will and Wallace for making it possible. 

     If you don’t currently subscribe to a paper that carries Wallace the Brave, just google it and click on the GoComics link.  The newest is there each day.

        https://www.gocomics.com/wallace-the-brave