NEW YORK - Legendary comic strip star Calvin of "Calvin and Hobbes," serving a three-year sentence in a federal prison for being a "serial urinator," was murdered this morning by fellow inmate Andy Capp, 61, who is serving time for public intoxication. The two men were on work detail at Ray Brook Federal Prison in upstate New York cleaning a bathroom when, in the words of warden Bradleys Roadhouse, "Andy went crackers about something Calvin said and beat him about his little blond head with a broom." In announcing the murder, the warden somberly said, "Calvin will never pee on corporate logos again."
Off the record, Roadhouse said he was not surprised by the attack. "Understand, this kid [Calvin] was always bragging about how he'd been a 'big star' until his strip ended in '95. That kind of talk rubbed Andy [Capp] and the rest of the guys the wrong way, me included. You have to understand, the guys -- they have their own justice, of keeping things in balance. So who am I to say Andy was wrong? Maybe the precocious brat had it coming."
Hobbes, the stuffed tiger who was Calvin's co-star in the comic strip, reportedly is negotiating with Linus of "Peanuts" about replacing Linus' famous security blanket.
