I think you are misreading profound shyness and discomfort at being in the public eye for something else.<p>I may be wrong, but I don't see pity or lack of respect for his fans in his (few) interviews, but rather <i>fear</i> at the intensity of the fans. This isn't so unusual. Some (many?) creative people love and desire the attention that fame brings, but others simply freak out (Salinger, Pynchon, Glenn Gould, Watterson - if I'm right).<p>Quick follow-up: it's linked on this thread, but a different interview (Watterson responding to fan questions) gives a much more laid-back vibe: <a href="http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/calvinandhobbes/interview.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/calvinandhobbes/interview.html</a> So maybe part of the problem is how poor the new interview's questions are.