Bill Watterson on other then current comic strips

WEST: When you look at the comics today, whose work excites you?
WATTERSON: Doonesbury, of course, has had a tremendous impact and influence on comics, and I greatly admire Trudeau's work. He is probably the best writer in the field today. He can handle virtually anything — tragedy, social commentary, personal relationships, you name it - with sensitivity, intelligence, and devastating wit. He has shown that comics are not solely the domain of prepubescents. Lately, Trudeau's artwork has become quite daring and inventive as well.
I enjoy Bloom County's unpredictability and irreverence. In a generally brain-dead comics page, I usually find Bloom County's to-hell-with-everybody anarchy refreshing. Opus, of course, is an inspired character.
Peanuts is long overdue for a serious reappraisal. Its ubiquitous licensing program unfortunately obscures what a well-crafted, beautifully written and drawn strip it is. Peanuts is one of the very rare strips with true heart. The sophistication and subtlety of the work is unbelievable. Comics don't come better than this.
For Better or For Worse is very interesting to me because of its realism. I can think of no comic that has treated common, everyday domestic life with less artifice and stereotyping. I am impressed with the strip's perception, honesty, and directness. It is also nicely drawn.
The Far Side is another great one. I laugh out loud at this strip more than any other. The drawings somehow suit it exactly. Wonderful stuff.
Cathy is visually gray, but it's cleverly written and it has a level of honesty to it that you don't often see on the comics pages.