[tathastu]

C&H is about imagination, not loneliness.

Imagination is an intrinsic and essential part of the human experience, especially in childhood, and to call it a 'coping mechanism' is completely missing the point.

Bill Watterson's genius was showing that there's a magic world in all of us; not that the world outside was not oppressive or unpleasant.

[shkkmo]

Yes, calling 'imagination' just a coping mechanism is missing the point. But saying that C&H is not about loneliness is also missing the point.

C&H is about both imagination and loneliness. It explores the effect that using your imagination has on loneliness and vice-versa.