Wilson is a misanthropic and lonely man who observes the world around him with disdain. One day he decides to reconnect with his ex-wife and discovers he has a daughter he never knew.
The comic and film contain examples of:
- Adaptational Attractiveness: Pippi in the comic is overweight and average-looking. She's played by the statuesque and attractive Laura Dern in the film.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: In the movie it isn't Pippi who calls the police on Wilson, it's Pippi's sister who calls on both of them, although only Wilson is sent to prison. Pippi later apologizes for not going to defend Wilson during the trial, before telling him that she's going to move to Australia.
- Art Shift: The comic is told in one-page segments and follows several different styles throughout; at some points the characters are exaggerated cartoons with oversized heads, at others they look almost photorealistic.
- Bittersweet Ending: Wilson is arrested for 'kidnapping' his daughter and abandoned by his ex-wife. After getting out of prison he is elated to discover he is a grandfather and manages to still keep in touch with his daughter. He ends up having a more optimistic view on life in general.
- Did Not Get the Girl: Wilson tries to reconcile with his ex-wife Pippi. She leaves him and gets him arrested.
- Establishing Character Moment: The comic opens with Wilson telling the reader how much he's a people person and how he loves to connect with his fellow man. When he asks a neighbor how she's doing, she tells him about her computer problems. Wilson's response: "For the love of Christ, don't you ever shut up?"
- "Eureka!" Moment: Wilson has one at the end of the comic while looking at the rain, but what he realizes is left a mystery to the reader.
- Papa Bear: Wilson (before even properly introducing himself to her) sees his daughter being harassed at the mall by two guys, his reaction is to push one of them up against the wall and threaten to beat him up for talking to her that way.
- Pet the Dog: Wilson is generally depicted as being a jerkass although it's clear he loves his daughter and wants to spend time with her.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Upon discovering that he has a daughter whom his wife gave up for adoption, he tries to bond with both of them by taking them on a trip. He's arrested for kidnapping.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Pippi pulls this after realizing she can't connect with her daughter and calls the police on Wilson.
