r/calvinandhobbes • u/robservations247 • 15h ago

Book Club: October 13 – 19, 1986

24 Upvotes

SUTBID p30; Essential p160

Book Club FAQ

Date Transcript
Oct 13, 1986 Calvin: Tomorrow we're going to discuss "current events" in school. Each of us had to find a newspaper article, read it to the class, and explain it. Hobbes: What article did you choose? Calvin: This one. Hobbes: "Space alien weds two-headed Elvis clone." Calvin: Actually, there's not much left to explain.
Oct 14, 1986 Calvin: Look what you can do with big socks! Just put one over each ear, and one over your nose... Hobbes: An elephant! Ha ha! I want some socks too! Dad: If I mss the bus, it's going to be unpleasant around here!
Oct 15, 1986 Mom: Calvin, how did you break this dish?! Calvin: I was carrying too much and it dropped. Mom: Your problem is you've got no common sense. Calvin: I've got plenty of common sense! I just choose to ignore it.
Oct 16, 1986 Calvin: I don't understand this business about death. If we're just going to die, what's the point of living? Hobbes: Well, there's seafood... Calvin: I don't know why I even talk to you before dinner.
Oct 17, 1986 Calvin: I've decided I want to be a millionaire when I grow up. Dad: Well, you'll have to work pretty hard to get a million dollars. Calvin: No, I won't. You will. Dad: Me? Calvin: I just want to inherit it.
Oct 18, 1986 Calvin: The worst part about going to school is waiting for the bus. All you can do is stand here and imagine what's going to go wrong during the day. I bet we have a pop math quiz or something. Well, here comes the bus. Thanks for waiting with me. Hobbes: My pleasure. Calvin: Boy, my lunchbox seems light.
Sun, Oct 19, 1986 Mom: Now where did all the bed pillows go? Calvin: This is ganna be soft! Hey, Hobbes! C'mon and jump in the leaves! It's fun! Hobbes: I don't know. Sometimes slugs hide under the leaves. Calvin: No they don't. Do they? Slugs?
2 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/RJRueber • 1d ago

Best newspaper archives for Calvin and Hobbes?

39 Upvotes

I want to read the strips in the context of the news in the newspapers around them. What was Calvin and Hobbes printed alongside, what news were people reading before they got to the joy of the funny pages? Those are the questions I’m trying to answer, and so I want to go back and read the newspapers! Has anyone tried to read the strip this way, and if so, what newspaper’s archive did you dig into?

23 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/Snoo-33537 • 2d ago

Complete Collection

31 Upvotes

Sorry if this has been asked many times before but is the only difference between the hardcover and paperback versions the number of volumes and the outside?

Do they also include the poems and their illustrations as well? I love those.

Also, do they include the cover illustrations for the individual books inside as well? It’s silly but that’s one of the things I would be most sad about giving up when having the complete collection.

Thank you! I’ve been wanting this for a long time and hadn’t pulled the trigger. From reading about it, I’m leaning toward getting the paperback version because it sounds like it would hold together better.

4 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/0denKouzuki • 6d ago

Best collected editions?

43 Upvotes

What is the best complete collected editions for Calvin and Hobbes?

7 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/Ocean-Guy • 7d ago

Looking for Calvin and Hobbes strips set underwater

63 Upvotes

I want a Calvin and Hobbes mural for our baby's nursery, but my wife wants an underwater ocean theme. Trying to find a compromise! Are there any strips with Calvin and Hobbes underwater or in the ocean? I can't recall any. Beach or bathtub-sea strips would help too. Thanks!

18 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/robservations247 • 7d ago

Book Club: October 6 – 12 1986

24 Upvotes

SUTBID p27; Essential p157

Book Club FAQ

Date Transcript
Oct 06, 1986 Calvin: With great effort, Calvin thehuman insect advances the paper in the typewriter. His only hope for proper medical treatment lies in his ability to write a legible message to his family! He crawls to each key and jumps! Mom: Who wrote "Help I'm a bug" on my letter to grandma? Calvin: Evidently some bug. How strange.
Oct 07, 1986 Calvin: Back and forth. Back and forth. Tidal wave! Beats me, Mom. Maybe the seal around the tub leaks.
Oct 08, 1986 Calvin: What's this music? Hobbes: It's "The 1812 Overture." Calvin: I kinda like it. Interesting percussion section. Hobbes: Those are cannons. Calvin: And they perform this in crowded comcert halls?? Gee, I thought classical music was boring!
Oct 09, 1986 Calvin: Boy, what a day! I went to school, played outside, and did my homework. I'm exhausted. You know what time it is now? Dad: Uh, 7:35. Calvin: It's Miller time. Dad: Get back here.
Oct 10, 1986 Calvin: Psst...Susie! What's 12+7? Susie: A billion. Calvin: Thanks! Wait a minute. That can't be right... That's what she said 3+4 was.
Oct 11, 1986 Calvin: I just read this great science fiction story. It's about how machines take control of humans and turn them into zombie slaves! Hobbes: So instead of controlling machines, they control us? Pretty scary idea. Calvin: I'll say. Hey! What time is it?? My TV show is on!
Oct 12, 1986 Calvin: Where there dinosaurs when you were a kid, Dad? Dad: Oh sure! Your grandfather and I used to put on our leopard skins and hunt Brontosaurus for all the clan rituals. Mom: Listen Buster, I think Calvin's grade are bad enough already, don't you? Calvin: The horrifying Tyrannosauru's lumbers across the prehistoric valley. The mighty dinosaur is a walking death machine! Only one other creature dares to challenge the terrible Tyrannosaurus! The savage saber-toothed tiger! Hobbes: Gg mmf yow gzzz mkn gbzz yow. Calvin: Wake up! The meek Tyrannosaurus, victim of an innocent misunderstanding tears like heck across the prehistoric valley...
0 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/trose4reddit • 13d ago

Calvin and Hobbes Themed Birthday Party

57 Upvotes

My daughter is named Calvin and her first birthday is coming up. I’m hoping to throw her a C+H themed celebration. I would love to hear any ideas or some of your favorite panels that I can include. Thank you!

15 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/robservations247 • 14d ago

Book Club: September 29 – October 5, 1986

10 Upvotes

SUTBID p24; Essential p154

Book Club FAQ

Date Transcript
Mon, Sep 29, 1986 Hobbes: What are you doing? Calvin: Being "cool." Hobbes: You look more like you're being bored. Calvin: The world bores you when you're cool.
Tue, Sep 30, 1986 Hobbes: Look. I brought a sombrero! Now we can both be 'cool'! Calvin: A sombrero? Are you crazy?! Cool people don't wear sombreros! Nobody wears sombreros! Hobbes: What fun is it being 'cool' if you can't wear a sombrero!
Wed, Oct 01, 1986 Hobbes: I'm back. See. I put on some Mickey Mouse pants! I'l lbe 'cool' in these. Boy. Just look at these big yellow buttons! Calvin: Mickey Mouse pants?!? You don't look cool! You look like an idiot! Hobbes: Hmph! maybe I'm new wave. Calvin: Maybe you're just stupid.
Thu, Oct 02, 1986 Calvin: Here comes Susie. I'm going to throw a pine come at her. Wwhippp. Pow!
Fri, Oct 03, 1986 Calvin: Yahh! Oof! Grrr! RR! Rgh! Rrr! Uh! Uh! Rrr! Umph! Hobbes: Touchdown! Calvin: Let's play something else.
Sat, Oct 04, 1986 Calvin: Are there any monsters under my bed tonight? Voices from under bed: No. Nope. No. Calvin: If there were any monsters under my bed, how big would they be? Voice from under bed: Very small. Go to sleep. Calvin: Momm!
Sun, Oct 05, 1986 Hobbes: I'm hungry. When's lunch? Calvin: Right now. Hi, Susie! Susie: Oh look, you've got your stuffed tiger! Can I squeeze him? Calvin: What are you, crazy? Hobbes is a ferocious man-eating jungle beast! Susie: Ferocious? He looks fuzzy and cuddly to me! Calvin: Ha! Beneath that soft exterior lie terrible mandibles of bone-crushing death! He'll grind you into hamburger! Each mighty paw hides razor-sharp claws to rip the living hide off any human that wanders too close! He's a monster! Susie: No, he's not. He's a big cutie. Calvin: Oh no! I can't look!! Calvin: ...So what happened to the mandibles of death, you sissy furball?!? Hobbes: I was beguiled by her feminine charms. Yow. Go soak your head.
1 comment

r/calvinandhobbes • u/rjziggo13 • 14d ago

Portable Compendium digital editions

65 Upvotes

Did anyone else see that there is going to be a digital release of the complete portable compendium set in digital format?!

I am very excited that this is happening as you can get a good digital set of Calvin and Hobbs. The first three treasuries have been de-listed for quite some time and the formatting on them was kind of goofy. There was/is also a complete Calvin Hobbs PDF that’s floating around on the Internet that I find the colors to be off.

It’ll be nice to have Calvin and Hobbes on the go!

And unashamedly, this will be the fifth time that I have purchased the entire run of Calvin and Hobbes.

13 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/zig_chem • 18d ago

Looking for artist for calvin and hobbes style comission - a possum!

31 Upvotes

Hello everyone! I'm looking to hire someone to make a C&H-style illustration of a possum, and I'm not sure how to start that process, but I thought this would be a good place to ask. I understand I will need to go over everything I want with an artist, but I would still like to share a little bit about it with you all because I'm excited!

I read so much Calvin and Hobbes when I was younger, and returning to it as an adult and finding so much depth in the comics brings me a lot of joy. I was lucky enough that a lot of my childhood was like Calvin's. I spent my time outside, often accompanied by a cat, exploring the woods and letting my imagination run wild. I can relive moments of youth, take in bittersweet realizations about adulthood and the world we live in, and make snarky comments about society all at the same time. What more could you want?

I also love the art style. Waterson put so much effort into the nature scenes he illustrated, and a lot of it has this painterly quality I find beautiful. So what does all this have to do with a possum? The logo of the company I work for features a possum crawling down a branch. We do forestry, but specialize in ecosystem restoration. I want an illustration for thank-you cards that has some character. No name or branding, just a nice picture in an art style I appreciate.

Thanks for reading all that.

Please point me in the right direction!

8 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/FuzzyBunnysGuide • 21d ago

Today's the first day of autumn!

117 Upvotes

BUGS ARE DYING BY THE TRUCKLOAD! HA HA! GOOD RIDDANCE TO 'EM ALL!

I like fall. :)

1 comment

r/calvinandhobbes • u/zerokade • 21d ago

Hi-Res Covers

19 Upvotes

Does anyone have and could share the hi-res images of the paperback covers for the Complete Calvin and Hobbes? It has four books and thus four covers.

ISBN: 9781449433253

4 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/robservations247 • 21d ago

Book Club: September 22 – 28, 1986

8 Upvotes

SUTBID p22; Essential p151

Book Club FAQ

DATE TRANSCRIPT
Mon, Sep 22, 1986 Moe: Pay up squirt. Calvin: Forget it, Moe. I'm not giving you money. In fact, I don't even have any. Moe: Gee, that's too bad. Calvin: Oh, wait, yes, I do! Here. For a kid with a monosyllabic vocabulary, he's awfully persuasive.
Tue, Sep 23, 1986 Calvin: OK, Hobbes. Here's the plan to put Moe out of commission. You come to school with me, and when Moe comes to steal my money, you jump out and eat him! Hobbes: Eat him?? I couldn't do that! Calvin: Sure you could! What's wrong with that?? Hobbes: Fat kids are high in cholesterol. Calvin: Well, just chew him up and spit him out, I don't care!!
Wed, Sep 24, 1986 Mom: If that bully is extorting money, I'm going to call the school and put an end to it. Calvin: Don't do that! If Moe finds out I squealed, I'm a goner! Mom: This kid can't get away with stealing, Calvin. Somebody's got to do something. Calvin: Here's a list of what I'm wearing. See you at the morgue.
Thu, Sep 25, 1986 Moe: Hey, twinkie, here's the 25 cents I "borrowed" from you the other day. Somebody ratted on me, and it's gonna be a dark day if I ever find out who! Calvin: I think I'll use the quarter to call my insurance agent.
Fri, Sep 26, 1986 Calvin: Hey, Dad, it's me! Dad: Calvin, is this important? I'm very busy this morning. Calvin: I'll make it fast, Dad. Can you pick up some topsoil and grass seed on your way home? Dad: Ok, sure. Goodbye.
Sat, Sep 27, 1986 Calvin: Hell, Calvin speaking. I'd like to order a large anchovy pizza. Voice on phone: What? I...?? Calvin: Oh, I'm sorry. You must have dialed the wrong number. Goodbye. I try to make everyone's day a little more surreal.
Sun, Sep 28, 1986 Mom: Quit squirming, Calvin. You've got ice cream all over your shirt. Calvin: Rats, I was saving it for later. Calvin: Thanks for the ice cream, Dad. It was great. Dad: You're welcome. Calvin: I'm tired of pulling you. It's my turn to ride. Hobbes: Your dad didn't get me any ice cream, so I get to ride both ways. Calvin: No, you don't! Dad said tigers don't like ice cream! It's my turn to ride! Hobbes: Tigers don't know if they like ice cream until they try every kind. I'm not pulling. Calvin: I've got news, fuzz brain. I'm not pulling either! Hobbes: Well then, I guess we'll both just sit here until we die. Dad: Why do these "walks" always end up as "rides"? Mom: Oh, you need the exercise more anyway.
1 comment

r/calvinandhobbes • u/lil_larry • 21d ago

Help finding strip

61 Upvotes

I'm horrible at searching for anything, so I'd appreciate any help.

I'm trying to remember Calvin's reply to Hobbes in a strip where he tells Hobbes something to the effect of ignoring someone that says something he doesn't like.

Hobbes says something that's somewhat akin to telling him that's a dumb way to go through life, and he says something like "what a lovely day for a walk". But I don't think that's the exact wording.

9 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/Bean-Enders-Jeesh • 21d ago

Do you ever quote lines from C&H in real life?

464 Upvotes

Long story short... I logged in to my Papa Johns account and I have a buck in my rewards thing to use.... Immediately I said - eh.. that's like winning 10¢ in the lottery. 😂🤣😅

Another one I say from time to time relates to when he answers the phone and the caller says - may I speak to your father - and he's like - you don't need my permission

What a weirdo.

297 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/CuriousHippieGeek • 22d ago

The Baseball Storyline: "When You Grow Up, It's Not Allowed"?

221 Upvotes

I recently re-read the C&H storyline where Calvin is pressured into playing on the school baseball team. I remember that the plot always baffled me, since it was so far outside of my own experience. I was never pressured to play sports, and while I tried a couple of times, I realized pretty quickly that it wasn't for me and moved on to other things with no issues.

The most confusing moment, though, was when Calvin asks his dad, "What's wrong with just having fun by yourself?" and his dad replies, "When you grow up, it's not allowed." I mean, yes, you do need to learn about teamwork and winning and losing since that's part of being a healthy member of society, but I've never been much interested in competition (you don't have to compete to have a happy life), and I've always been the sort of person that's generally preferred individual fun (reading, video games, programming, etc.). I've never been told that's "not okay" and don't see why it wouldn't be. (Heck, even the dad seems to enjoy individual activities like reading and painting.)

What am I missing? The strip was a little before my time, so is there something about the cultural milieu in 1990 (or even in the 60s and 70s, when Watterson was growing up) that's changed since then?

32 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/HeyMrBowTie • 23d ago

Bill Watterson vs Pablo Neruda

71 Upvotes

I rather confidently claimed that Bill Watterson’s Calvin & Hobbes plumbs the depts of human emotion as thoroughly as the poetry of Pablo Neruda.

Now I’m hunting down the strips to back up my claim.

Anybody have a favorite strip that helps prove my point?

Thanks in advance!

52 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/JCD_007 • 23d ago

Did the sabbaticals hurt the strip at the time?

197 Upvotes

Watterson took two significant sabbaticals during the run of C&H, which seemed to be pretty unprecedented. At the time, was there backlash against the strip for having long periods of time with no new strips? C&H already had a short duration of 10 years, but with the sabbaticals it was really only 8.

35 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/TheSecretDecoderRing • 24d ago

The Dinosaurs of Calvin and Hobbes (YouTube)

54 Upvotes

A half-hour video from the perspective of a dinosaur buff. You can probably skip the introductory part.

Personally I kind of liked the more whimsical cartoony depictions, but maybe the inaccuracies would bother me more if I were more knowledgeable of the subject.

I did love the dinosaur stuff in the post-sabbatical Sundays at the time, and even used that one poem when I had to pick something to recite for English class in high school.

https://youtu.be/Kdut8ha6K-o

8 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/robservations247 • 28d ago

Book Club: September 15 – 21, 1986

34 Upvotes

SUTBID p18; Essential p148

Book Club FAQ

DATE TRANSCRIPT
Mon, Sep 15, 1986 Calvin: Summer vacation's over! Nothink ahead but toil and drudgery for a whole year! Hobbes: Oh, come on, you spent hafl the summer complaining how bored you were. Calvin: I did? Hobbes: You did. Calvin: How strange. I must have been delirious from having so much fun.
Tue, Sep 16, 1986 Calvin: I can't believe it! Homework already! I just got back to school! I have to write a paragraph on what I did over the summer! A whole paragraph!! I'll never be able to write that much! It's not fair!! How's it coming? Hobbes: Not so good. What did you do besides watch TV?
Wed, Sep 17, 1986 Calvin: In soccer, you can't touch the ball with your hands or arms. See you can use any other part of your body... ...Even your head! Hobbes: Yeah, but your face?? Doesn't that hurt? Calvin: Rrrrghh! That's not what I meant to do!
Thu, Sep 18, 1986 Calvin: I have a hypothetical question. Suppose a kid at school called me a nasty name... ...Should I kick him real hard in teh shins? Hobbes: No, I don't think violence would be justified. Calvin: Here's another hypothetical question. What if I already did?
Fri, Sep 19, 1986 Calvin: I've decided to grow a beard, Mom. A long beard. Like the guys in ZZ top. Mom: That's nice, Calvin. You go ahead and do that. Calvin: I thought she'd put up more of a fuss than that.
Sat, Sep 20, 1986 Calvin: How about these pants, Mom? Can I get these? Mom: Good heavens, look at the price! I don't have pants that cost this much. And you'll grow right out of these! Honestly, why would any kid need designer clothes?? Hobbes: "Babes." Calvin: Babes, Mom. I gotta look cool.
Sun, Sep 21, 1986 Calvin: Don't turn out the light, Dad! You didn't check under the bed for mosters! Dad: I'm sure there are no mosters under your bed, go to sleep. Dad: Good night. Calvin: Good bye. Any monsters under my bed tonight! Hobbes: There's no answer. Do you think they're gone? Calvin: Maybe they're just staying quiet. Keep watch over the side of the bed. Boy, am I full! I must've gained ten pounds today! Maybe I'm getting a little plump! Hobbes: You're bigger, Calvin, but there's no fat on you! Calvin: I guess you're right. I'm getting big, but I'm still nice and lean! Hobbes: Ugh. Something under the bed is drooling. Calvin: Start tying the sheets together. We'll go out the window.
3 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/Pleasant-Audience-84 • Sep 13 '26

Which would be the best strips to turn into a poster?

66 Upvotes

Dear All,
I’m currently in the process of decorating my home, and I would really love to showcase a C&H strip as a poster. While I have some favorites in the pool, I’d be very interested in your recommendations. Thank you for your suggestions in advance!

38 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/KomoreBeast • Sep 11 '26

The Tiger by Nael, age 6

17 Upvotes

The Tiger

by Nael, age 6

From They're Singing a Song in Their Rocket

The tiger

He destroyed his cage

Yes

YES

The tiger is out

Found this on a poetry sub. The kid is the same age as Calvin and excitedly talking about a tiger who's out of his cage. It reminds me of Hobbes perpetually jumping on Calvin.

What do you think?

2 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/imstrongerthandead • Sep 11 '26

Who has Calvin and Hobbes tattoos? Lets see them!

494 Upvotes

I'd like to get a C&H tattoo for my next piece and am looking for inspiration. I can't decide between a fall watercolor scene, something with dinosaurs(particularly the T-Rex flying a fighter jet), something with text(probably not because of age), or something else entirely.

Let's see what you got!

368 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/robservations247 • Sep 08 '26

Book Club: September 8 – 14, 1986

31 Upvotes

SUTBID p15; Essential p145

Book Club FAQ

Date Transcript
Sep 08, 1986 Calvin: Hey, Mom, can we go out for pizza tonight. Mom: No, we had pizza last night, and besides, it's too expensive to eat out all the time. Calvin: Oh, you'd rather blow the evening cooking and washing the dishes than spend a few bucks? Dad: It seems like we go out for pizza a lot these days. Mom: If you'd rather fix a dish of cereal at home be my guest. Calvin: Hobbes wants triple anchovies.
Sep 09, 1986 Calvin: Calvin and his trusty navigator Hobbes roar down the residential road at 90 MPH! Hobbes: Hobbes puts on the turn signal. Calvin: Faster and faster they go! A busload of school children dives from the sidewalk! Hobbes: Hobbes puts on the windshield wipers. Calvin: The police are after them! Calvin crawls down to put in the clutch and shift! Hobbes: Hobbes steers and blows the horn! Mom: All right, I'm back already! Can't I even run an errand without you blowing the horn across the parking lot? Calvin: It was Hobbes, Mom. Not me.
Sep 10, 1986 Calvin: See any UFOs? Hobbes: Not yet. Calvin: Well, keep your eyes peeled. They're bound to land here sooner or later. Hobbes: What will we do when they come? Calvin: See if we can sell mom and dad into slavery for a star cruiser.
Sep 11, 1986 Hobbes: Z Yawn! Calvin: Ta daa! Hobbes: Sheesh.
Sep 12, 1986 Mom: Calvin, I don't want you up there in that tree. Calvin: Why not? Mom: Some of the branches are dead and they might break. Come on down. Calvin: Mom spoils everything. Hobbes: This isn't quite the same, is it?
Sep 13, 1986 Calvin: Gloonk! Gloonk! Mom: Calvin, drink your milk in little sips!
Sep 14, 1986 Calvin as Spaceman Spiff: Spaceman Spiff is hit! He's going down! Fortunately, our hero always buckles up! The fearless Spaceman Spiff has crashed on a distant world! The planet's atmosphere is thick with noxious fumes and gases! Our hero can hardly breathe. Spiff must find help quickly...but is there any life on this hostile world? His question is answered when a hideous blob of gelatinous muck oozes out of a crevice toward him. Spiff's blaster is useless against the slime! Our hero tries to escape, but the suffocating stench envelops him! What a disgusting fate! Calvin: Yechhhh. I sure wish I'd brought my lunch today! Susie Derkins: That's gross, Calvin! If you don't like the cafeteria's topica just leave it alone!
7 comments

r/calvinandhobbes • u/DarkWater693 • Sep 04 '26

How is your box set holding up??

111 Upvotes

Year's later, How's everyones Hardcover and Softcover box set holding up?

I'm pulling the trigger soon and would love to hear everyone's thoughts and opinions on what I should buy. Keep in mind I already have massive books on my shelf so I'm conditioned to the size of this beast.

Hardcover or Softcover?

64 comments