The Essential Calvin and Hobbes

This works well as an ebook on the Kindle Fire. Brings back great memories of the 1980s and the innocent wisdom of Calvin and Hobbes and the forbearance of his (their?) parents, which is interesting to re-read now that I'm a parent too. Watterson shows that humor can be meaningful without shouting. How fitting that Charles Schultz wrote the introduction to this volume. By all means, go back and read it (or read it again). If you have Amazon Prime, it's even free now.

There must be many reasons for the almost universal delight taken by the public in the work of Bill Watterson as the creator of a swash-buckling 6-year-old and a tiger named Hobbes, who is real to Calvin, but is a stuffed animal to everyone else. The syndicated strip ran for 10 years -- 1985 through 1995, with the Treasury published in 1999, and the 3-volume "Complete Calvin and Hobbes" in 2005.

Watterson has resisted what must be a kind of temptation: He has not permitted or profited from merchandising: "My strip is about private realities, the magic of imagination, and the specialness of certain friendships. [No one] would believe in the innocence of a little kid and his tiger if they cashed in on their popularity to sell overpriced show more knickknacks that nobody needs." I like that part -- that "nobody needs". Then again, I wonder.... show less

Calvin and Hobbes is the greatest comic strip ever written. It remains timeless and puts us in touch with our childhood. I remember saving strips from the Sunday papers for years before I got my first collected book. In fact, I have the final strip still, saved in a protective plastic slip, and will probably frame it eventually. That's the impact Watterson had on me.

Spaceman Spiff, the product of an overactive imagination and always a sign that Calvin is a) in school and b) soon to be in trouble. Susie Derkins, the girl next door who comes to town and steals young Calvin's heart (not that you'd really know it except for how Hobbes reacts to her). Moe, the bully, a constant threat in Calvin's life. And if you can keep from tearing up show more during the "little raccoon" storyline, then congrats on having either no access to your emotions or no soul.

Funny, poignant, touching, thought-provoking, timeless. Everyone should have Calvin and Hobbes in their library. show less

I enjoy many chuckles, reading Calvin and Hobbes. I noticed right away the strips in this volume are from early on: the drawing style- especially the main character's faces- are slightly different and Calvin is meeting Susie the girl next door for the first time. It's got similar subject material as later strips: arguments with parents, avoiding homework, getting bored in class, acting out his wild imagination, teasing girls, being grossed out at dinner, a kid being a kid. Really obnoxious kid, with witty comebacks and plenty of funny remarks. And of course, his tiger companion Hobbes is a charmer. I recognized most of the panels from reading these long ago when they were featured in the newspaper, but some were new to me (or I had show more forgotten them): the episode where Calvin is an onion in a school play about nutrition, the one where they find an injured raccoon, another serious one where Calvin and Hobbes come across a clearing in the woods for a new development, and rant about how wildlife is being displaced. I liked it.

from the Dogear Diary show less

so many of these strips are simply wonderful. the joys of childhood, the annoyances of parenthood, the best friend relationship. he captures it all. there are a few things that don't work now, but in general it holds up so well. i really relate to the parenting ones and the craziness of calvin, after whom we apparently should have named our kid.

A classic. A good friend sent this to me on a rough week (thanks, Julie!) and it was really a joy to slowly re-read this selection of the adventures of wee Calvin and his tiger, Hobbes. I hadn't read these in bulk in over a decade and it was like spending some time with an old friend. Perfect mix of sweet and funny, with an enchanting drawing style. This is the book for anyone you know (of any age) that may need a little laughter.

A re-read of I don't how many times, but every time I pick it up I find something new. This time I paid more attention to the actual drawing, and was amazed by how active and alive it felt. This was one of the greatest comic strips ever published, and will always be my favorite.