It's A Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection

by Bill Watterson

Calvin and Hobbes (11)

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Description

The final collection of comic strips from the popular syndicated series follows the adventures of Calvin and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes.

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Member Reviews

23 reviews
Well, that's a wrap on the Calvin and Hobbes reread. This was a very fun little project, especially as I didn't remember some of these strips from the last collection at all. Here's my hot take: Watterson was right to quit when he did. I remember the deep sadness and sense of being bereft when the strip ended, but I think he was done, that he'd done what there was to do with the material. I mentioned about one of the other later collections that it was starting to feel like we knew all the jokes. I think that Calvin and Hobbes is held so highly now is absolutely because it was a truly amazing and groundbreaking strip, but also because he stopped before it got entirely old hat.
After all these books, it has finally happened! Susie has entered Calvin’s house. And boy, does he go mad! This was such a hilarious story to read!

As this book contains the final set of comic strips Bill Watterson created before his retirement, I found my heart growing heavier as I neared the end. But what a fitting finale this book has been! Every single beloved character makes a memorable last appearance. I was the happiest to see Rosalyn return, and to see her final adventure with Calvin ending on mutually satisfying terms.

I’ll miss this gang! But as the final panels of the book say, it’s a new day full of possibilities; let’s go exploring!

Mr. Watterson, thank you for Calvin & Hobbes!

***********************
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I adore Calvin and Hobbes. It was a staple of my childhood, and this last collection is so bittersweet.

I love how I gain different things out of it as an adult than I did in childhood. So many layers!
This is the final Calvin and Hobbes collection. Well, final in the sense of the original volumes collecting all of the strips. There are a number of other collections out there and I haven't a clue which was published most recently. This is the last one I felt compelled to buy to complete my collection. Anyway, it's quite an amusing book, as one might expect. The highlight of the book, in my mind, is the final storyline featuring Rosalyn, the babysitter. Watterson broke the shtick in a way that was amusing, yet heart warming. It's a pity that Calvin couldn't have been similarly reconciled to Moe or Miss Wormwood. (And, of course, there's Susie. Is there any hope at all for that relationship?)
--J.
The last "Calvin and Hobbes" collection, and enough to make me cry that it's all over. The last Sunday cartoon is a warm and hopeful look forward for a kid who, when it's all said and done, is really just a pretty nice little kid who wants to have fun.
This would be a good book for grades 5 and up. It follows the stories of Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes and contains advanced humor and philosophical topics. Kids won't understand all of the content, but it would be good for them to learn how to read more complex dialogue and funny jokes, along with beautiful illustrations.
A nice anthology of Calvin and Hobbes comic Strips. This one isn't a favourite - too much philosophy, too much stereotypes. But still way better than many other comics.
½

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Author Information

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319+ Works 80,991 Members
Cartoonist Bill Watterson was born in Washington, D.C. on July 5, 1958. He graduated from Kenyon College in 1980 with a B.A. in Political Science. Before beginning to publish his popular Calvin and Hobbes comic strip in 1985, Watterson worked briefly as a political cartoonist and also designed grocery advertisements. Calvin and Hobbes is one of show more the most well-regarded, successful comics of the twentieth century. Watterson depicted the adventures of an imaginative six-year-old boy and his stuffed tiger for ten years and ended the strip at the height of its popularity. The creator is known for his revolutionary design techniques and refusal to merchandise his characters or allow them to appear in an animated series. Watterson published several collections of his Calvin and Hobbes strips, including "It's a Magical World," "The Days Are Just Packed," and "The Revenge of the Baby-Sat." He has been recognized numerous times for excellence, including receiving two Reuben Awards for Cartoonist of the Year, consecutive Harvey Awards for Best Syndicated Comic Strip from 1990 to 1996, and two Eisner Awards for Best Comic Strip Collection. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title*
Un mudo mágico
Original title
It's a magical world
Alternate titles
A Magical World
Original publication date
1996
People/Characters
Calvin [of Calvin and Hobbes]; Susie Derkins; Hobbes; Miss Wormwood; Rosalyn [of Calvin and Hobbes]
First words
Cat nap, noun: a quick, light doze in the manner of cats.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)...Let's go exploring!
Original language
English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genre
Graphic Novels & Comics
DDC/MDS
741.5973Arts & recreationDrawing & decorative artsDrawing and drawingsComic books, graphic novels, fotonovelas, cartoons, caricatures, comic stripsHistory, geographic treatment, biographyNorth AmericanUnited States (General)
LCC
PN6728 .C34 .W384Language and LiteratureLiterature (General)Literature (General)Collections of general literatureComic books, strips, etc.
BISAC

Statistics

Members
4,472
Popularity
3,278
Reviews
21
Rating
½ (4.67)
Languages
11 — Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Portuguese, Spanish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
28
UPCs
1
ASINs
6