Calvin and Hobbes
This recommendation is dedicated to my friend Vinoo, who much like Hobbes, patiently puts up with my insane ramblings and gracefully responds with wise insight and encouragement.
Calvin and Hobbes is, hands down, without a doubt, the single best comic strip of all time… ever.
Bold claim, I know. But if you know me, you know that I am not one prone to hyperbole.
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure, Calvin and Hobbes is a comic strip that ran from 1985 to 1995. Written and illustrated by the cartoonist Bill Watterson, it was featured in 2,400 newspapers at its peak and has sold over 45 million books. (Watterson also never sold the merchandising rights like a boss, forgoing potential ten of millions in royalties) The story follows a young boy Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, who only Calvin can speak with, on their adventures and musings through their day to day lives.
While Calvin seems to be your average delinquent, rebellious young boy, he is actually quite bright, thoughtful, and imaginative, always finding clever ways to get into and out of trouble. Hobbes is part conscience, part mentor, and part partner in crime, accompanying Calvin and often providing a foil for his thoughts. Calvin is actually named after the 16th century theologian John Calvin and Hobbes after 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes and might clue you in on the strip’s philosophical elements.
What makes Calvin and Hobbes a comic strip at the pinnacle of its genre is how smart it is while also being such a fun loving, curiosity and innocence celebrating, and heartwarming comic. Not to mention beautifully illustrated. Bill Watterson’s comic is transcendent precisely because it is well loved by young kids the world over while also being a stimulating and thought provoking read for a more mature audience who can understand the more complex ideas the comic grapples with.
Watterson does an amazing job of capturing the imagination of childhood and the beautiful bonds of friendship and family. One of my favorite strips of all time is the wordless depiction of Calvin and his father’s snow day together. It is a testament to Watterson’s mastery of his art that so much beautiful emotion can be captured without a single word.
The comic also has fun with Spaceman Spiff, Stupendous Man, and Tracer Bullet, Calvin’s imagined alter egos. These characters give Watterson a lot of room to explore interesting ideas while showcasing Calvin’s wild imagination.
What really puts the comic over the top for me is the deeper philosophical conversations and ideas that Calvin and Hobbes discuss. There is so much there that I could talk for hours on this, but honestly, while researching this article, I found a video that puts anything I could say to shame. Trust me, if you are curious to get a taste of the philosophy of Calvin and Hobbes, this is 9 minutes well spent.
Calvin and Hobbes is also delightfully playful and funny. If you are looking for something that will give you a little laugh, there are a bunch of great strips that can do just that.
As I pointed out before, Calvin and Hobbes is not just for young kids, but also for adults. As a kid, it was so easy to relate to Calvin and his struggle against the rules of his parents, his teachers, and society, but as an adult, we can identify with the struggle of these older characters to balance love, caring, and guidance for a young inquisitive and rebellious youth.
And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the style. Watterson’s art is truly one of a kind and every panel is lovingly crafted, using a range of colors and detail that always enhance the meaning and emotion conveyed in each strip.
If you read Calvin and Hobbes growing up like I did, and have yet to revisit it in your adult years, I highly recommend a read through. I have no doubt you will be pleasantly surprised at the imagination, beauty, and depth of a comic that seemed like simply an innocent and playful story of a young trouble maker and his imaginary fluffy best friend.
