25 years ago today, I opened up my local newspaper and instantly fell in love with Calvin and Hobbes. The strip mixed social commentary, side splitting comedy, and a look at the world around us from the perspective of a young kid with an over active imagination.
Bill Watterson wrapped up the Calvin and Hobbes series on December 31, 1995, and the world is a sadder place because of it.
Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...
6 Comments
Agreed! Calvin and Hobbes holds a special place in my heart – my parents bought me several strip collections over the years, and it filled my childhood with wonder. Bill Watterson is an amazing artist and writer!
Calvin and Hobbes is something truly special. There’s something really magical and poignant, while still being quite hilarious, about this little comic strip. I actually use it in my composition classes when we discuss literature. It is a helpful way to make students question their conceptions about what can and cannot be called literature.
I loved Calvin and Hobbes. Sad that kids today only know Calvin for peeing on things on the back glass of pick-up trucks.
Calvin and Hobbes is fantastic, one of the best comic strips ever. I grey up with them so they are very special.
Calvin and Hobbes was a great strip. I can only imagine the fun and frivolity that Bill Watterson could have done had he kept it around longer. What made it so great was the simplest concept of a boy with a very active imagination and what he could do with it. From “Spaceman Skiff” to the different things Calvin would do with a box i.e. The Duplicator, the Transmogrphier, to the antics with Suzy Derkins. It was truly a great strip and one that is missed today.
“Look a dead bird!”
“It must’ve hit a window.”
“Isn’t it beautiful? It’s so delicate. SIGGHH… Once it’s too late, you appreciate what a miracle life is. You realize that nature is ruthless and our existence is very fragile, temporary, and precious. But to go on with your daily affairs, you can’t really think about that. …Which is probably why everyone takes the world for granted and why we act so thoughtlessly. It’s very confusing. I suppose it will all make sense when we grow up.”
“No doubt.”