Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Poll

    Major Spoilers Poll of the Week: Favorite Strip Edition

    Stephen SchleicherBy Stephen SchleicherMarch 8, 201615 Comments2 Mins Read

    Recent discussions about the fate of Thag Simmons had me thinking about days long ago past, where reading the newspaper meant discovering items of world interest, seeing who was looking to hook up, and best of all, the comic section. Back in my day (yeah, yeah, quiet you), there were two must read strips that would never disappoint – The Far Side by Gary Larson, and Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson.

    tothewiki

    THE FAR SIDE

    Its surrealistic humor is often based on uncomfortable social situations, improbable events, an anthropomorphic view of the world, logical fallacies, impending bizarre disasters, (often twisted) references to proverbs, or the search for meaning in life. Larson’s frequent use of animals and nature in the comic is popularly attributed to his background in biology.

    farsidethag

    CALVIN AND HOBBES

    Calvin and Hobbes follows the humorous antics of Calvin, a precocious, mischievous, and adventurous six-year-old boy, and Hobbes, his sardonic stuffed tiger. Set in the contemporary, suburban United States, the strip depicts Calvin’s frequent flights of fancy and his friendship with Hobbes. It also examines Calvin’s relationships with family and classmates, especially the love/hate relationship between him and his classmate, Susie Derkins. Hobbes’ dual nature is a defining motif for the strip: to Calvin, Hobbes is a live anthropomorphic tiger; all the other characters see Hobbes as an inanimate stuffed toy.

    calvinhobbes

    While Calvin and Hobbes ran in more newspapers than The Far Side, I have to ask, “Which was your favorite?”

    VOTE!

    [poll id=”428″]

    Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comment section below!

    bill watterson calvin and hobbes Gary Larson major spoilers poll of the week Poll The Far Side
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous Article[Toys] The Flash joins Mezco Toys lineup
    Next Article [Solicitations] Gotham Academy and Lumberjanes are crossing over
    Stephen Schleicher
    • Website
    • Twitter

    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...

    Related Posts

    Two rare Calvin and Hobbes cartoons hit the auction block in November

    Read More

    Calvin and Hobbes comic strip headed to the auction block

    Read More

    Major Spoilers Poll of the Week: Comic-Con Edition

    Read More

    15 Comments

    1. HipHopHead on March 8, 2016 11:41 am

      Tough one to vote for…this could have been the rare “I like both”. I remember reading both of these strips daily, but I did give Calvin and Hobbes the slight edge.

      Gary Larson’s Far Side appealed to quirky vision we may all have of day to day life. Where I looked forward to each day to see what Larson was going to show on one panel.

      While Calvin & Hobbes appealed to six-year old imagination we all once had. I looked forward each week to see where Bill Waterson was going to take us with Calvin & Hobbes. Time Travel in a card board box anyone?

      Reply
    2. Jeffrey Corbello on March 8, 2016 11:58 am

      I think Far Sie is definitely funnier but as a whole I enjoy C&H more.

      Reply
    3. Drew on March 8, 2016 12:35 pm

      Both of these comics were awesome. Watterson captured the joy and innocence of childhood while Larson had a knack for tapping into the unusual sense of humor that runs through my family. Had to pick far side, because even with calvin’s active imagination, he never hunted the elusive Spamalope!

      Reply
    4. MysteryMac on March 8, 2016 12:36 pm

      I have always liked and collected Calvin and Hobbes. The humor is contagious and now that i have kids I see that some of the strips are my life now.

      Reply
    5. Malone_hasco on March 8, 2016 1:10 pm

      While I see the appeal of Calvin and Hobbes, I find the Far Side much more profound.

      Reply
    6. Xaxelbrax on March 8, 2016 1:38 pm

      Never found Far Side funny. At least I would chuckle sometimes at Calvin & Hobbes.

      Reply
    7. Daniel Langsdale on March 8, 2016 2:53 pm

      I’m going to be “that guy” and disqualify Far Side because it’s a single panel thing, and not a strip. More to the point, Watterson managed to do some marvelous storytelling and panel arrangement within the hugely limited constraints of the newspaper strip. So while I find both entertaining and funny, C&H gets the bump for it’s mastery of the form.

      Reply
    8. Clubberlang6 on March 8, 2016 4:34 pm

      I voted for Calvin and Hobbes, but For Better Or For Worse is my all time favorite strip.

      Reply
    9. Brenning Dragonbred on March 8, 2016 8:11 pm

      I can’t vote. No, it isn’t broken, I just enjoy both equally on different levels. It is like comparing Ice Cream to Chili Dogs and asking which one I like best.

      Reply
    10. Ray on March 8, 2016 8:16 pm

      I’m old… the Far Side

      Reply
    11. Loudmouth Takashi Miike on March 8, 2016 8:44 pm

      Wow, tough poll. Love both of these comic strips but voted for Calvin & Hobbes. Read both of these years ago in both the newspaper and the collected editions. I used to buy the Far Side desk calendars for years after the strip had ended.

      Reply
    12. 春咲絵門 on March 8, 2016 9:35 pm

      Yeah, they’re both great, but accomplish very different things. Calvin and Hobbes was a daily strip, but Watterson did some great long-ish form storytelling. Because The Far Side was only one panel, it really had to work hard to distill it’s message into its purest form. I love both, but they are very different.

      Reply
    13. b003 on March 9, 2016 2:52 pm

      Farside, the boneless chicken ranch was a classic.

      Reply
    14. Karl G. Siewert (@yoyology) on March 10, 2016 8:58 am

      I voted Far Side because it appeals to my particular quirks more than Calvin did, though I probably need to go back and read C&H again as a parent and see if that has changed.

      Of course, the real answer is Bloom County.

      Reply
    15. Critical Mass (@torqueflite) on March 15, 2016 12:21 pm

      Get aFuzzy. Very sorry that Darby Conley has stopped producing daily strips.

      Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    AMAZON AFFILIATE

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    8.0
    June 15, 2025

    The Death of the Silver Surfer #1 Review

    4.7
    June 15, 2025

    Retro Review: Master Comics #11 (February 1941)

    9.0
    June 13, 2025

    Marvel United: A Pride Special Review

    6.3
    June 10, 2025

    X-Men #17 Review

    6.0
    June 9, 2025

    Power Rangers Prime #7 Review

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • Nathan on Wayne’s Comics Podcast #696: Interview with Creators from Concrete Arcanum
    • Austin Cowboy on FIRST LOOK: Conan the Barbarian #21
    • Frank on COMICS PORTAL: Batman Meets… Deadpool!?
    • ZackaryTobias on COMICS PORTAL: Batman Meets… Deadpool!?
    • derrigable on COMICS PORTAL: I Want More than Good Memories!
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2025 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT