An Introduction to Calvin and Hobbes

“Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson was syndicated from 1985-95. During this 10-year run, it became one of the most popular & critically lauded comic strips of all time. At the height of its popularity, it appeared in 2400 newspapers and collected editions have sold over 45 million copies. 1/10

The comic is organized around a small cast, led by the titular Calvin and Hobbes. The former is named after John Calvin, a 16th century theologian who touted predestination, while the latter references Thomas Hobbes, a philosopher who Watterson describes as having “a dim view of human nature.” 2/10

Anyone who comes to the strip expecting endless riffs on Calvinist or Hobbesian rhetoric will be disappointed. But these referential names do evoke the strip’s investment in humorously debating popular understandings of human nature and the boundaries of reality. 3/10

Plot-wise, the central conceit of “Calvin and Hobbes” is the perpetual ambiguity of Hobbes, who is either–or simultaneously–a stuffed toy owned by Calvin or a real anthropomorphic talking tiger who is Calvin’s best friend and, sometimes, his primary antagonist. 4/10

The comic is primarily told from Calvin’s perspective. We see Hobbes as Calvin does, and are afforded privileged access to Calvin’s elaborate fantasies. And we only know Calvin’s parents the same way he does: as mom and dad. (They are never given any other names.) 5/10

Prioritizing the perspective of the boundlessly creative and oftentimes anarchic Calvin allows the comic strip to explore many wild landscapes, scenarios, and reality-bending transformations, making the most of comics’ ability to facilitate limitless fantasy. 6/10

The strip is notable for both its artistic quality and tremendous popularity as well as its unusual circumstances and publication history. While many popular comic strips continue for decades under multiple artists, Calvin and Hobbes ends definitively at the height of its success. 7/10

And unlike virtually every other popular comic, Calvin and Hobbes was never adapted or substantially merchandised. Watterson insisted on this point, fighting many bitter battles with his syndicate to retain creative control and turning down offers from several famous film directors. 8/10

The finite nature of Calvin and Hobbes, combined with Watterson’s reclusive persona, has arguably enhanced the strip’s mystique. Despite being deeply embedded within and influenced by the history of American comic strips, for many fans, Calvin and Hobbes stands alone. 9/10

Over the next two weeks, we’ll explore the mystique, minutiae, and malevolent snow goons of Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes, discussing the strip’s history, form, and enduring appeal. Stay tuned! 10/10