Calvin and Hobbes

If you have been a Calvin and Hobbes fan, you will probably remember the time when Calvin asks his mom for a cigarette and surprisingly, she gives him what he wants. After ONE puff, Calvin hacks, gags, coughs, wheezes, and falls to the ground. The lesson: “Trusting parents can be hazardous to your health.” That’s the idiosyncratic humor of Calvin and Hobbes.

Calvin and Hobbes Quotes

Beginning in November 18, 1985, Calvin and Hobbes had been syndicated on a daily basis until the 3,160 ^th strip on December 31, 1995. At the height of its popularity, Calvin and Hobbes appeared in as many as 2,400 newspapers around the world. One of the most successful comic strips of all time, Calvin and Hobbes follows the adventures of a 6 year old boy named Calvin and his best friend, an imaginary tiger called Hobbes. Together, they meet many of the problems, gaining lots of bizarre insights and misadventures along the way.

For a man who said, “If you can’t control your peanut butter, you can’t expect to control your life,” Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes, has certainly made peanut butter out of his life. Born on July 5, 1958, Watterson got a job as a political cartoonist at the Cincinnati Post after he graduated with a degree in Political Science from Kenyon College in 1980. Fired after six months, he worked at an advertising firm for four years before he came up with Calvin and Hobbes. Some of the people who have inspired him are Charles Schulz, Walt Kelly, George Herriman, and Winsor McCay. From the Reuben Award in 1986, Watterson has won many awards, his last being the Harvey Award in 1996.

Main Character List

Calvin: The star of Calvin and Hobbes, Calvin is self-centered and full of mischief, just like most 6 year old kids. Highly imaginative and stubborn, he often runs into sticky situations. With no siblings or friends, Calvin lives in his own world of fantasy, pushing the limits of his freedom to the extreme. When he gets into trouble, he points his finger at Hobbes.

Hobbes: Hobbes is actually a stuffed tiger brought to life by Calvin’s imagination. Sort of a guardian angel, he annoys Calvin with his philosophical ramblings and jumps on him when nobody is around.

Calvin’s Parents: Like all parents, they want the best for Calvin. Though they are mad at him more often than usual, they love him all the same. They have no real names, only being known as Mom and Dad. Bill Watterson has said that Calvins dad is a satire of his own father.

Susie Derkins: The girl next door, Susie is head over heels in love with Calvin. She is smart, kind and generous. Her greatest wish is to be his friend and his greatest thrill is to make fun of her. Bill Watterson named this character Derkins after his wifes own family dog.

Miss Wormwood: Poor old Miss Wormwood is approaching retirement. Since she’s Calvin’s teacher, she’s not so sure she will get there. She tends to smoke and meditate when she feels stressed.

Rosalyn: Calvin is afraid of his babysitter, Rosalyn. She’s really brave because nobody else would take the job. However, Calvin is always plotting some sort of problem for her.

Moe: Moe loves to bully Calvin. Sometimes, he will pick Calvin up and give him a beating. He usually ends up trying to steal Calvin’s allowance. However Moe is not the brightest crayon in the box so Calvin always gets the last laugh.

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