Calvin and Hobbes It's one of the greatest comic books of all timenot just because it's hilarious, but because Brilliantly captures what life is like through the eyes of a child. Six-year-old Calvin and his (supposedly) stuffed animal/imaginary friend Hobbes have no shortage of adventures together, all rooted in childhood fun and whimsy, as well as more serious and stressful aspects of life as a child.
The only downside to the comic book series is that there are only ten years of stories for fans to enjoy. However, this should not suggest that Calvin and Hobbes it is tenuous or incomplete – far from it. The ten-year runtime really benefits the series, as it's a complete story that gives fans a brief window through which to observe the lives of Calvin and Hobbes, and makes each comic book feel that much more special. And from November 2024, the equivalent of a full month of Calvin and Hobbes comics just turned 30 – here are the 10 best!
10
Calvin tries to dictate lunch preparation methods to his mother
Calvin and Hobbes – November 30, 1994
Calvin walks over to his mother, who is preparing dinner, and he brings her a complaint about her lunch. Calvin says his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches have been soggy lately and asks for a container of jelly and a knife from his lunch box so he can apply the jelly himself. Calvin then says that his mother uses the wrong type of bread slices in her sandwiches and specifically asks for the end slices.
It goes without saying that Calvin's mother ignores himand he hilariously discovers this the next day at lunch. The fact that Calvin has the audacity to complain about how his mom makes him a homemade lunch every day – while she makes him a homemade dinner, no less – is absolutely hilarious, as is the fact that his mom just ignores him (and rightly so). ).
9
Hobbes is willing to betray Calvin for the promise of food
Calvin and Hobbes – November 27, 1994
Calvin and Hobbes are lying in bed together when Calvin hears an ominous voice speaking to him from under his bed. The voice – clearly belonging to the monster living under the bed – makes Calvin an offer. He tells him he'll give him a shiny toy, and all Calvin has to do is get under the bed. Calvin sees through the monster's tricks, saying he is just trying to lure him into eating him.
Then, the monster then tries to get Hobbes to force Calvin under the bed, promising the tiger fresh salmon – and Hobbes considers this. It makes sense that Hobbes would consider selling Calvin for the promise of food, since that's basically how the two became friends. However, that doesn't make it any less reprehensible (or hilarious).
8
Calvin has a hilarious and creative way of avoiding receiving a text
Calvin and Hobbes – November 14, 1994
Calvin answers the home phone and finds someone on the other end who wants to speak to his father. Calvin notices that his father is not there, so the person asks to leave a message for the six-year-old boy. Calvin says yes, but it soon becomes clear that the last thing he wants is to hear that person's 'boring' message to his father. So, Calvin blows up a balloon and places it right next to the phone before shouting, “I got shot!“.
Calvin has always been a creative boy, whose creativity is matched only by his aptitude for creating trouble.
Calvin then hangs up the phone and walks away, commenting on how much he hates receiving messages. Calvin has always been a creative boy, whose creativity is matched only by his aptitude for creating trouble. And this comic highlights both aspects of Calvin's personality in the funniest way possible.
7
Hobbes Has a Dark Answer to Calvin's Existential Question
Calvin and Hobbes – November 11, 1994
As Calvin and Hobbes lie in bed together, Calvin turns to Hobbes and asks him a very existential question. Calvin is wondering why humans were put on Earth, what their purpose is, and why anyone is here. Hobbes has a shockingly simple answer to this question, even if it is a little dark: “tiger food“. Hobbes then gives Calvin a mischievous smile before rolling over to go back to sleep, leaving Calvin to wonder if Hobbes was serious.
Hobbes is a famous tiger obsessed with food. He became friends with Calvin because the six-year-old fed him, and even considered selling Calvin to monsters for the promise of fresh fish. So when Hobbes said that humans only exist to be tiger food, Calvin is right to be skeptical of his supposed “best friend.”
6
Calvin finds the worst way to cheat on his math homework
Calvin and Hobbes – November 8, 1994
Calvin's father is at work when he suddenly receives a call from Calvin. Since it's noon, Calvin's father asks his son if he's at school and, if so, why he's calling him. Calvin assures his father that he is at school and that he is fine, but Calvin needs his help with something: the answer to the equation 11+7.
Calvin and Hobbes' Calvin is notoriously bad at math (something that has been true since the comic's first week of distribution), but his scheme to get out of solving a math problem in this particular comic is absolutely pathetic. Calling dad to give him the answer to a problem? This is the worst way to cheat on an assignment – although it can be the funniest.
5
Calvin experiences the dangers of playing at his desk
Calvin and Hobbes – November 1, 1994
While Calvin is sitting at his desk at school, reading a book, he just can't sit still. Calvin starts rocking in his chair and generally does whatever a teacher tells his students not to do while sitting at his desk – and Calvin finds out why the hard way. Calvin loses his balance and falls to the floorand instead of admitting that he plays at his desk, Calvin claims he fell completely by accident.
Calvin is an incredibly active boy, so having to sit still at his desk during school hours is a nightmare. But in this comic, Calvin discovers that the alternative could lead to him falling to the ground in front of the entire class. And, no matter what Calvin says, this doesn't happen by accident, it's simply the danger of playing at his desk.
4
Calvin declares himself the most important person in history
Calvin and Hobbes – November 13, 1994
Calvin and Hobbes are walking through the woods one weekend, and Calvin admits to Hobbes that he is thinking about the story, not about a specific point in the story, but about the whole story. Specifically, Calvin has been thinking about how all of history led up to his birth. Calvin claims he is the most important person in historybecause everything that has ever happened has led to its existence.
Then, Hobbes asks what Calvin will do with this “great destiny,” and the comics show the two simply watching television. Calvin and Hobbes' Calvin has always seemed like a little dictator with delusions of grandeur, but this absolutely gets the upper hand, especially since Calvin's 'great destiny' is basically just toying with Hobbes.
3
Calvin has the most hilarious picture day ever (but his parents aren't thrilled)
Calvin and Hobbes – November 20, 1994
All of this Calvin and Hobbes the comic is nothing more than a series of images of Calvin making faces at the reader. Except for the last panel, which is his parents' reaction to those images. Apparently, These 'Many Faces of Calvin' Are the Result of Calvin's School Picture Dayand Calvin's parents are simply accepting the fact that they won't be getting the standardized version of 'cool' photos of their son anytime soon.
Calvin's decision to make funny faces in his school photos is absolutely amazing and totally hilarious. But his parents are a bit conservative, so they're not exactly thrilled. They are, however, accepting – and their begrudging acceptance of who their son is is one of the funniest parts of this comic.
2
Calvin's father proves he's the series' most underrated character
Calvin and Hobbes – November 6, 1994
Calvin's father is sitting on the porch, enjoying a beautiful sunset, when he calls his wife to join him. She, however, is washing the family dishes, cannot afford to watch the sunset, and is silently plotting to murder her husband because she is so oblivious. Then, Calvin joins his father on the porch and asks why the old photos are in black and white instead of color.
Calvin's father (and, honestly, his mother too) proves that he is one of the most underrated characters in the series.
Calvin's father explains to him that the world was black and white back then, and every time Calvin tries to counter this explanation, Calvin's father just leads him to believe that the world really was black and white. Everything about this comic is absolutely hysterical, from Calvin's father's interaction with his wife to the fact that he is lying to his six-year-old son about the nature of the world. In fact, Calvin's father (and, honestly, his mother too) proves that he's one of the most underrated characters on the show.
1
Calvin introduces fans to his most bizarre alter ego
Calvin and Hobbes – November 5, 1994
That Calvin and Hobbes The comic begins with Mount Calvin, a seemingly dormant volcano, suddenly erupting, spouting molten lava all over the place. The comic then cuts to Calvin sitting at the dinner table with his family, drinking a glass of water, as the hot sauce he just swallowed was apparently too hot for him to handle. To make matters worse, Calvin vomited his food all over the table, just like his volcano alter ego did to the lava.
Calvin has no shortage of alter egos in Calvin and Hobbesfrom astronaut Spiff to stupendous man. However, a literal volcano has to be one of Calvino's most bizarre, and in this case, his most chaotic. That's why this is one of the 10 funniest Calvin and Hobbes comics that just turned 30!