As a comic book starring an imaginative and anarchic six-year-old, it's no surprise that Calvin and Hobbes frequently deals with the subject of Santa Claus. Year after year, fans watched Calvin write hilarious letters to Santa Claus and then struggle to stay on the right side of naughty/nice, with Santa Claus himself making several appearances in the strip. As with many aspects of childhood, creator Bill Watterson knows how much children think about Santa Claus.
Here are the 15 most exciting Calvin and Hobbes comics about Santa Claus, while Calvin does his best to acquire as many “sake” while being forgiven for the worst possible behavior.
15
Is he naughty or nice?
Calvin and Hobbes comics from December 24, 1995
Calvin's imagination is a huge factor Calvin and Hobbeswith Watterson writing some impressive comics featuring dinosaurs, monsters and alien life to convey the enormity of a six-year-old's creativity. Here, Calvin imagines Santa and his elves debating whether he qualifies as naughty or nice, with a conclusion so damning that he literally can't sleep and risks losing presents for an entirely different reason than his behavior.
A lot of Calvin and Hobbes'The Christmas comic revolves around Calvin trying and failing to resist the lure of bad behaviorwith Hobbes providing self-aware commentary. Several arcs (like the one below, from December 1990) show Calvin doing his best to get on the 'Cool' list.
The idea of Calvin being capable of being “good” is obviously a pipe dream, leading him to defend extenuating circumstances, to try to exchange good deeds for bad deeds, and even to hire Hobbes as his lawyer. Unfortunately, true satisfaction remains out of reach, as Santa Claus refuses to bring Calvin the explosives he always asks for.
Calvin and Hobbes comic from December 7, 1995
Calvin writing to Santa is a joke Calvin and Hobbesas the rambunctious boy takes the opportunity to try and beg, threaten and trick Santa into providing some loot on Christmas Day. Hobbes keeps his head much more level-headed, acting as a foil to Calvin's attempts to outdo old Saint Nick.
If you are the type Calvin and Hobbes fan who thinks Hobbes is all in Calvin's head, it's easy to read these strips as Calvin's childish desires conflict with his more realistic appreciation of the world around him. But if – like creator Bill Watterson – you think Hobbes is something more, then Calvin's diabolical attempts are even funnier since he's 100% committed.
13
Santa Flambé
Calvin and Hobbes comics from December 24, 1990
While Calvin can be imaginative, he also has a knack for poking logical holes in stories his parents would like him to believe. In this case, he is immediately outraged when he sees a bonfire lit, as he knows that this is how Santa Claus arrives to deliver presents. While they may be long-suffering, Calvin's parents only have themselves to blame here.
12
You rotten little boy
Calvin and Hobbes comics from December 17, 1989
In a surprise comic strip, the joke of Calvin writing to Santa Claus is reversed, with Santa responding by ordering Calvin to be kind to animals if he wants gifts this year, calling him “the most naughty boy in the world”…or so it seems. In fact, the writer is Hobbes, trying to carve out a perfect week to dig through Calvin's comics. To be fair to Calvin, there is a reason he doesn't want Hobbes to read his comics, as seen in the strip below.
11
He's saying something
Calvin and Hobbes comics from December 24, 1987
While Calvin and Hobbes often dives into Calvin's imagination for his most fantastic stories, sometimes readers get to see what's really going on. In this case, a rare 'Santa Claus sighting' is actually Calvin's father stubbing his toe and engaging in the time-honored 'not-quite-swearing' found in classic children's media from Looney Tunes' Yosemite Sam stops Alone at homeIt's Harry Lyme.
10
Do you have a pen?
Calvin and Hobbes comic from December 9, 1995
Although Calvin's parents may try to control him, the only people who can truly beat him at his own game are Hobbes and Calvin's friend Susie. That's because they exist in the same imaginatively rich world – one where Susie threatening to report Calvin to Santa Claus is enough to dissuade him from throwing snowballs at her… at least for now.
Calvin and Susie's snowball fights are another running joke throughout the franchise.and one of the main 'temptations' that Calvin complains that Santa cannot expect him to resist.
9
Long disclosure and in small print
Calvin and Hobbes comic from December 5, 1995
In another 'write to Santa' joke, Calvin tries to use a little subterfuge stolen from the adult world. Watterson portrays Calvin as a child who is just beginning to notice strange details about the human world without understanding the bigger picture, leading to a mixture of cunning experimentation and sincere naivety.
8
Evil Santa
Calvin and Hobbes comic from December 7, 1995
In this strip, Calvin applies his imagination to think about Santa Claus oppositewhom he nicknames 'Evil Santa'. It's a kind of superhero logic that might be expected from a child who is constantly reading comic books and even has his own Stupendous Man costumed personality. Unfortunately, this villainous Santa isn't around to supply Calvin with army surplus weapons.
7
I don't want any gifts
Calvin and Hobbes comic from December 8, 1992
In another 'letter to Santa' joke, Calvin tries to get into Santa's head by lying about what he wants for Christmas. Fortunately, as always, Hobbes is there to rein in his worst ideas, pointing out that if Santa takes him seriously, he'll end up getting no presents at all. Throughout Calvin and HobbesCalvin tries everything he can to get Santa to deliver the gifts of his dreams, with Hobbes often mocking his friend along the way – even at one point refusing to be his character witness because, “I will not commit perjury because of you!”
6
Santa Claus didn't bring anything to Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes comics from December 25, 1988
Watterson crams several jokes into this strip, with the first two panels being a fun joke in its own right. Calvin and Hobbes often plays with the idea of how Calvin frames real-world events with his “imaginary” friendalthough Watterson is skilled at leaving multiple possibilities open. Did Santa forget Hobbes' gift because the tiger isn't real or because he knows he'll be completely satisfied with a hug from Calvin? Of course, the strip below offers the majority practical answer – lazy parents.
5
A vengeful and twisted elf
Calvin and Hobbes comics from December 14, 1993
Not having received a “atomic bomb” or “grenade launcher” for another year, Calvin finally loses his temper as he writes to Santa, asking if he is “he became senile” or is it just a “Vengeful and twisted elf.” Fortunately, Calvin agrees with Hobbes that it wouldn't be the smartest thing to send the letter, saving him from a lump of coal under the Christmas tree. This isn't the only time Calvin has had doubts about Santa Claus – another discussion with Hobbes turns philosophical when Calvin exposes his unanswered questions about the Christmas icon.
4
As soon as he drops the bag
Calvin and Hobbes comics from December 24, 1985
Hobbes is not always a good influence on Calvin, often being involved in his schemes and pranks. In this case, the pair hatch a scheme to steal Santa's entire supply of gifts, with an ingenious use of the chimney to grab his sack and then lock him outside. Calvin may be a chaotic character, but no one could accuse him of lacking intelligence.
3
He knows if you were bad or good
Calvin and Hobbes comics from December 17, 1987
Calvin's doubts about Santa Claus return when the perpetually troubled boy grows tired of being watched for “perverse behavior.” Had the Elf on the shelf Although the tradition existed during Calvin's childhood, he and Hobbes would have undoubtedly found a way to eliminate the stuffed animal before it could report to the North Pole.
2
I wish Santa would publish the guidelines
Calvin and Hobbes comics from December 20, 1992
In this strip, Calvin tries again to think of a system where he can fall on the right side of the naughty/nice binary, arguing that his natural inclination toward bad behavior must be taken into account. As in many Calvin and Hobbes cops, Watterson dips Calvin's toes into genuine philosophical consideration – is there an objective good? – before he gets distracted by the irresistible urge to throw a snowball at Susie. His admission that he “I wanted to put a rock in the snowball” suggests that Calvin's natural instincts may extend beyond 'naughty' to outright criminal.
1
A letter from Santa Claus
Calvin and Hobbes comics from December 19, 1993
From your art to your composition to your ideas, Calvin and Hobbes is constantly inventive, and Christmas seems to awaken Watterson's poetic instincts (see also the Christmas strip below, about Calvin and Hobbes napping by the fire). a short poem chronicles Calvin's dream that Santa Claus has decided to reward bad behaviorfinally rewarding him with the explosives on his Christmas list. Unfortunately (for Calvin) it's all a dream, and Santa hasn't yet turned to the dark side.
These are the 15 Calvin and Hobbes comics that take readers back to the time when earning a spot on Santa's 'Nice' list was a major concern, showing how Bill Watterson takes relatable childhood experiences and makes them hilarious.