I remember when I was in school, there were a couple of girls who’d snap rubber bands at me and hit me in the mouth where it hurt! As they did so, they’d say in a musical voice, “PING!”
In Junior High I had a teacher with a zero tolerance policy on rubber bands. Any violation would result in her bringing out a plexiglass paddle that a former student made for her in shop class.
Asimov had a short story about a time in the future where a man could do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division IN HIS HEAD. He was hailed as a genius or a magician. That story was written a long time ago.
I shudder to think about the things I shot with rubber bands as a kid: tight paper bushwhackers, folded paper clips…no eyes lost, miraculously, but plenty of red welts
I think this one shows it’s from a previous time. Making a joke that even hints of violence from a student in a school isn’t very funny in today’s world, given the tragedies we’ve had since this strip was written.
Is part of the joke that “Spiff” is a ridiculously inept name for an intrepid intergalactic adventurer? Its flatness is quite out of keeping with the elaborate fantasies that Calvin has about his alter ego’s experiences.
Come on Calvin – you have enough fingers and toes to figure this math problem out. But it will be great if you shoot Mrs. Wormwood with the rubber band as that will get you a one way ticket to the principal’s office.
BE THIS GUY over 4 years ago
Good thing Spaceman Spiff is prepared for situations like these.
The Calvinosaurus That Calvin Wanted To Discover over 4 years ago
Now this is a quality way to learn subtraction.
Templo S.U.D. over 4 years ago
in the imaginary world, good thing Spiff is wearing eye protection in case the rubber band were to backfire
Notaspy over 4 years ago
“Bloodsucking Mutant Chromosomal Disasters” is a great name for a band
Gracella over 4 years ago
How does he know about an atom blaster yet he can’t even attempt 11 -4?
Johnny Q Premium Member over 4 years ago
I remember when I was in school, there were a couple of girls who’d snap rubber bands at me and hit me in the mouth where it hurt! As they did so, they’d say in a musical voice, “PING!”
codycab over 4 years ago
Now what’s Calvin, I mean Spiff going to do when he’s in the principal’s office, I mean sacrificial pit?
rimose over 4 years ago
In Junior High I had a teacher with a zero tolerance policy on rubber bands. Any violation would result in her bringing out a plexiglass paddle that a former student made for her in shop class.
BigDaveGlass over 4 years ago
Knowing Calvin he’ll let go the wrong end…
nosirrom over 4 years ago
He’s no match for Miss Wormwood. She’s packing two 3-shooters.
lucky444 over 4 years ago
Yet it’s simple, Calvin. Here the easy solution:7(5 − x) + 6(3x − 2) = 9x + 7 − 11(3x − 4) 4(2x − 4) − 5(x + 1) = 11(2x + 3) − 2x = 714624
KelleySweat over 4 years ago
Tsk tsk tsk…
TampaFanatic1 over 4 years ago
Hard core math for Calvin! Spaceman Spiff next demands a ****ing calculator and gets dispatched to the principals office!
jpayne4040 over 4 years ago
Somehow, I think that might be the wrong answer.
cubswin2016 over 4 years ago
Someone must have dropped Calvin on his head when he was a baby.
dflak over 4 years ago
Let me pull up the calculator app on my phone.
Asimov had a short story about a time in the future where a man could do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division IN HIS HEAD. He was hailed as a genius or a magician. That story was written a long time ago.
keltii over 4 years ago
in about 7 seconds he’s about to be sent to the principals office.
A Hip loving Canadian... over 4 years ago
Remember Calvin, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes”… all four of them.
tripwire45 over 4 years ago
The drugs this kid must take to live in that alternate reality must be magnificient.
dwdl21 over 4 years ago
Of course today, Calvin would be suspended and forced into therapy for threatening with a rubber weapon…lol
Huckleberry Hiroshima over 4 years ago
Uh-oh. He’s crossed the line.
Kilrwat Premium Member over 4 years ago
I shudder to think about the things I shot with rubber bands as a kid: tight paper bushwhackers, folded paper clips…no eyes lost, miraculously, but plenty of red welts
rshive over 4 years ago
Careful Spiff. You’ll violate the inter-galactic code of ethics. Bad news indeed.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Well, now we know where Calvin comes down on the ‘fight or flight’ philosophy.
Constantinepaleologos over 4 years ago
Knows big words like “chromosomal.” Still can’t subtract four from eleven.
petermerck over 4 years ago
Calvin needs to learn math so he figure out the millions he’ll make sFrom Spaceman Spiff screen plays.
belgarathmth over 4 years ago
I think this one shows it’s from a previous time. Making a joke that even hints of violence from a student in a school isn’t very funny in today’s world, given the tragedies we’ve had since this strip was written.
BiggerNate91 over 4 years ago
Just the thought of Calvin calling his classmates and teacher “bloodsucking mutant chromosomal disasters” is too perfect.
DanWolfie over 4 years ago
Heh, “Reaching closer to the sacrificial pit” sounds like a lyric for an 80s or 90s pop song.
AndrewSihler over 4 years ago
Is part of the joke that “Spiff” is a ridiculously inept name for an intrepid intergalactic adventurer? Its flatness is quite out of keeping with the elaborate fantasies that Calvin has about his alter ego’s experiences.
TimeLordSoundwave over 4 years ago
All he had to do was write “7”.
Old27F20 over 4 years ago
…and another form letter is automatically emailed to mom and dad.
Stephen Gilberg over 4 years ago
Bad choice of words, Miss Wormwood.
Stephen Gilberg over 4 years ago
Wait, is he narrating out loud the whole time? Can the class hear what he says in panel 1?
fix-n-fly over 4 years ago
Come on Calvin – you have enough fingers and toes to figure this math problem out. But it will be great if you shoot Mrs. Wormwood with the rubber band as that will get you a one way ticket to the principal’s office.
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 4 years ago
Does the school district have a psychiatrist? Or did he/she quit after five minutes with Calvin to drive trucks over the ice in Canada?
Andrew Sleeth over 4 years ago
Office supplies don’t kill people. Children with vivid imaginations kill people.
CHAD OCHOCINCO JOHNSON about 3 years ago
11-4=7