Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for July 12, 2020

Dad should be playing outside with Calvin on a July Sunday.

Dad just never sees the bigger picture.

Go play outside!

The incredibly annoying shrinking Calvin.

These things just keep happening to Calvin. Gravity gets turned off, perspective is lost, colours go negative, and now this.

But Calvin, you got Dad’s attention.

Love the artwork of tiny Calvin in the paper airplane.

Calvin is missing the fact that by chanting the phrase Go Play Outside, Dad was able to transform Calvin back to his original size.

“…but soon Calvin’s patience is rewarded!”

I’m sorry, Calvin’s what??

Honey, I shrunk the kids!

You are lucky to get away with that comment that go out and play. Better than going to school.

Nice – Dad uses a fountain pen. I wonder if Watterson uses a Waterhouse?

The best place to play, Calvin. Be glad you have space to play and aren’t stuck in a city apartment.

Does Dad have a MontBlanc pen, ($750)? https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/collection/writing-instruments/meisterstueck/13661-meisterstueck-gold-coated-legrand-fountain-pen.html

I suppose when your an only child the only people in the house to play with are your parents. Parents don’t play fair.

That might make a great Sunday too! Have Calvin dream that his parents are Robots with the same canned response to his every question: “Go play outside, Calvin!”.

Inch High Private Eye should have made a guest appearance.

\\//_

Welp Calvin, you could instead try typing “Help, I’m a bug!” on Mom’s letter to Grandma…

I’ve never been able to get a paper airplane to behave like anything but a rock with a death wish. But I have fond memories of little balsa wood gliders. Ones with rubber-band driven propellers were the best, they would climb to maybe 50 feet, then catch a breeze and glide. We played out-of-doors all the time.

Calvin’s patience is rewarded! Since when does Calvin have patience?

Calvin will be fine. this was my childhood as my parents had little time for us kids. I took my imagination outside and found a few good friends and made the best of it. I’m 68 with a ‘still’ warped imagination and a lovely retirement. Lemons my friends, lemons.

My Dad worked from home except on Fridays when he had to be in the office. Rather unusual in the 50s, 60s and 70s but I am glad he did. He occasionally had out of state assignments that would take him away for 3 – 6 months. I hated that. My mom was mentally unstable and could be quite nasty to live with. Her bad days far outnumbered her good days.

I just want to know if Calvin grows up to be a sci-fi writer…….

i love the fact that the situation totally changes. too funny!

Luckily, I never grew up.

“The Incredible Shrinking Man” should have tried that.

The closing panel is Calvin’s attitude about his parents in a nutshell. (BTW, anyone know how a raven is like a writing desk?)

Oh man, you won’t hear that said to a kid anymore. My sons lived outside because we didn’t want their shenanigans in the house.

Awwww. Sweet little boys’ antics can sometimes be misinterpreted by busy parents. Wish I had some of my three little boys’ “bothering me” times to revisit.

Beats the heck out of a recording that says: Why don’t you go play in the quicksand?

In all fairness, maybe Calvin should leave his parents alone. They have important issues to worry about, such as “What are our names?”!

The sad thing is, this beloved comic is already over. They’re just recycling Watterson’s old comics.