Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for September 11, 2022

Couldn’t you smell you were in his territory?

They wouldn’t want to be friends with someone more dangerous like you Calvin.

I like the upside down “AAAAA…” Calvin is upside down, so it makes sense.

what friends? you don’t have very many friends, Calvin, save Hobbes and Susie (if you consider her a friend than a fiend).

That must be the spot in front of the window where the sunlight is shining.

A tiger needs his territory, he does everything to hold his ground!

It looks like 2 Hobbeses are about to tie their tails together.

Love the upside down “Aaaaaaaah!”

But Hobbes just wans to wuv you and kiss you and hug you, Calvin! ;D

I appreciate the originality of the layout made by Bill.

An anagram of “territorial animal” is “I’m irrational alert.”

So far no one has asked what someone other than Calvin would see.

No one would see Hobbes jump on Calvin, of course, but Calvin once photographed Hobbes pouncing on him and showed it to Dad. Dad still saw Hobbes as a stuffed doll but in mid-air.

Anyone seeing Calvin flying backwards through the air with Hobbes would see Calvin holding on to a stuffed doll rather than Hobbes holding onto Calvin.

We did once see Susie see Calvin fighting with Hobbes. “I don’t know which is weirder. That you’re fighting with a stuffed animal or that you seem to be losing!” She could see Calvin fighting the stuffed doll but not Hobbes fighting Calvin which was why she couldn’t understand how even Calvin – whom she always beats – could lose THAT fight.

Instead of seeing Hobbes dragging Calvin backwards, an onlooker would see Calvin crawling backwards with his legs in the air and a stuffed doll between them. Instead of seeing Hobbes picking Calvin up, turning him around and dumping him on his butt. they would see Calvin flip himself backwards and land on his butt. Instead of seeing Hobbes walking away from Calvin, they would see Calvin throw the stuffed doll away from him.

We are seeing what Bill Watterson sees happening but Watterson intended other characters to have a different view of reality. “I do not see Hobbes as a doll who miraculously comes to life when alone with Calvin. Nor do I see Hobbes as a product of Calvin’s imagination…. Hobbes is less to do with dolls coming to life and more to do with the subjective nature of reality.”

As I’ve said before, this is a very philosophical strip.

A fun read today. Cal’s imagination at its earthly best – the space Cal being equally good.

Mom could have enlisted Hobbes’ help help yesterday when she was trying to make Calvin take a bath!!

… and stay out.

I hate tangling with a tiger…

But mom and dad get to walk through the territory untouched.

Well, don’t get a stuffed ostrich!

Except for the panel where they’re rolling around, we’ve all seen Mom handle Calvin in the same ways!

Try as you might, you can’t let a sleeping cat lie. If you’re there, they know it.

Sloths may not be less territorial. But they’re certainly slower.

re less territorial animals, me too.

The quiet little “wump” and Calvin’s shoes in midair are everything. Another brilliant Watterson Sunday comic. It really says something that these remain as fresh, unexpected, and beautiful decades later—one of the best arguments that comics can be art.

Well don’t look to humans, then.

“You’re in my spot!”

If I was Hobbes, I would just pee on Calvin and mark him as part of my territory. It would save a lot of energy

I had a Siamese who would literally jump into your arms, whether you were ready or not. Scared the heck out of the cable guy and one of my brothers topped visiting.

Great ! Hobbes is back and in control of Calvin. Been missing Hobbes.

That’s a good thing, right?!?

Geez, Hobbes is in a mood.

I like how the third panel is Hobbes’ tail leaving the frame but it’s also the end of Hobbes’ tail in the fifth panel. Watterson really knew what he was doing with his new layouts.

This is also true of the smaller cats. Wherever they are is their territory. Lots of fun when trying to use a computer keyboard or making bassoon reeds.

This from the tiger who shares a bed with Calvin.

Like Herman Munster and Grandpa when Lily’s not around!

You realized this too late, Calvin. You could have avoided being mauled.

Wonder what he’s whistling?

Soon: Calvin and Locke — his stuffed plush gnu/wildebeest companion.

You need to get rid of your psychosis.