Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for October 02, 2023

Susie, you don’t want to be a cat lady.

I say Garfield books are the best!

So Sue him

Drawing that cartoon probably took as much time as reading it would have.

There are consumers of art and literature and there are creators of art and literature. Neither can survive without the other.

Makes one wonder where Calvin got his vocabulary.

I must admit, Calvin’s book would be interesting to see.

I love the way Susie is drawn. And I love that she reads ahead. So sweet!

What could be better than an exploding t-rex driven Batmobile?

I am of two minds about this strip. On the one hand books are the best source for knowledge and entertainment yet invented. They are affordable, easy to master, and inspire with their language and ideas. Learning is a true pleasure. Having said that the art of animation, of which Calvin’s “flip book” is the easiest to produce, is creative and can be put to lots of purposes, be it to engage or educate the viewer. And Watterson personally knows it can be a gainful source of income and become a fulfilling job. With little artistic talent myself (despite attempts at an animation career) I guess I have to side with Susie because learning new stuff never gets old, and virtually anybody can do it. But Calvin with his capacity for inventiveness certainly could have a bright future in the visual arts despite getting lousy grades in school.

When I taught school age kids, if they had drawn all over the pages of their school books you knew it was going to be all uphill. Doodles in the margins are one thing; these kids drew over the text and illustrations.

With the advent of high-tech and AI, books are already going the way of the T. Rex!!

Whenever I hear someone talk so deeply and fondly about good books, I recall the old Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith as a bank employee who would shelter in a bank vault during his lunch hour to read. Then the bomb hit…but that was not the end.

[No spoiler alert needed because I will not give it in case those unfamiliar ever get a chance to see it.]

“Sometimes I think books are the only friends worth having.” This is especially true as Calvin seems to be the nearest thing Susie has to a friend. Mr Bun doesn’t count as a friend because Susie knows he is just a stuffed animal. She also thinks, of course, that Hobbes is a stuffed animal. She first found him after a dog had snatched him from Calvin and chewed on him. She took him home with her saying, “It’s nothing a tea party with some other stuffed animals won’t cure.”

At the end of that story arc, of course, Calvin and Hobbes were reunited and Calvin thanked Susie by repeated kissing her hand to her bemusement. She said to Mr Bun, “Wasn’t Mr Calvin a proper gent? I do hope…hey! Who ate all the cookies?”

One reader did suggest that it was Mr Bun rather than Hobbes or Calvin who ate the cookies. Another reader replied that Hobbes had the choice of eating the rabbit or the cookies and ate the cookies.

I’m with you Susie.

Suzie just sent me back to memories of early grade school. I used to read stories ahead of our reader until I discovered history. Then I used to read the history text ten times each year.

That would be an exciting Batman episode.

When faced with your present companion, I agree, Susie.

T Rex, Batman and explosives…easy Saturday morning Television, with a few bowls of Chocolate Sugar Bombs..

From now on, I’m going to be asking myself, “What would President Boy-ar-dee have to say about this?”

They don’t talk and say stupid things.

If he only put that much effort into actual schoolwork…

Susie has a point about books being the only friends worth having…

Later, Calvin would leave Ohio and change his name to Francis Ford Coppola and found Zoetrope Studios.

Say what you want but a T-Rex driving a exploding batmobile is pretty darned creative…lol

Or Hermione Granger?

Very small T. Rex, or a very large Batmobile. A kid like Calvin isn’t going to worry about the details.

Clearly they live out in the boondocks as Calvin has so much woods and open fields to play in but I do feel bad that there seems to be only two kids within walking distance and they can’t stand each other.

My brothers and I did our own flip books.

You can tell a lot about a person depending on theit attitudes towards books and reading.

As a teacher of 10th graders, I found that teaching the recommended reading lists and the committee agreed texts was similar to a track meet runner’s trial where all the hurdles where set at different heights and distances and at odd angles in the lanes. I had and still have no idea of the thinking behind the choices.

I know there was some mumbling about ‘the classics,’ and ‘students should be learning about values,’ and some other philosophical drivel. But that usually came from people who were much older and in a tedious decision making process and who just wanted a way out. And publishers with warehouses full of books offered an exit.

I remember I related so much to Susie in the second panel. I used to love getting new textbooks (had to be the newest one I could get; I hated the older ones that showed signs of wear), covering them with paper bag covers, and doing new artwork on them for the new year :)

Cats, Susie. Don’t forget cats. (yes, Hobbes counts.)

yesterday I was out with friends and out of no-where a freaking 1966 style batmobile passed us going the other way. this was in suburban PA. wow. it looked amazing

While I agree with her, I really want to see T-Rex blowing up the batmobile. Conflicted, …me.

They are certainly high up on the list, Susie!

My wife retired from being a highly successful librarian. I concur with Susie.

LOL… and to think Calvin and Susie may actually get married after High School… the foundation of a marriage are already in place ;-)

Guffaw!

I think that Susie’s right.

Reading ahead is how I first discovered the answers in the back of many textbooks. :)

I agree Susie. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to lure me out into any sort of social situation when I could be home reading instead.

Calvin could have a bright future as a visual storyteller.

I’m with Susie

I did gather same thing in Grade 4 and would even skip ahead to do the math before the teacher got there with the group at large. I tried to get my kids to do the same but they said the teachers wouldn’t let them. They thought i was nuts.

Sure, escapism is fine until reality raises it’s ugly head…

Periodically we would order books thru the Scholastic Book Services.

We would come back in from recess or lunch & see the big box on the teacher’s desk, & you would have thought it was Christmas morning!

Waaaay back when I was sitting bored to death in grade school, I defaced many books with those animations. Ended up making a living by creating animations for web ads.

Just as Calvin’s parents are usually justified but occasionally could stand to unclench a little, Susie is usually right but occasionally could stand to lighten up, and this is one of those occasions.

Susie you are so right.

Ironically I agree with both Susie and Calvin.

Just wait until Bacon comes.

I hear you Susie.