Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for November 21, 2023

You don’t have the same mindset as them, Calvin. Shouldn’t you realize that by now?

Only people with high intelligence can see the metamorphosis.

They’ve noticed as much as they’ve noticed a “living” tiger in the house.

Imagination is not a common trait.

Dad’s comment leaves the question open as to where they do eat looking like that.

Give Dad some credit. He noticed the sheet.

They notice real things, Calvin.

That is actually true, Calvin. We are guilty when our parents are there, even if we didn’t do anything. I actually don’t know why though.

Calvin, they are just pretending not to notice so they can retain some semblance of sanity.

Agreed. They didn’t mind when you were an owl, why would they now?

To paraphrase, “The Goons”. “It’s all in the mind, you know”…….

So…the swelled head is just a figure of Calvin’s imagination—just like Hobbes is.BTW, I hate Dad’s smug, “superior” expression in panel #3.

It’s Carnac the Magnificent.

“Looking like that ?” Always a new rule. Ours was just comb your hair and wash your hands

They take Cal as he comes. No expectations means no disappointment.

That because they’re paying attention to your table manners, or lack thereof!

I hope Calvin thanks Hobbes for helping him finish his “turban”…

Is Calvin a “Sheet head?”

If this keeps up ‘Pinky’ will be calling you to replace ‘The Brain’.

The sheet was a dead giveaway.

This strip is funny, but also a bit sad. What if Calvin grows up with some baked-in resentment toward his parents for things they didn’t do because they didn’t happen? Not trying to be a wet blanket, but I think there are probably adults out there who were once kids who did stuff like this and grew up with this artificial friction between them and their parents.

His head is normal in panel 3. So Calvin’s bigger brain is all in his head. : )

Hoping that at least he was hinting at a desire to try Indian food? Well, his loss. I always go for the vindaloo at my local place. Wife and daughter just shake their heads when I add my own ghost pepper sauce to it.

So Calvin’s imagining the whole thing? Since the other signal of the thinking cap having worked, aside from his swollen forehead, is using slightly bigger words than usual, does that mean he didn’t really say “unavoidably detained”?

In which we learn Calvin’s augmented brain is just a figment of Calvin’s imagination… or whatever it’s called in the point of view where Hobbes is alive.

LOL…. only Calvin (and Hobbes) see Calvin’s greatly enlarged brain and head. Will Calvin be waking from a dream in a future strip??

Don’t let your swelled head get the best of you, Calvin!

including Hobbes animated

He’s smart enough to know not to question Dad.

It’s always interesting when Watterson has Calvin’s fantasy and reality collide.