Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for April 13, 2024

Dad should get a discount from Rosalyn for making her job easier.

Knowing Calvin, he’d rather lose his head than deal with Rosalyn.

I do not blame Calvin

Y’know, I really believe that Dad IS capable of cutting Calvin’s throat!!

Y’know, it wouldn’t surprise me if Calvin WAS well-behaved, but Rosalyn would lie in order to extort more money from his parents!!

You don’t have to sit exactly in the middle, Calvin. You are allowed to sit a little closer to the wall.

You have to understand, this “GCKKHHK” trick only worked here because Calvin is already traumatised by the presence of Rosalyn. It would not work if Dad had done it for any other situations.

It’s amazing that the babysitter has more control over Calvin than his parents do….

And it was the beginning of a nice quiet evening for all, somewhere else on the continent.

Good one dad! I think you put fear in your son. Ah, but how soon children forget. Right Calvin?

Dad would just finger his belt buckle, I got the message.

Rosalyn better gear up. Won’t take Cal more than a few minutes for his impulse furnace to build up a head of steam.

So ends the first week of the reprint of the penultimate Rosalyn arc. Today’s strip with a very subdued Calvin reminds me of the first Rosalyn strip which appeared on Sunday May 18 1986. I have the exact date from Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes Sunday Pages 1985-95.

In that first appearance strip, Calvin told Rosalyn, “You’re not my Mom so I don’t have to do what you say.” Rosalyn politely asked Calvin to go to the phone and tell him what he found there. Calvin did what he was asked – probably out of curiousity – and he answered, “A list of numbers to call in an emergency.” Rosalyn suddenly changed from polite to threatening. She grabbed Calvin by the front of his shirt collar and said, “You wouldn’t want me to have to call any of those numbers, would you?” Calvin didn’t give an outright reply but said, “It’s 6.30. I guess I’ll turn in.” Rosalyn commented, “For eight dollars a night, I don’t put up with much.”

Calvin, of course, would gradually become more forceful against Rosalyn. As a result, she would get much more than eight dollars for her nights babysitting Calvin.

scroll to calvinandhobbes/1990/04/02 if you want to read the rest

Calvin’s dad should learn from the Wallace the Brave dad. Maybe if Calvin’s folks were as mellow as Wallace’s, everyone would be happier.

So that’s it then? It reached a point where simply reading a book will get Calvin in trouble?!

if Calvin isn’t scared yet dad can show him the belt buuckle

His resolve to sit quietly will last about a minute, if he’s lucky.

Finger to the throat means death! Metaphor!

A subtle — yet unsubtle — message.

Unfortunately it’s not my favorite babysitter arc. That’s when Rosalyn offers to play a game with Calvin in exchange for his being good (no more spoilers). I haven’t seen it in a really long time.

Meditation is good for you

I like that Dad and Rosalyn are thin people. More like 50s television than today.

Why wait?

Calvin being good? Unbelievable!

Nowadays, sadly a mere 20-30 years later this sort of action by dad could result in some Karen calling the police or DCYF. Sad, but true.

I think even Calvin understands that gesture.

OMG!!!

Only a severely deranged monster of a parent would signify something as sinister as that to one’s own child…

I hate Calvin’s parents more and more, the longer I read this comic.

But will doing this build character???

Geez, that was a little extreme from The Dad! Wouldn’t surprise me if maybe HIS dad did the same thing to him as a kid.

My stepdad kept a razor strop hanging on the door of their room to remind me what happens to bad boys.

So, Calvin will be well-behaved tonight …

YEAH, RIGHT!

As parents they deserve everything they get from that kid !!!

Good luck

Good plan, Calvin. Exhibiting good behavior, in spite of yielding to your natural inclinations, builds character.

Actually, not good, Rosalyn. He’s pulling a cat and communing with an evil spirit.

Now that is teaching Calvin fiscal responsibility!!

This is one of the funniest ’toons Watterson ever drew — LOLOL

Not the best signal to give a 6 year old.

if only