Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for September 28, 2024

But Calvin, you might draw something cool, like a shooting star.

Never let the dots get in your way. Or the numbers, either.

Calvin the Anarchist!

C’est la vie, Calvin.

I saw a “connect the dots” book produced about 5 years ago…it had way more dots than the old ones from the 60s. You could basically see the picture without drawing any lines.

His stupidity causes his failures, yet he blames society for it!!!

Today’s strip is another example of Hobbes being more sensible and mature than Calvin. We also see Hobbes walk away from Calvin while Calvin is no longer looking at him but looking at the book. It was details like this that first led me to question my own assumption that Hobbes was meant to be part of Calvin’s wonderful imagination.

Calvin does indeed have a wonderful imagination but Hobbes seems even more wonderful than what Calvin really does imagine. Calvin will be much better at drawing things from his own imagination than trying to recreate someone else’s drawing by joining dots in the intended order.

Today’s strip would have worked well enough with Mom in the role which Hobbes plays but the fact that the smarter character is the one that other characters perceive to be a “stuffed doll” works even better.

“I did it my way”!

In this case a ruler would supply some help

Cal is right. Lots of rules around. Problem is, some are absolutely necessary. The rest are in doubt.

With Calvin Chaos always looms.

Never let school get in the way of your education!!!!!

I bet when Calvin watches Winky Diink he doesn’t use the magic screen the goes over the TV and uses his Crayolas to connect the blinking dots and solve the puzzle.

Get used to it Calvin, because that’s life!

Details, details.

See, Calvin, you’re catching on …

This boy would not have become cult figure if he was following rules. Right Bill?

Calvin is using the Jackson Poll ock method of connecting the dots.

That’s life.

Do they still have these number puzzles? I remember trying to figure out what the picture was before I connected all the dots.

“The numbers, Mason! What do they mean?”

Dot’s right.

“Connect the dots,

La-la-la-la,

Connect the dots,

La-la-la-la,…"

- Pee-Wee Herman

I left it to others after paint by numbers got so forceful. ;-)

I’m sure it’s an interesting mess, just the way it is

“Numerical Order” is concept Calvin has yet to learn…

Calvin is creative and having to follow rules suppresses his creativity.

There are also probably white dots there, which you cannot see. :)

For a kid that is supposed to be so brilliant, he’s not too bright.

You can connect the dots in a different order, but it’s up to you to make a picture or art out of it.

♫ ♪

Rules and regulations, who needs them?

♪ ♫

- Graham Nash, “Chicago”

I’m with you Calvin, rules can be quite pesky indeed!

rules exist for a reason, this reminds me of that one jerky kid who wishes there weren’t fowls in contact sports, one solid punch to the face would have him appreciating the necessary of constraints in sports.

I don’t think that ever stopped Picasso.

Yup it does Calvin! ;-)

Next step: create your own connect-the-dots picture! What do you think Calvin would choose?