Today’s strip is yet another example of Hobbes seeing something that Calvin is unable to see for himself. If Calvin really is imagining the dinosaur, how come he doesn’t know about it?
There are three ways to read this story arc. One is that it is all in Calvin’s imagination. The second is that Calvin and Hobbes are both imagining it and Hobbes is imagining a much more dangerous dinosaur than Calvin. I believe that is possible as I used to think of Hobbes as part of Calvin’s imagination but – after about four years – came to accept that he is a living being with a separate intelligence and imagination than Calvin. He certainly thinks more quickly than Calvin does. A third reading of the strip is that the time machine and the dinosaurs are real as Hobbes is.
I don’t think Calvin realizes that when he publishes his photos, paleontologists won’t be the only ones to be curious about this photos. The world’s governments, spy organizations and militaries will be paying him courtesy visits to discuss just how he was able to obtain such photos. They’ll probably want a set in his box for his next trip! Of course, I’m sure Calvin will be able to handle all the new found notoriety…after all “Discreet” is his middle name!
Watterson commented on how he had to reconsider all of his views about dinosaurs and how to draw them after the “new wave” of paleontology starting in the 80s, the same that inspired Chrichton’s book, dramatically changed our concept of prehistoric life. Without that book, those ideas would’ve never had that global cultural impact. And you can see it in the C&H dinosaur storylines. His dino art remains stunning to this day, even without the feathers.
My xtian co-workers informed me there were never any dinosaurs, the bones were put there by satan to confuse us. Oil is put in the ground by sky daddy, and we’ll never ever run out, he simply makes more. And these people vote.
I encountered a large black bear standing on a trail recently (in a park in California where they are so used to people they ignore us) and by the time I got the camera out all I got were his hind legs as he crossed into the trees.
dadthedawg Premium Member 4 months ago
Smile, you’re on Candid Camera…..
codycab 4 months ago
No, instead, they’ll be asking more questions, starting with, “What the heck is wrong with that kid?”
Prescott_Philosopher 4 months ago
Great art work.
Bilan 4 months ago
Must be a Tyrannosmilus Rex
charliefarmrhere 4 months ago
Umm, Calvin! CALVIN!!!!!
ᴮᴼᴿᴱᴰ2ᴰᴱᴬᵀᴴ 4 months ago
“my⠄⠄⠄what big teeth you have” said Little Red Riding Hobbes
Mediatech 4 months ago
A once in a lifetime chance for some close up photos of T-Rex tonsils.
orinoco womble 4 months ago
And this was way before Jurassic Park.
C 4 months ago
It’s good to have focus in your activities
snsurone76 4 months ago
Looks like they overshot the Jurassic Period and ended up in the Cretaceous one. Great artwork, Bill.
einarbt 4 months ago
Aren’t humans the only being that bares it teeth to show happiness.
BigDaveGlass 4 months ago
Now it’s snack time….
Calvinist1966 4 months ago
Today’s strip is yet another example of Hobbes seeing something that Calvin is unable to see for himself. If Calvin really is imagining the dinosaur, how come he doesn’t know about it?
There are three ways to read this story arc. One is that it is all in Calvin’s imagination. The second is that Calvin and Hobbes are both imagining it and Hobbes is imagining a much more dangerous dinosaur than Calvin. I believe that is possible as I used to think of Hobbes as part of Calvin’s imagination but – after about four years – came to accept that he is a living being with a separate intelligence and imagination than Calvin. He certainly thinks more quickly than Calvin does. A third reading of the strip is that the time machine and the dinosaurs are real as Hobbes is.
BJDucer 4 months ago
I don’t think Calvin realizes that when he publishes his photos, paleontologists won’t be the only ones to be curious about this photos. The world’s governments, spy organizations and militaries will be paying him courtesy visits to discuss just how he was able to obtain such photos. They’ll probably want a set in his box for his next trip! Of course, I’m sure Calvin will be able to handle all the new found notoriety…after all “Discreet” is his middle name!
Jayalexander 4 months ago
WAIT just a dadgummed minute.
ndre23 4 months ago
Watterson commented on how he had to reconsider all of his views about dinosaurs and how to draw them after the “new wave” of paleontology starting in the 80s, the same that inspired Chrichton’s book, dramatically changed our concept of prehistoric life. Without that book, those ideas would’ve never had that global cultural impact. And you can see it in the C&H dinosaur storylines. His dino art remains stunning to this day, even without the feathers.
Dr. Quatermass 4 months ago
It may be smiling, but too early for the Pleistocene. Can’t be a Smilodon then.
SquidGamerGal 4 months ago
Umm, Hobbes… He ain’t smiling. He’s hungry! Geez! You’d think being a carnivore himself, Hobbes would know better!
wongo 4 months ago
Gulp!
flying spaghetti monster 4 months ago
Hope he gets a good shot of the Thagomizer
guenette.charlie(BozoKnows) 4 months ago
Must be time for lunch.
g04922 4 months ago
LOL… That is NOT a smile, Hobbes – more like a menacing grimace.
sandpiper 4 months ago
T Rex smiling at the change in his daily menu choices.
gantech 4 months ago
I…don’t…think…we…have a minute…
SofaKing 4 months ago
My xtian co-workers informed me there were never any dinosaurs, the bones were put there by satan to confuse us. Oil is put in the ground by sky daddy, and we’ll never ever run out, he simply makes more. And these people vote.
rshive 4 months ago
Hope that they don’t end up a casualties of “just a minute”.
minty_Joe 4 months ago
“Jurassic Park is frightening in the dark
All the dinosaurs are running wild
Someone shut the fence off in the rain
I admit it’s kinda eerie
But this proves my chaos theory
And I don’t think I’ll be coming back again, oh no!"
~ (Jurassic Park, sung to the tune “MacArthur Park”)Weird Al/Jimmy Webb
mistercatworks 4 months ago
The f-stops here.
mindjob 4 months ago
Calvin can get a picture of the inside of the T-Rex’s belly. Scientists will pay through the nose
jessegooddoggy 4 months ago
I encountered a large black bear standing on a trail recently (in a park in California where they are so used to people they ignore us) and by the time I got the camera out all I got were his hind legs as he crossed into the trees.
kathleenhicks62 4 months ago
Looks like he is thinking of taking a bite of someone.
Otis Rufus Driftwood 4 months ago
You fellows don’t want to know why he’s smiling.
Fuzzy Kombu 4 months ago
Don’t trust the smile on a smilodon, either. (It has reason to smile. You don’t.)
Brian Premium Member 4 months ago
More of a “toothy grin”.
rshive 4 months ago
Calvin sometimes uses big words — like paleontologists.
beany54 4 months ago
Smiling in anticipation of the tasty meal in front of it.
John Jorgensen 4 months ago
I hope that’s not supposed to be a T rex, side by side with a stegosaur.
Strawberry King 4 months ago
He’ll need a new pair of underwear after he sees the dino behind him.
glowing-steak32 3 months ago
He’s ready for his extreme close up!