When my mom was teaching, my brother and I would ride the bus to my grandma’s house after school. Our after school routine had the following components: snack, homework, card games, and Calvin and Hobbes. My family didn’t get the paper, but Grandma did, and she would always have the comics page out and ready for me when I got to her house. I remember the anticipation as I got off the bus – what happened with the transmogrifier? What about the duplicator? What creepy snowman did Calvin create today? How would they continue getting rid of slimy girls?
For Christmas this year, we gave Mike’s eight-year-old nephew some Calvin and Hobbes books. We did this because of all that stuff about how comics are good for boys and reluctant readers. And we did it because Calvin and Hobbes was such a formative thing for me. I owe Bill Watterson a great deal, because the world he created, with its dry humor and fantastic optimism about childhood, still shapes the way that I approach life today. Mike loves The Far Side, but for me, nothing compares to a boy and his tiger imagining adventures in their backyard.
Mike’s friend Gerry Canavan posted a few “grown-up Calvin and Hobbes” images last week. Some of them are too depressing to contemplate, but I can’t resist posting this one, which perfectly captures the way I feel about Calvin and Hobbes and what might be in store for them:
(I don’t know who the artist is, but if you happen to come across the name, please let me know.)
We don’t have kids, so we have to pass our childish things on to other people’s children. When our nephew opened the books, Mike’s sister said she had never heard of Calvin and Hobbes. Isn’t it interesting how things that are so important to one family barely register in another? I hope a little bit of this love has been passed on to the next generation. I hope Calvin and Hobbes and all their adventures continue to live on.
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7 Comments
I love, love, love Calvin and Hobbes. I have all the books here for any kids who visit. And for me to re-read every once in a while so I can stay like Calvin in the picture above. I think he can still see Hobbes as the picture portrays him.
I love Calvin & Hobbes. I loved reading the books of the cartoons as a kid/teen. I think they should stand the test of time…way to go sharing w/ the next generation!
(As far as the last thing about differences in experience – I have a similar thing for the Cosby show. It was a very big deal in my family – but Josh doesn’t know it at all. So sad.)
Evan, our six year old, absolutely loves Calvin and Hobbes and has nearly the complete anthology. Allison and I love when he says “transmogrify” and pretends to be Spaceman Spiff.
Roger: I think he can see Hobbes, too. I would hate to think of Calvin as the sort of guy who would put away childish things.
Bethany: HE DOESN’T KNOW THE COSBY SHOW? You need to set up a fund to buy him the DVDs.
Gary: That is awesome. The Spaceman Spiff ones never really did anything for me, but I was never a six-year-old boy.
i absolutley love calvin and hobbes. i am 16 years old and still act like a child it brings out inspiration for art and stuff. i dont thing i will ever put my childish things away
I love Calvin and Hobbes too, but I just can’t stand not seeing them together and I feel so bad with Hobbes with that little girl.
@Mo: I too can’t stand it . But, in reality, it’s okay to let go. I gave my nephew one of my books and it was heart rendering. I cried when I let go of this thing that brought me so much joy but the sadness quickly turned to joy when I saw him engrossed and learning lessons of life through Calvin and Hobbes eyes.
I’m crying again.