Calvin and Hobbes comics are more than just funny — they’re a masterclass in childhood curiosity, imagination, and rebellion. In this cartoon review, we dive into some of the funniest, most iconic strips created by the brilliant Bill Watterson. Whether it’s Calvin dodging school, philosophizing about death, or inventing new forms of chaos, these panels are packed with sharp humor and unexpected emotion.
Bill Watterson is a legend in the comic world. He created Calvin and Hobbes in 1985, and over the next ten years, the strip became one of the most beloved comics ever published. Despite its popularity, Watterson famously rejected merchandising and adaptations — preferring the comic to live purely as art.
His work was published in more than 2,400 newspapers worldwide and earned him the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award not once, but twice. What makes Watterson’s work stand out is his ability to balance absurd humor with deep insight. Calvin, a mischievous six-year-old with a vivid imagination, and Hobbes, his wisecracking stuffed tiger-turned-companion, explore life with boundless creativity and wit. Today, Calvin and Hobbes continues to inspire new generations with timeless stories of youthful rebellion, wonder, and sarcasm.
10 Calvin and Hobbes Comics Will Crack You Up
#1 Mornings Are the Enemy
There’s no war quite like the one between kids and early mornings. Calvin’s fantasy of a warm, blanket-layered wake-up is beautifully shattered by Mom’s loud, urgent call. The punchline captures the daily struggle most of us remember all too well — mornings do feel like they’re out to get you.
#2 Sick Days Gone Wrong
Calvin’s plan to milk his fake illness for some rest time crashes hard when he realizes it’s summer vacation. It’s a perfect comic twist — he’s managed to scam himself out of fun, not work. This strip is classic Watterson: smart, ironic, and hilarious in under four panels.
#3 The Legal Loophole Kid
Calvin hands his dad a fully written legal document, absolving himself of all future therapy bills. The strip hilariously exposes how kids view adulthood — full of flaws and deserving of written contracts. The image of Calvin sitting smugly at the end seals the deal with pure comedic brilliance.
#4 Implosion Alert at Dinner
Only Calvin could turn a routine dinner at a nice restaurant into a full-blown existential crisis about air pressure. His melodrama, paired with his parents’ worn-out patience, paints the perfect picture of childhood chaos in public. A brilliant blend of science talk, nonsense, and total overreaction.
#5 The Cretinizer Presentation
Calvin’s classroom antics go into overdrive with his “cretinizer” invention. It’s an invisible weapon that renders people “babbling simps,” and Ronald unfortunately becomes proof. The confidence, the nonsense science, and the frustrated teacher responses — this one’s top-tier show-and-tell disaster comedy.
#6 Worm-Eating Capitalism
When Calvin starts eating worms for nickels, Susie plays the classic mark while Mom plays the spoiler. The joke lands hard as Calvin grumbles about being “rescued” from easy money. It’s a weirdly wholesome reminder that childhood schemes often end thanks to a higher authority… also known as Mom.
#7 Monsters Under the Bed
Why does Calvin’s room stink? Obviously because the monsters under the bed didn’t finish their garbage snacks. Watterson nails the mix of childhood imagination and denial, while the final panel shows a mom teetering between disbelief and genuine concern. It’s weird, funny, and so very Calvin.
#8 A Heavy Topic for Bedtime
Calvin reflects on the death of a raccoon in one of the most somber, beautiful strips in the series. His questions are hauntingly sincere, and Hobbes quietly listening makes it even more heartfelt. This comic proves that Calvin and Hobbes wasn’t just about jokes — it also touched deep emotional truths.
#9 The Garage Toll Booth
Only Calvin would turn his dad’s garage into a profit center. The “toll booth” gag is hilariously transactional, and the last panel — with Calvin calling his dad a cheapskate from bed — is the kind of mischief that defines the strip. Calvin is basically a six-year-old entrepreneur of annoyance.
#10 The Surprise Scam
“Close your eyes and open your mouth” — a phrase that should never be trusted when Calvin says it. Watching his dad nervously comply, only for Calvin to vanish mid-scam, is peak prankster behavior. It’s one of those perfectly choreographed family gags that sticks with you forever.
Why Calvin and Hobbes Comics Still Hit Home
There’s something eternally relatable about Calvin and Hobbes comics. They capture the emotional rollercoaster of childhood — the curiosity, the mischief, the wonder, and the stubborn defiance. Bill Watterson had an uncanny ability to take everyday moments and flip them into hilarious, touching, or thought-provoking scenes.
Even decades later, these strips hold up. The humor doesn’t rely on trends or pop culture — it comes from real-life feelings and imagination. That’s why this comic strip hasn’t faded into nostalgia. It continues to live, laugh, and grow with every new reader.
For more on Calvin and Hobbes, (Facebook) check out the full archive in collections like The Essential Calvin and Hobbes or The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Bill Watterson (X) doesn’t do social media, but his work is more than enough to keep fans coming back for a second, third, or fiftieth laugh.
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