C&H memories

Do you have a favorite memory of Calvin & Hobbes? When the comics were running I was in college. When it came time to campaign for student body president, there were flyers everywhere - "Calvin for President". I still have one of those in my scrapbook. And does any one remember the series where Calvin sent away for a beanie with a propeller? I was waiting for an important letter at the time and clipped all the panels where Calvin waited by the mail box day after day. With a little white out and a copier, I personalized this series just for me! As a college student I thought nothing would be more charming than a child just like Calvin. As a mom, not such a charming thought!

When I was young, my dad had a small collection of C&H books, back when there were only a few out. It was one of those things I wasn't supposed to touch, so of course I remember it. Years later I found one of the books stuffed away in a box, started reading it, and within three months I'd spent close to $70 buying as many other C&H books as I could. I got into the strip after it was cancelled, but I read the books almost every day.

My wife and I have five girls and two boys. Both the boys, Luke and Ben, really got into C&H, especially the youngest one, Ben. I don't think either one of them had a tiger friend, but I did. His nose was a bit loose, but I kept putting it back in place. I don't remember him talking to me, but I know I talked to him a lot. I don't know what ever happened to him, but I'm glad to have a picture of him that my younger sister sent me. It is 1957 and three-year-old me is holding one-year-old her, sitting on a small rocker, watching a B&W TV console. "Hobbes" is in the near background, looking straight at the camera. Anyway, like Heather19, I think Ben collected all of the books. My favorite memory of C&H is his space ship adventures. Of course, he always has to come back to earth, but it is fun while it lasts.

I remember reading Calvin & Hobbes as a child when it was first run in the paper (the mid/late 80's). It has always been my favorite comic strip. I was very sad when the strip ended some 11+ years ago. I have all of the books, which I browse through now and then; they bring back wonderful memories.

Another funny memory. My husband and I were going to honeymoon in my hometown (San Diego) and we married in Utah. Since my younger brother had scout camp, we agreed to drive him home. He spent the entire drive (10 hours) reading Calvin & Hobbes books and giggling insanely in the back seat. Calvin & Hobbes is the great "anti-pest"!

Someone recently gave our oldest son a Calvin & Hobbes t-shirt. Every time I see it, I think to myself, I've got to get that book out and read it. Okay ... I've spent the last fifteen minutes perusing the shelves for it, but can't find it. I could go raid the boys' room, but I want my German rendition! It's got to be here somewhere!!! Well ... this is cool ... my wife, Nora, and I often ask God to help us find lost things and I found it in under 30 seconds ... Fix und Fertig -- here I come!

Yesterday I received a wonderful, late Christmas present; The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. The paper is art book grade, the volumes are well bound. Leafing through these weighty "tomes" has brought much laughter the last twenty four hours.Calvin and Hobbes, and The Far Side; the best strips ever.

When Calvin and Hobbes first appeared in our newpaper, he and I were about the same age, so I connected with him immediately. The strip was always at the very top of the paper, and I would purposely skip over it, reading all the other comics first, so I could save Calvin and Hobbes for last. Growing up as kind of a loner myself, I could totally identify with Calvin's philosophies and attitudes. I love everything about this strip. The writing is sharp and hilarious and the drawings are beautiful. I truly think that you could teach a college class on Calvin and Hobbes and be taken seriously. If it was within my capacity, I would love to do a case study of the entire body of work. The strip just touches so many levels and goes beyond just a simple laugh. So that's why I love Calvin and Hobbes.

I grew up reading Calvin and Hobbes, and I learned a lot of vocabulary words from that strip. There were many instances where, as a child, I tried to use a big word I saw in Calvin and Hobbes, and used it incorrectly or pronounced it wrong and my mom or dad would be like, "Uhhh, where did you hear THAT word?"

Whew! Sounds like I'm the oldie on this thread.

I was working in LA when C & H appeared in the LA Times. I loved it from the first strip where Calvin catches Hobbes with a tuna fish sandwich. I cut out the strips every day. My dad loved the strip too, although he read it in a "yellow journalism rag" as I put it at the time. For Christmas one year I xeroxed all the strips I had and made a binder of them for him.

My daughter, 14, loves the strips. She and I both love the ones with Rosalyn, the evil babysitter.

I just reviewed my library and have two of the books - The Essential and the Authorative. I think my daughter has Something Under the Bed is Drooling and one or two others. I'll have to raid her library tomorrow.

In the meantime, I'm going to read some Essential C & H right now...

When a newspaper started to reprint the C&H strips over here in Belgium, I was immediately smitten with the artwork and started to cut them out and collect them. I was about ten years old and I still remember that very first comic where Calvin catches Hobbes with the tuna sandwich as well. Later on, I started to collect the books and every now and then, I just need to reread them all in one sitting.

Before having kids, I wished my kid would be just like Calvin, but now as a young father I am so glad that neither one turned out to be that way.