Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for May 31, 2016

Now we know from where Hobbes gets his smarts.

Hmmmm.An Asian cat against an African pachyderm.

Leading edge – Where can I get those?!

Seriously, scrambling up a tree when Moe comes after you is a pretty good plan.

After all you know the way:

I was always told that rhinos are terribly short-sighted and their charges are simply attempts to get close enough to see whatever upsets them, given the fact that they stop short. Whether that is true or not I have no idea, so don’t hokk me about it, it’s just a remark.

I would’ve recommend that like a rhino, you stay away from the sharp end. But I don’t think Moe has any sharpness.

Soak him with a bucket full of water!!

Good luck finding a tree in the gymnasium, Calvin.

I know a few girls who would be impressed if I climbed a tree!

Too bad they’ll never get to experience the moment…

Death by rampaging rhino or death by snu snu; good problems to have….. I think.

Wow! Thanks, y’all. A little life science lesson in the C & H comments section.

I have no advice to offer myself which will top Hobbes’ advice but remember this Calvin. You won’t be in school forever.

(Waiting for somebody to point out that Calvin has been in school ever since this strip began)

xxx

Concerning Hobbes’ final comment in panel 4: wouldn’t it be interesting if natural selection and survival of the fittest always meant choosing brains over brawn?

Calvin rarely shows any interest in impressing girls anyway.

Lions and Hobbes and bears oh my.

Full-proof Plan might work.

Could be rats, depending on how you look at it. Slow, small, weak with poor eyesight and sense of smell. All we had going for us was the big brain and opposable thumbs.

Well, at least rhinos smell good — that’s nice to know!

I wonder what the rats will eat first,our big brains or opposable thumbs?

This is the only time Hobbes ever really makes mention of his past or his family life. Watterson was quite careful to show that few characters had a real life outside of their relationship to Calvin (his Mom mentions “friends” once; Uncle Max is a short-lived character; Susie’s parents are never seen), centering the strip. So I always found this one kind of fascinating as a kid- I mean, where was Hobbes born? What kind of life did he lead? Does he miss his family? Of course it’s not really meant to be asked or answered, but it’s a curious thing.

This would be the perfect cartoon in which to have Hobbs explain that if you stand up to a bully and hit back, and keep on hitting as long as you can (assuming their friends aren’t there to back them up), even if you lose the fight the bully will soon leave you alone and find someone less costly to pick on.

hobbes has a dad?