Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for October 16, 2021

Those must be cartoon law of physics that allowed him to grab the rope after letting go of it.

Or the drop looked too high.

Is that Hobb’s creek ? The one with all the turtles ?

Calvin passed up a chance to do a cannonball.

Serious air time.

There are some advantages to getting the cold over at once instead of entering one inch at a time.

ALL water looks colder than the air over it. Unless there’s steam/fog. I suppose we must learn that very early, because I don’t remember ever thinking about it… until now.

Oh, you are some cold comfort, Hobbes!!!

It did have that Ice Out look !

Somewhat relevant: “Aawweeeaah” was the refrain to the song(?) “Ape Call”, by Nervous Norvus , circa 1956 – popular on the Armed Forces Korean Network (AFKN) radio broadcasts. Spent a year there being serenaded with that one, among others. https://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/n/nervous_norvus/ape_call.html

I guess it would depend on where Calvin lives. Up near the Great Lakes the water might be a tad cold in the middle of October, but maybe if Calvin lived in Sunny Southern California it might still be warm to the touch.

Him not Tarzan, him Cheeta!

Could have saved the scream for after he hit the water.

I bet Spaceman Spiff wouldn’t have been afraid of some cold water…

I know this script is never drawn to scale however the cliff looks to be about 6 feet high so the pond should be at least 11 feet deep to avoid injuries such as a broken neck when diving. Besides I thought Calvin quit swim lessons after 1 lesson. Also what parent would permit a s1x year old to go swimming by himself?

Nice underpants.

It takes a certain amount of skill to reverse a bad decision. Lessons well learned in our youth and forgotten in the passion of our adulthood. …I’m talking to you Coke.

Clear fresh water, right off a glacier.

I’m impressed he grabbed the rope again.

That’s one way to stay dry.

things look farther down than they do up… not sure why

Don’t forget the crocs!

Coyote physics.

Heh, the way Calvin does the Tarzan yell, it almost seems like he’s singing!

Actually, it looks icy.

Seeing that berg float by was a good hint.

Calvin went to the Wile E. Coyote school of physics.

Dorney Park, Allentown PA 1942 I was with 9th grade Raub Jr. High class celebrating graduation. Wanted to impress fellow students jumping by high diving board into a murky greenish pond of water. Was warned there might be leeches in the water. In the middle of a marvelous swan dive I saw dark wiggling creatures. Tried to abort dive & did a splendid crack up sploosh. Leeches were stuck to my legs as I tried to escape the water.

This cartoon was actually my introduction to the concept of Tarzan at age six.

Years ago, we talked my Uncle from a northern state nto getting into the lake in our backyard in early April. I had to go in first, to prove it, and tried to keep my teeth from chattering as I said: “Come on in, the water is fine!” (It wasn’t)

CALVIN AND HOBBES SUNDAY PAGES 1985-1995, An exhibition catalogue, is available with reflections on each cartoon by Watterson. Thanks Bill!

The air of letting go the rope and then again holding on to it makes Calvin, real Tarzan.