This is good timing because just this week, there was a Phoebe and Her Unicorn storyline that ended with Dakota in her undergarments, and there was a bit of discourse in the comments about it.
Some people were grossed out and uncomfortable, but others (myself included) pointed out that little boy characters like Calvin get to run around in their undies all the time (as seen in this comic), and little girl characters should be no different.
I did not remember this one but I am saving it in my saved strips as it is funny as he11. I remember one other strip when Calvin and Susie were playing house and in that roleplay Calvin came home from work and said he need a stiff drink and then Susie wanted to show him their new bundle of joy which was actually her doll “Mr Bun” or something to that effect. I am guessing that strip is bound to pop up sooner or later as well.
I love the drawings in this one. Stylish; bright, lurid colors; motion; the level of detail. It was his ability as an artist that really set Bill Watterson apart from his colleagues.
The return to reality at the end of today’s strip is very good. As I said earlier, the fantasy scenes are drawn realistically and the reality is drawn cartoonishly. This reminds me of a Warner Bros cartoon from the 1940s called “Bacall To Arms” in which cartoon animals were watching realistically drawn cartoon versions of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall on a cinema screen. That may have been one of the cartoons which had a leading impact on “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” in the 1980s.
Other probable influences on “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” are a handful of Tex Avery cartoons starting with Red Hot Riding Hood which featured a redhead similar to Jessica Rabbit and a 1950s Bugs Bunny cartoon featuring a pint-sized, baby-faced cigar smoking gangster called Baby Face Finster who tricked Bugs by pretending to be a baby. He is one of the few characters to have actually shot Bugs:
Bugs: Is the little baby going to shoot the bad guy wabbit with his toy gun?
Another good point about the last panel in today’s strip is that we are seeing Calvin as he really is. We see a small boy in his underpants besides Hobbes who is a living tiger walking beside him. This is further evidence to support Bill Watterson’s claim, “I do not see Hobbes as a doll who miraculously comes to life when alone with Calvin. Neither do I see Hobbes as a product of Calvin’s imagination.” Watterson went on to explain that the stuffed doll is what other characters see rather than what Hobbes is. He concluded, “Hobbes is more to do with the subjective nature of reality than with dolls coming to life.”
This point is underlined by the fact that Mom is in the panel with Calvin and Hobbes but is looking away from them so she doesn’t see Hobbes as the stuffed doll that she sees him as.
I love a good laugh at 4 am. Just classic, especially the last panel. Of course, Susie would never ever marry Calvin, I’d like to see her with Caulfield over at Frazz.
Her family changed their name to Plainwell and moved away to escape the mentally disturbed boy who was stalking their daughter. She moved back and became an elementary school teacher.
I remember reading Watterson commenting on what was his first of several times using this Rex Morgan, M.D. style of drawing for a Sunday strip, saying that after the first awkward attempt he discovered that the secret was to draw the panels much larger than normal.
“Deluded fruit cakes anonymous.” That would be the perfect description of BOTH political parties except for the fact that they all use those offices of power to ridiculously enrich themselves. It’s no wonder I wish that I could go all “Wonga-Taa” and escape it all!
We can’t post images here but, if you google “Calvin and Hobbes Spider Man” and click on images, the first row has a great strip where the artist used this strip but with dialog and images to go with the Spider-Man character. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed!
This strip brings back to mind those Brenda Starr, Rex Morgan, Dick Tracy, Apartment 3-G and Steve Canyon comix, with their realistic, non-cartoony illustrations.
codycab over 1 year ago
Why did you even bother playing with Susie in the first place, Calvin?
The Calvinosaurus That Calvin Wanted To Discover over 1 year ago
Let Hobbes be First Tiger.
Sugar Bombs 95 over 1 year ago
This is good timing because just this week, there was a Phoebe and Her Unicorn storyline that ended with Dakota in her undergarments, and there was a bit of discourse in the comments about it.
Some people were grossed out and uncomfortable, but others (myself included) pointed out that little boy characters like Calvin get to run around in their undies all the time (as seen in this comic), and little girl characters should be no different.
JudasPeckerwood over 1 year ago
This is one of my favorites.
BE THIS GUY over 1 year ago
First Gentleman
Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus Premium Member over 1 year ago
POTUS Susie Derkins. I can not wait.
bigcatbusiness over 1 year ago
I don’t know what’s more shocking. The drastic change in art style or the fact that Calvin played with Susie. I wonder if she bribed him.
rentier over 1 year ago
Here Watterson lets us know, what a genius is really in him!
PaulAbbott2 over 1 year ago
Me Wonga-Taa, King of the Jungle. I have to find a way to use that today.
weatherford.joe Premium Member over 1 year ago
How is Calvin not cold walking through the snow in nothing but his underpants?
lalapalooza Premium Member over 1 year ago
:D
TampaFanatic1 over 1 year ago
I did not remember this one but I am saving it in my saved strips as it is funny as he11. I remember one other strip when Calvin and Susie were playing house and in that roleplay Calvin came home from work and said he need a stiff drink and then Susie wanted to show him their new bundle of joy which was actually her doll “Mr Bun” or something to that effect. I am guessing that strip is bound to pop up sooner or later as well.
orinoco womble over 1 year ago
Truly timeless, especially given the past 6 years. And that’s all I’ll say.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 1 year ago
I love the drawings in this one. Stylish; bright, lurid colors; motion; the level of detail. It was his ability as an artist that really set Bill Watterson apart from his colleagues.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 1 year ago
Calvin marveling at the scope of Susie’s imagination. Anyone else hear a pot calling a kettle “black?”
Troglodyte over 1 year ago
Those must be really nice underpants! :D
boniface22 over 1 year ago
Lucky he’s 6 and not 16.
nosirrom over 1 year ago
She wouldn’t think it was so bad if this was the Depression.
DaveG1960 over 1 year ago
The flirting just goes on!!
Calvinist1966 over 1 year ago
The return to reality at the end of today’s strip is very good. As I said earlier, the fantasy scenes are drawn realistically and the reality is drawn cartoonishly. This reminds me of a Warner Bros cartoon from the 1940s called “Bacall To Arms” in which cartoon animals were watching realistically drawn cartoon versions of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall on a cinema screen. That may have been one of the cartoons which had a leading impact on “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” in the 1980s.
Other probable influences on “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” are a handful of Tex Avery cartoons starting with Red Hot Riding Hood which featured a redhead similar to Jessica Rabbit and a 1950s Bugs Bunny cartoon featuring a pint-sized, baby-faced cigar smoking gangster called Baby Face Finster who tricked Bugs by pretending to be a baby. He is one of the few characters to have actually shot Bugs:
Bugs: Is the little baby going to shoot the bad guy wabbit with his toy gun?
BANG1
Bugs: Some toy!
Calvinist1966 over 1 year ago
Another good point about the last panel in today’s strip is that we are seeing Calvin as he really is. We see a small boy in his underpants besides Hobbes who is a living tiger walking beside him. This is further evidence to support Bill Watterson’s claim, “I do not see Hobbes as a doll who miraculously comes to life when alone with Calvin. Neither do I see Hobbes as a product of Calvin’s imagination.” Watterson went on to explain that the stuffed doll is what other characters see rather than what Hobbes is. He concluded, “Hobbes is more to do with the subjective nature of reality than with dolls coming to life.”
This point is underlined by the fact that Mom is in the panel with Calvin and Hobbes but is looking away from them so she doesn’t see Hobbes as the stuffed doll that she sees him as.
Purple People Eater over 1 year ago
Calvin imagines Susie as president?
jessegooddoggy over 1 year ago
I love a good laugh at 4 am. Just classic, especially the last panel. Of course, Susie would never ever marry Calvin, I’d like to see her with Caulfield over at Frazz.
KennethPrice over 1 year ago
Her family changed their name to Plainwell and moved away to escape the mentally disturbed boy who was stalking their daughter. She moved back and became an elementary school teacher.
Zebrastripes over 1 year ago
She wanted me to play " doctor" with her and locked me in the room!
Say What? Premium Member over 1 year ago
The hardest part for Calvin there was imagining himself having combed hair.
PaulAbbott2 over 1 year ago
Is Mr. Bun the Vice President?
fuzzbucket Premium Member over 1 year ago
What will a tiger think when he sees you wearing leopard skin underpants? Me next? He’ll want a Calvin skin cape!
dflak over 1 year ago
I think Watterson had fun drawing this strip. It does show off his artistic ability both with the artwork and the genre.
masingermo over 1 year ago
I remember reading Watterson commenting on what was his first of several times using this Rex Morgan, M.D. style of drawing for a Sunday strip, saying that after the first awkward attempt he discovered that the secret was to draw the panels much larger than normal.
chick485 over 1 year ago
Doncha all know they will be married? https://imgur.com/tUzAL
Geezer over 1 year ago
Bill Watterson is as versatile an artist as Frank Cho.
bunrabbit99 over 1 year ago
love the drawing style of this one!
Count Olaf Premium Member over 1 year ago
How timely and true. The current President is also a member of Deluded Fruitcakes Anonymous. The Vice President, too.
bloodykate over 1 year ago
LOL!!!!
rshive over 1 year ago
Well, he had to leave them somewhere.
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 1 year ago
Wait till Calvin sees the punishment his mother imagines for him.
YippiKiAyMofo over 1 year ago
“Deluded fruit cakes anonymous.” That would be the perfect description of BOTH political parties except for the fact that they all use those offices of power to ridiculously enrich themselves. It’s no wonder I wish that I could go all “Wonga-Taa” and escape it all!
kartis over 1 year ago
Brilliant.
Watchdog over 1 year ago
I am in full self restraint not to create a contemporary political analogy
Webby_dog over 1 year ago
I like it…….grown-ups acting like little kids !
richard over 1 year ago
I’m not sure I approve of children being depicted in their undergarments.
EnlilEnkiEa over 1 year ago
They didn’t lay down the ground rules before starting play.
hornacek over 1 year ago
I love when Waterson draws in this different style.
Jonko61 over 1 year ago
Such a brilliantly drawn and written classic.
Holden Awn over 1 year ago
10 years later…mom got another identical phone call…
goboboyd over 1 year ago
Interesting that this scenario is so much more plausible than when was it was created. More interesting is that it wouldn’t be as much of a surprise.
wiley207 over 1 year ago
Heh, I can just hear Patrick Warburton voicing adult Calvin/Wonga-Taa, and the jungle music starting in the fourth panel!
delennwen over 1 year ago
There is nothing, NOTHING better than Bill Watterson’s Sunday art on a Sunday morning.
Judy Hendrickson [Unnamed Reader - 852856] over 1 year ago
Calvin and Susie love to aggravate each other, hmmmmm,could this be love?
T... over 1 year ago
At least they weren’t playing doctor…
swanridge over 1 year ago
This is one of my favorite C&H strips of all time!
BiggerNate91 over 1 year ago
It’s always a good time when Watterson can add some of his incredible artwork to his comic strip.
David D Smith Premium Member over 1 year ago
We can’t post images here but, if you google “Calvin and Hobbes Spider Man” and click on images, the first row has a great strip where the artist used this strip but with dialog and images to go with the Spider-Man character. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed!
SweetSinger over 1 year ago
Watterson’s genius in full flower.
The Orange Mailman over 1 year ago
One of the best of the best.
Drbarb71 Premium Member over 1 year ago
The artwork in this strip is hilarious!
AndrewSihler over 1 year ago
I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it again: Mr Watterson loves to draw.
mindjob over 1 year ago
Deluded Fruitcakes is the party we need right now
ArcticFox Premium Member over 1 year ago
Calvin dumps the dish and flies off au-natural.
bcaka over 1 year ago
Watterson is such a great artist!
samplur over 1 year ago
Hahaha!, 1st husband/‘calvins’ face panel #2 hilarious! XD!
spaced man spliff over 1 year ago
This strip brings back to mind those Brenda Starr, Rex Morgan, Dick Tracy, Apartment 3-G and Steve Canyon comix, with their realistic, non-cartoony illustrations.
rgcviper over 1 year ago
So much good stuff in this one …
> “Me Wonga-Taa, king of jungle”
> A female president
> Mr. Watterson’s incredible imagination
Love it.
ComicsR4Fun Premium Member over 1 year ago
The artwork is, well, a work of art!
Camiyami Premium Member over 1 year ago
Haha I have ALWAYS loved this comic!! Really shows the genius in Bill and how talented he truly is in illustration and story telling. Love it.
eccolibri60 Premium Member over 1 year ago
I just realized that in all but the last panel, everyone has 5 fingers on each hand. Then, back to four.
aussie399 Premium Member about 1 year ago
Why do Americans say fix a meal instead of cook or prepare?Is it always broken?