Editorial Review

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Reviews (125)

Bravo, Mr. Watterson, Bravo.
Calvin and Hobbes is quite plainly a timeless calssic. Just as Charles M Shultz's The Penuts Gang, Calvin and Hobbes brings so many emotions to the table it's not even fathomable. It will heartwarm you, bring back childhood memories, pick you up when your down, make you laugh, chuckle and quite possible cry. I have read almost every Calvin and Hobbes book, aside from the tenth aniversery and no matter how many times I read one I can always read it again. Calvin and Hobbes only lasted ten years, yes that's right, ten short years. Although Bill Watterson has refused many pleas for more, his comics are just as special.
25 pounds in comics!
This is an absolute musthave for all Calvin and Hobbes fans.I had to use almost all my birthday money to buy this treasury collection, but it was worth the price.This set has three hardbound books fitted into 1 slipcase and I found out that to get the books out you had to tip the set so the books would slide out.The pages are thick but instead of stiched they're glued to the spine.Watterson's brilliant watercolor really stood out and made the pictures come to life.The set includes an introduction by Watterson and comics he drew earlier including an earlier version of Calvin and Hobbes.These books are very heavy so don't put it on your bookcase unless it's strong enough.No family is complete without this collection especially if you're a kid.

COME BACK CALVIN!
This is the defintive collection on this iconic comic strip.It is beautifully presented and a fitting tribute to Calvin and his stuffed tiger.Everytime I see the comics section of a paper I think of Calvin and Hobbes and am reminded of how consitant and quality this strip was; it is missed everyday.I can't imagine anyone not loving this collection, it is quite simply, the best.Come back Calvin, we miss you... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comic books, strips, etc    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. General    4. Humor    5. Cartoons & comic strips    6. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Reviews (28)

THE BEST SUNDAY COMIC COLLECTION FROM WATTERSON
This collection is the best from Watterson.5 stars.Calvin and Hobbes are great in this one.

Fun, Fun, Fun
What a treat, 126 large pages of Calvin and Hobbes comic strips in full-color.Having this book means being able to read and re-read your favorites.There are even a couple I'd like to frame and look at every day.
My Very First Calvin and Hobbes Experience
Six years ago this book was my very first introduction to the world of Calvin and Hobbes. I had seen these comics in the newspapers, but for some reason had never really bothered to read them. Needless to say, this book changed all that.
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Subjects:  1. Comic books, strips, etc    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. Comics & Graphic Novels    4. General    5. Humor    6. Humor / General   

Reviews (44)

Classic Calvin and Hobbes
This collection has a few of my favorites in it (especially the girls/bugs analogy - priceless!)Great for any age - I read C&H starting around age 7 and I still read it today!I enjoy it just as much, though I see it from a unique perspective now.Every kid should grow up with this.

Stupendous Man!
This is probably the best calvin hobbes book that Bill Watterson wrote.With plenty of funny stories about the duo. I think is a must have for every single calvin and hobbes fan. If you don't already have it, Buy it today

Calvin and Hobbes
This book is called Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson. This book is great. It's very entertaining and funny. This book could be read by adults and children. Some words are difficult. It's a comic strip. The characters are Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin has a very big imagination. Hobbes is his stuffed toy and he thinks it a real tiger. It has many stories and they are all funny.It's cool. I want all people to read it. It's cool, funny, and very ammusing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. Comics & Graphic Novels    3. General    4. Humor    5. Humor / General   

Reviews (47)

they never seem to get this right
I love Calvin and Hobbes, but I've noticed that frequently the online reviews of the 'essential' Calvin and Hobbes volumes in particular are misleading. Each of these volumes are essentially a 'best of' and NOT a compendium, of three other Calvin and Hobbes books. While they do have lots of great strips, they skip over others. (In particular singular strips are usually left out in favor of ones telling a broader story over several days, if not weeks.) What these compilations DO have which the others don't is a cool watercolor introduction with full page illustrations.

AWESOME BOOK
This one brings back a lot of childhood memories.I like the fact that Watterson uses more Sunday comics than dailies in this collection.5 stars

Teh Second Best Comic In The Whole Wide World
This is the greatest book on Earth(well...second best)!!!!Calvin is probably the funniest 6-year-old in this whole world.And Hobbes adds to the can't-stop-laughing fun.I definitley think this book and all the other Calvin and Hobbes books should get a huge award for the most funny book ever.I have no idea how Bill Watterson keeps everyone from ages 6-100 laughing their heads off.I give this book 5 stars(xinfinity)!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comic books, strips, etc    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. Comics & Graphic Novels    4. General    5. Humor    6. Humor / General   

Reviews (26)

Hysterical and bittersweet
When you get right down to it, is there anything better than Calvin & Hobbes? In this compilation or any of the others, you get lessons in quantum physics, nostalgic looks at the agony of grade school, observations in human nature, and a bit of the "thing under the bed" style horror. All this and you'll laugh yourself to the point of wetting your pants.
Calvin and Hobbes-the Dynamic Duo
Probably one of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes stories is about Calvin's Duplicator/Transmorgrifier/Transmorgrifier Ray. The kid's imagination is completely limitless. And, Mr. Watterson, if you're reading this review, you should make a story where Calvin has his birthday party. Five stars to ALL Calvin and Hobbes books!!!

Another great adventure!
I bought this from a used seller at Amazon for my daughter. It came in great condition!
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Subjects:  1. Cartoons and comics    2. Comic books, strips, etc    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Humor    6. Tigers    7. Toys    8. Cartoons & comic strips    9. Humor / General   

Reviews (42)

Vocabulary promotion in disguise #1
Our boys love the C&H cartoons.They are expanding their vocabularies without even knowing it!I refrain from telling them this though because they usually shy away from "educational" books.
Calvin The Great
Another great slab paperback filled with the very best of this over active duo.Themed for the holidays, Calvin and Hobbes get up to their usual mischief at the detriment of Mom, Dad, Susie and others.Read it over and over again just to get a little laughter in a boring day.Highly recommended.

Don't you wish everyday was summer?
Fans of Calvin & Hobbes who used to read the newspaper strip in the 80s and 90s will find great pleasure in reading this collection of C&H comics.These witty comics about the 6-year old Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, named after the famous philosophers, will amuse people of all ages.The perceptiveness and humor of Watterson deserve the highest of cartoon awards, while his artistic creations exude hilarity.This cartoon is perhaps one of the most piercing yet funny critiques of modern society.Read more

Subjects:  1. Comic books, strips, etc    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. Comics & Graphic Novels    4. General    5. Humor    6. Humor / General   

Reviews (39)

ONE OF THE BEST!
This calvin and hobbes collection is one of my favorites.I own every single one, but this one is better to me because it has more Sunday comics in it.The adventures, the fun, the snow, the beach...Bill Watterson shouldn't have quit.5 Stars

Hobbes' Favorite Thing To Do
As you can tell by the cover on here, Hobbes' favorite thing to do is pounce on Calvin when he gets home from school.
A fantastic collection of early Calvin and Hobbes comics
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes, first published in 1988, is chock full of early Calvin and Hobbes comic strips.No cartoonist, not even Charles Schultz, has captured the magical essence of childhood the way Bill Watterson did in this strip, and it should come as no surprise (although it did to Watterson) that Calvin and Hobbes quickly developed an incredibly loyal following.This strip went way beyond mere popularity.While I was in college, the campus newspaper decided to stop running Calvin and Hobbes (I think this was during one of Watterson's sabbaticals) - this resulted in nothing less than a furor on campus, as countless students immediately demanded the return of C&H.In a matter of days, Calvin and Hobbes were right back where they belonged.Read more

Subjects:  1. American wit and humor, Pictorial    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. Comics & Graphic Novels    4. General    5. Humor    6. Wit and humor    7. Cartoons & comic strips    8. Humor / General   

Reviews (31)

Better Deal
This is the second of three little books, published in the UK, that contain the exact material of the very first Calvin and Hobbes book.I bought this book thinking it had something new in it, but I didn't realize it contained the same material as a book I already had.
Best Comic Book Ever
This is the best comic book series! I have read the books so many times that I have memorized 1 third of them. You came find these amazing books in almost every bookstore.

Super awsome book
I really loved this book. Most of the strips were very funny. I really wonder how they come up with this stuff, even the title is funny. Even my mom thought it was funny, so it was pretty funny . ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cartoons and comics    2. Comic books, strips, etc    3. Comics & Cartoons    4. Comics & Graphic Novels    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Humor    8. Tigers    9. Toys    10. Humor / General   

Editorial Review

Now that Bill Watterson has retired from drawing syndicated cartoons, the only way to get our Calvin and Hobbes fixes is through his book collections. Read more

Reviews (89)

LUV'D IT!!!!!
Calvin And Hobbes...What A CLASSIC! It's hillarious, its clever, it's got everytihin! I bought this book as my first Calvin and Hobbes book years ago and I loved it immediatly! If im sad or upset, I just read this book and i'm happy again! IT's incredible! Watterson's commentary is an extra for this book and it's informative too. Also, this book has more strips than some of the other ones so buy this one! I hope this helped!

Fantastic
Having already owned every conceivable collection and reprint of Calvin and Hobbes material, I hardly needed a recap of the previous decade up to the point when this book was published.The attraction, then, had less to do with the smattering of strips that filled these pages and more to do with the bonus essays and commentaries that Watterson provides, shining some significant amount of insight onto the world of Calvin and Hobbes.
One of the best comic strip collection books ever!
My ex-girlfriend bought this book for me for Christmas and I was very pleased.Bill Watterson is one of the most intelligent comedy writers of all time.This collection gives descriptions of all the characters and explains their basic origins, as well as giving you hundreds of comics to read.Black and white as well as sunday comic strips.5 stars! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. Comics & Graphic Novels    3. General    4. Humor    5. Topic - Family    6. Humor / General   

Reviews (69)

Great farewell
From what I know this is the last C&H collection published before Watterson's adieu. That means the last page and, in particular, the last picture are the last we'll hear from Calvin and Hobbes in our lifetime. They're both absolutely beautiful and I don't mind to confess that I had tears in my eyes the moment I watched them. This book is typically exhilarating Watterson art: crazy, warm, witty, always funny and incredibly well written and designed. The strips about Calvin's snowmen are the ones that probably stand out, but it's a very tough call. A great, great farewell from my all time favourite comic strip.

A bittersweet departure
Watterson closes up the C&H series beautifully with this final book.
The Last of the Magic
This is the final collection of comics from CALVIN AND HOBBES, arguably my favorite comic strip of all times.Cartoonist Bill Watterson chose to retire before he drained all the magic out of his characters.While I'm disappointed, that is probably wise since this collection shows he was still at the top of his game.
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Subjects:  1. Form - Cartoons & Comics    2. General    3. Graphic Satire And Humor    4. Humor    5. Humor / General    6. Humour   

Editorial Review

Few writers--and even fewer cartoonists--have captured the imagination of childhood more effectively than Watterson in his many Read more

Reviews (45)

Always a Joy to Read
Calvin and Hobbes cartoons are timeless. They remember the joys and simplicities, and complications of childhood in a sentimental way. Calvin, a lonely suburban only-child, is left with his imagination and his stuffed tiger as his only friends. Hobbes, the tiger, comes to life whenever only Calvin is around and they have fun times together. They are great friends.
One of my favorites...
I love this "treasure."Great buy for your money.Kids will love it and so will you.

A Treasured Calvin & Hobbes book
Since our favorite comic strip was discontinued we rely on the books to give us a lift and a smile.
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Subjects:  1. Comic books, strips, etc    2. General    3. Humor    4. Humor / General   

Reviews (34)

More Calvin
This book combines material from both Yukon Ho! and Weirdos From Another Planet!.Perfect to read with a blanket and a cup of tea on a rainy Sunday afternoon.It lifts my spirits up and makes me laugh, even when there's no one around.Really, that could be said about any Calvin and Hobbes book, though!

The creator is a God.
Unfortunately, I say it rather cynically.
A walk through someone else's imagination
Calvin is a beam of light, a dinosaur, Spaceman Spiff, a pollster on the election of new parents, a robotic explorer from Jupiter (in search of chocoloate) -- well lots of things. He's all the best and all the worst a boy about five can be, and that covers a lot of ground.
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Subjects:  1. American wit and humor, Pictor    2. American wit and humor, Pictorial    3. Comic books, strips, etc    4. Comics & Cartoons    5. Comics & Graphic Novels    6. General    7. Humor    8. Humor / General   

Reviews (28)

a little bit of perspective...and a lot of fun
The commentary provided by the author on each of the Sunday cominc cartoon included in the collection in itself is worth the book.Each cartoon is presented twice, though. The left panel is similar to the sketches and the right hand presents the same cartoon in color. Each of the two pages provide a narrative related to the specific cartoon - explaining the artistic characteristics and inspiration for the cartoon....All in all, an excellent addition to any Calvin fan (and which intelligent reader isnt!)

Great Look Behind the Scenes
For the eleven years that it ran (1985-1995), Waterson's "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip was one of the greatest ever.His genius is reflected in a combination of brilliant images, imaginative story lines, unpredictable situations, and just the fun, love, and silliness of a little boy and his stuffed tiger.I have a few of the large format books, and I get a bit tired by Watterson's gassy forewords, in which he never fails to yak on and on about the cruel cartoon industry with its shrinking sizes, loss of artistic greatness, and insistence on merchandising every successful strip.Whatever.He does it again in this book, so you'll have to skip past that.The book doubled as the exhibit catalog for a showing of Watterson's works at Ohio State a few years ago.The interesting pages are dozens of Sunday strips with his personal comments under most of them.They appear in both the original draft and the final colored form (though personally, I didn't see much value added in running the same strip twice --in black-and-white and then in color). But it is fun to page through and laugh again at some of the most creative, clever, humorous, and well-drawn strips ever.

Insightful looks at classic sunday strips
Calvin & Hobbes was much more than a really good newspaper comic strip.Read more

Subjects:  1. Calvin and Hobbes    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. Comics & Graphic Novels    4. Exhibitions    5. General    6. Humor    7. Watterson, Bill    8. Watterson, Bill.    9. Cartoons & comic strips    10. Humor / General    11. c 1980 to c 1990    12. c 1990 to c 2000   

Subjects:  1. Cartoons and comics    2. Comics & Cartoons    3. Fiction    4. Foreign Language Study - General    5. General    6. Humor    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Spanish: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    9. Tigers    10. Toys   

Reviews (1)

Calvin and Hobbes is Entertainment at its Best
Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes wreck havoc as usual in this awesome collection of Watterson's timeless comic.Whether Calvin's wild imagination is dreaming of prehistoric dinosaurs or planning a mischevious attack on his arch-rival (fellow classmate Suzie Derkins), you're sure to enjoy the unexplainable antics of this troublesome six year old boy.
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Subjects:  1. Comics & Cartoons    2. General    3. Humor   

Reviews (1)

Calvin and the Snowmen
Every "Calvin and Hobbes" book contains wonderful insight into our society, children, and parents in general. Bill Watterson has an excellent way of looking at us from a slightly twisted child's point of view, but a child who has to be a genius or near-genius.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Humor    3. Non-Classifiable    4. Nonfiction   

Reviews (1)

good
this is a great book i got it at a secondhand store for 2bux and i was so stroked cuz my bro used to collect these and this was the only one that he didnt have but i got it first haha.anyways its hilarious so buy it!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Humor    2. Cartoons & comic strips   

Reviews (1)

Calling Spaceman Spiff
There is little you can say about a Calvin and Hobbes book. As with the other books in this series, it is very funny, insightful of people and children, and something that I seem to be able to read over and over. Bill Waterson brings a perspective to human life that is as unique as Gary Larson's perspectives, only his viewpoint surrounds our "hero," Calvin. The long-suffering Hobbes (a tiger, don't you know) is often a voice of doubt and sanity that Calvin rarely, if ever, heeds. When Calvin realizes that Hobbes is being critical, a fight generally ensues. Given that Hobbes is a "ferocious" tiger, Calvin rarely gains the upper hand.
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