
Books · comic strip
Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Hacker Approved
Readers recommend this comic strip for its humor, its insight into childhood, and its subtext that adults notice, and many read it with their kids.
Summarized from 74 comments.
Readers recommend this comic strip for its humor, its insight into childhood, and its subtext that adults notice, and many read it with their kids.
- recommend
- 71
- criticize
- 0
- months recommended
- 5 of 13
Why people love it
Families read it together across generations · 7
Within a week it was borderline impossible to get her to put them down and go to sleep at night.
Jun 2026 · commentwhen my daughter was about seven she started reading them when we were visiting them
Jun 2026 · commentour boys read my old C&H collection more than almost any of their modern kids books
Jun 2026 · commentWatterson's artistry and integrity · 4
I never fail to be impressed either by Watterson's talent, both in the art and in choosing the right words to say
Nov 2025 · commentWatterson's determination to keep Calvin and Hobbes a comic strip and not compromise on its vision
Jun 2026 · commentCalvin and Hobbes will always be special because of Watterson's integrity.
Jun 2026 · commentCaptures a child's imagination and humor · 4
What makes it so funny is we know that Calvin is way off base all the time, but he's got a great imagination
Nov 2025 · commentit's kind of amazing that Watterson was able to put himself in the mind of a child so well for that strip
Nov 2025 · commentCalvin gave me a sense of belonging, and made me realise I was not as weird as I originally thought.
Jun 2026 · commentSubtext rewards adult readers · 4
It's part of that rarefied echelon of media that taps into something true about the human condition.
Nov 2025 · commentThe ones about Calvin having an awful day due to what's demanded of him are honestly heartbreaking.
Nov 2025 · commentThe humor lands when you’re a kid, but the subtext only becomes clear as an adult.
Nov 2025 · comment
What hackers pick instead
- Dilbert by Scott AdamsLong-running office comedy that many readers say captured corporate life accurately, though critics say its later work turned bitter and cynical.77recommend
- XKCD webcomicLong-running webcomic people praise for clever, thoughtful humor and a fun interactive physics toy. Critics say the applet's physics is buggy and some later comics feel less funny.25recommend
- Peanuts by Charles M. SchulzRecommended for its humor and insight into relationships, especially the clever, melancholy early strips. Some critics find later Snoopy material cute and mundane.14recommend
Every quote
The 40 most detailed of 74 comments. Each links to the original.
I never fail to be impressed either by Watterson's talent, both in the art and in choosing the right words to say
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
What makes it so funny is we know that Calvin is way off base all the time, but he's got a great imagination
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
it's kind of amazing that Watterson was able to put himself in the mind of a child so well for that strip
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
Calvin gave me a sense of belonging, and made me realise I was not as weird as I originally thought.
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
It's part of that rarefied echelon of media that taps into something true about the human condition.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
The ones about Calvin having an awful day due to what's demanded of him are honestly heartbreaking.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
Watterson's determination to keep Calvin and Hobbes a comic strip and not compromise on its vision
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
Within a week it was borderline impossible to get her to put them down and go to sleep at night.
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
when my daughter was about seven she started reading them when we were visiting them
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
our boys read my old C&H collection more than almost any of their modern kids books
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
The humor lands when you’re a kid, but the subtext only becomes clear as an adult.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
One of my favourite experiences to have these days is reading these with my son.
Mixed · Apr 2026 · in “Happy Map”
It was so earnestly, so obviously, smarter than the median cultural offering.
Mixed · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
Calvin and Hobbes will always be special because of Watterson's integrity.
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
My 7y old nephew inherited my complete collection and is a big fan.
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
kids definitely know about it and really do appreciate/enjoy it
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
Good for Watterson for allowing his genius not to be trampled.
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
My son learned to read at age 5 using Calvin and Hobbes books
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
The comic stuck around just long enough to leave a lasting impression but never too long to overstay its welcome.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
The "complete" box set is the first thing I ordered from Amazon US as a teenager, in 2000 or 2001 iirc.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
Calvin and Hobbes literaly got him to make a clone machine and got me to play Calvinball with him.
Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “Ask HN: What are you reading to your kids?”
What's important is it ended on his terms and some of us had the privilege to experience it.
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
Time to go pull some old volumes of Calvin & Hobbes off the shelf for the hundredth time
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
I discovered these comics via book collections at the library and became OBSESSED.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
C&H was the first time that I realized how authenticity resonates with people.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
That doesn't mean that they doesn't have quality beyond what those dregs see.
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
You should also buy real copies if you still can, because they're great.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
The three volume hard-book bound set is one of my favorite possessions.
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
Calvin and Hobbes was the only comic I ever truly loved and collected.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
Seeing a strip which I'd forgotten was an even more pleasurable bonus!
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
CnH was massively important to me growing up. It had so much meaning.
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
are a really interesting look into how things changed over the years
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
It's absolutely amazing, filled with commentary from Bill Watterson.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
Ordering the first boxed set for my daughter's birthday next year.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
C&H was chock full of his personal beliefs, messages, and morals.
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
a formative part of every kid's childhood growing up in our house
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “AI children's books, body horror edition”
allowed young readers like me to learn new words as I read along
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”
I started loving it as a kid, a boy against "the establishment"
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
It makes the accidental discovery of C&H all the more special
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”
a great way to spread something you appreciate with the world
Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Little Free Library Books”
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