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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 · comment

    when my daughter was about seven she started reading them when we were visiting them

    Jun 2026 · comment

    our boys read my old C&H collection more than almost any of their modern kids books

    Jun 2026 · comment
  • Watterson'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 · comment

    Watterson's determination to keep Calvin and Hobbes a comic strip and not compromise on its vision

    Jun 2026 · comment

    Calvin and Hobbes will always be special because of Watterson's integrity.

    Jun 2026 · comment
  • Captures 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 · comment

    it's kind of amazing that Watterson was able to put himself in the mind of a child so well for that strip

    Nov 2025 · comment

    Calvin gave me a sense of belonging, and made me realise I was not as weird as I originally thought.

    Jun 2026 · comment
  • Subtext rewards adult readers · 4

    It's part of that rarefied echelon of media that taps into something true about the human condition.

    Nov 2025 · comment

    The ones about Calvin having an awful day due to what's demanded of him are honestly heartbreaking.

    Nov 2025 · comment

    The humor lands when you’re a kid, but the subtext only becomes clear as an adult.

    Nov 2025 · comment

What hackers pick instead

Every quote

The 40 most detailed of 74 comments. Each links to the original.

  1. 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”

  2. 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”

  3. 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”

  4. 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”

  5. 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”

  6. 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”

  7. 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”

  8. 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”

  9. 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”

  10. 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”

  11. 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”

  12. One of my favourite experiences to have these days is reading these with my son.

    Mixed · Apr 2026 · in “Happy Map”

  13. It was so earnestly, so obviously, smarter than the median cultural offering.

    Mixed · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  14. Calvin and Hobbes will always be special because of Watterson's integrity.

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”

  15. 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”

  16. kids definitely know about it and really do appreciate/enjoy it

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”

  17. Good for Watterson for allowing his genius not to be trampled.

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”

  18. My son learned to read at age 5 using Calvin and Hobbes books

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  19. 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”

  20. 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”

  21. 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?”

  22. 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”

  23. 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”

  24. I discovered these comics via book collections at the library and became OBSESSED.

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  25. C&H was the first time that I realized how authenticity resonates with people.

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  26. 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”

  27. You should also buy real copies if you still can, because they're great.

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  28. 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”

  29. Calvin and Hobbes was the only comic I ever truly loved and collected.

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  30. Seeing a strip which I'd forgotten was an even more pleasurable bonus!

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  31. 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”

  32. are a really interesting look into how things changed over the years

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  33. It's absolutely amazing, filled with commentary from Bill Watterson.

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  34. Ordering the first boxed set for my daughter's birthday next year.

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  35. C&H was chock full of his personal beliefs, messages, and morals.

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”

  36. a formative part of every kid's childhood growing up in our house

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “AI children's books, body horror edition”

  37. allowed young readers like me to learn new words as I read along

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “'Calvin and Hobbes' at 40”

  38. I started loving it as a kid, a boy against "the establishment"

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”

  39. It makes the accidental discovery of C&H all the more special

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “Calvin and Hobbes and the Price of Integrity”

  40. a great way to spread something you appreciate with the world

    Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Little Free Library Books”

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