There’s the problem with technology moving so rapidly Several comments touch on the camera being dated. But the gag is too solid for that to matter. This is as close as Watterson teased the line on whether Hobbes is real or solely Calvin’s imagination. And it still doesn’t try to answer it for sure.
Watterson did another one where Calvin uses his cardboard machine to go back to the age of the dinosaurs. He shows dad pictures of his trip. The pictures show Calvin playing with plastic dinosaurs in the yard. What’s real is the vividness of Calvin’s imagination.
Hate to break this to everyone but Hobbes is not a real tiger, he’s a toy tiger, Calvin’s imagination brings him to life and they have many adventures. Watterson said for you to make your own conclusion about it, and there’s mine. Therefore they have to be inseparable, because without Hobbes, Calvin would have no real friends and no one to have heart to heart talks with, therefore without Calvin, Hobbes would just be a stuffed toy tiger just sitting there. I think both Calvin and Hobbes are awesome.
I have more to add: Calvin has a very vivid imagination. I can relate, when I was 6 and 7 I had a toy dog named Skipper. My imagination brought him to life and I fed him treats and gave him belly rubs, like a real dog. If you’re a kid: Take your time and enjoy it, because adulthood comes way too fast. If you’re an adult: I’m sure you have your favorite childhood memories. I love that this comic strip is about childhood and imagination.
@anjumahmed: I wouldn’t say that his parents hate him as a person, they just hate or disagree with his actions since he behaves like any typical boy would: stubborn, adventurous and imaginative. If he was well behaved then the comic strip would be boring. It’s also interesting to note that Watterson said Calvin was the complete opposite of him (Watterson) and he sited Hobbes for being more like him.
As an only child I had two friends like Hobbes; Teddy Bears one a brown one named Bear and the other a Panda named Dirty, because the white had gotten dirty from little kiddy hands. They were very real. My imagination would have us in fun situations. To bad my imagination wasn’t used to create some more appealing names, but those were their names and they had two distinct personalities.
All the arguments over Hobbes’ reality are pointless if you don’t realize that C&H do not live in our universe. They live in a place only accessible to us through the comic strips, a place where (among other things) first graders do algebra in school and are given to philosophical musings well beyond the comprehension of the average six-year-old. This is also a universe where a small boy is capable of building the most amazing snowman armies and sculptures without help (well, he probably does have the help of one particular friend). In their universe reality is in the eye of the beholder. Hobbes is alive in Calvin’s reality (and, consequently, in mine). In this strip we see Calvin’s photo through his father’s eyes, so of course Hobbes looks like a stuffed animal. That doesn’t change or contradict the fact that in the middle panel we clearly see the live Hobbes pouncing on Calvin.
BE THIS GUY over 10 years ago
Get a helmet cam and hold your hands out front so everybody can see you’re not doing anything.
cleokaya over 10 years ago
This comic strip in whole is perfect perfection.
V.C. Adams over 10 years ago
Priceless.
watmiwori over 10 years ago
At least Hobbes has the good grace to feel insulted at Dad’s egregious misinterpretation of the photographic evidence!
kittenpah over 10 years ago
Polaroid. A different time.
bluegirl285 over 10 years ago
Though a GoPro in this case would have been cool.
rentier over 10 years ago
I would miss his jumps and bounces, it’s such a nice demonstration of love, I would miss the fierce greeting!
rentier over 10 years ago
A new Handy makes Videos, too!
rentier over 10 years ago
Ferocious Hobbes a stuffed animal, that cannot be, not to say, poor Hobbes, don’t be insulted!!
Thomas Scott Roberts creator over 10 years ago
There’s the problem with technology moving so rapidly Several comments touch on the camera being dated. But the gag is too solid for that to matter. This is as close as Watterson teased the line on whether Hobbes is real or solely Calvin’s imagination. And it still doesn’t try to answer it for sure.
dustspecks Premium Member over 10 years ago
Love it!
Bill D. Kat Premium Member over 10 years ago
Pictures don’t lie. Hobbes exists only in Calvin’s imagination…. sigh
Susie Derkins D: over 10 years ago
It’s only your imagination Calvin.
pnmiq over 10 years ago
I’m with Calvin, perception is in the eye of the beholder. If Calvin’s best buddy is real, then it is real. Plus, Hobbes sure looks real to me.
mistercatworks over 10 years ago
I had a Siamese who would jump into your arms, whether you were ready or not. Sure scared the cable repair guy.
t jacobs over 10 years ago
i wish i had a tiger!
robert3750 over 10 years ago
Watterson did another one where Calvin uses his cardboard machine to go back to the age of the dinosaurs. He shows dad pictures of his trip. The pictures show Calvin playing with plastic dinosaurs in the yard. What’s real is the vividness of Calvin’s imagination.
bryan42 over 10 years ago
I’ve often wondered if Calvin grew up to be a Bigfoot hunter.
walrus202 over 10 years ago
:)
Midnightrain109 over 10 years ago
Hate to break this to everyone but Hobbes is not a real tiger, he’s a toy tiger, Calvin’s imagination brings him to life and they have many adventures. Watterson said for you to make your own conclusion about it, and there’s mine. Therefore they have to be inseparable, because without Hobbes, Calvin would have no real friends and no one to have heart to heart talks with, therefore without Calvin, Hobbes would just be a stuffed toy tiger just sitting there. I think both Calvin and Hobbes are awesome.
Midnightrain109 over 10 years ago
I have more to add: Calvin has a very vivid imagination. I can relate, when I was 6 and 7 I had a toy dog named Skipper. My imagination brought him to life and I fed him treats and gave him belly rubs, like a real dog. If you’re a kid: Take your time and enjoy it, because adulthood comes way too fast. If you’re an adult: I’m sure you have your favorite childhood memories. I love that this comic strip is about childhood and imagination.
Number Three over 10 years ago
That is just too cute!
xxx
Sailor46 USN 65-95 over 10 years ago
Perhaps Hobbs should consider giving Dad a demonstration pounce.
Midnightrain109 over 10 years ago
@robert3750 And let’s hope that another six year old (whether it was a boy or girl) got to keep Hobbes.
Midnightrain109 over 10 years ago
@JP Steve: Oh right! How could I forget? I love Bacon and Hobbes :)
westny77 over 10 years ago
Calvin dude you are too much.
Midnightrain109 over 10 years ago
@anjumahmed: I wouldn’t say that his parents hate him as a person, they just hate or disagree with his actions since he behaves like any typical boy would: stubborn, adventurous and imaginative. If he was well behaved then the comic strip would be boring. It’s also interesting to note that Watterson said Calvin was the complete opposite of him (Watterson) and he sited Hobbes for being more like him.
cleokaya over 10 years ago
As an only child I had two friends like Hobbes; Teddy Bears one a brown one named Bear and the other a Panda named Dirty, because the white had gotten dirty from little kiddy hands. They were very real. My imagination would have us in fun situations. To bad my imagination wasn’t used to create some more appealing names, but those were their names and they had two distinct personalities.
cooldady over 10 years ago
love Calvin and Hobbes!!!!!!!!!!!
Midnightrain109 over 10 years ago
Hobbes had the funniest lines
paullp Premium Member over 10 years ago
All the arguments over Hobbes’ reality are pointless if you don’t realize that C&H do not live in our universe. They live in a place only accessible to us through the comic strips, a place where (among other things) first graders do algebra in school and are given to philosophical musings well beyond the comprehension of the average six-year-old. This is also a universe where a small boy is capable of building the most amazing snowman armies and sculptures without help (well, he probably does have the help of one particular friend). In their universe reality is in the eye of the beholder. Hobbes is alive in Calvin’s reality (and, consequently, in mine). In this strip we see Calvin’s photo through his father’s eyes, so of course Hobbes looks like a stuffed animal. That doesn’t change or contradict the fact that in the middle panel we clearly see the live Hobbes pouncing on Calvin.
sfan over 10 years ago
finally, google glass will get some nice use-case