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The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book (Calvin and Hobbes)

4.64 of 5 stars 4.64 · rating details · 14,839 ratings · 113 reviews

The magical friendship shared by Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes endeared them to millions of fans. In The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book their friendship endures in a full-color collection of Sunday cartoons and original art done for the book, all fit for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Whether visiting other planets as Spaceman Spiff, transmogrifying into a dangerous di...more

Paperback, 128 pages

Published January 1st 1989 by Andrews McMeel Publishing

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Apr 18, 2012 K.D. Oliveros rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: funny, childrens, comics, collection

I enjoyed reading this book. Witty and funny with colorful well-drawn images. There are only 5 characters: 4 y/o Calvin; his stuff toy tiger and lone playmate Hobbes who in Calvin's wild imagination can turn into a live precocious and sometimes silly tiger; Suzie who is a girl reaching out for Calvin but gets bullied by Calvin because he seems to be contented playing with Hobbes and there is a stage in a boy's life when girls are yucky; Calvin's father; and Calvin's mother.

Even if there are only...more I enjoyed reading this book. Witty and funny with colorful well-drawn images. There are only 5 characters: 4 y/o Calvin; his stuff toy tiger and lone playmate Hobbes who in Calvin's wild imagination can turn into a live precocious and sometimes silly tiger; Suzie who is a girl reaching out for Calvin but gets bullied by Calvin because he seems to be contented playing with Hobbes and there is a stage in a boy's life when girls are yucky; Calvin's father; and Calvin's mother.

Even if there are only 5 characters, the small situations that Bill Watterson created in the comics strips sour high. Most are outrageously funny I found myself grinning from ear to ear. Who would not feel that way looking at the mischievous face of Calvin while planning something naughty or when he gets a surprise of his life and his eyes just expand unbelievably with his hair raising like he is a porcupine or something. Then when he returns to being a boy, he could be endearing and cute like a yellow marshmallow.

Calvin and Hobbes was a syndicated daily comic strip that was written and illustrated by American cartoonist Bill Watterson (born 1958). The names of the characters were taken from the Protestant reformer, John Calvin and the social philosopher, Thomas Hobbes.The comic strip ran from 1985 to 1995. At the end of 1995, Watterson drew his last issue with a short statement to newspaper editors and his readers what he felt he had achieved all he could do in the medium.

Watterson spent much of his career trying to change the climate of newspaper comics. He believed that the artistic value of comics was being undermined, and that the space they occupied in newspapers continually decreased, subject to arbitrary whims of shortsighted publishers. Furthermore, he opined that art should not be judged by the medium for which it is created (i.e., there is no “high” art or “low art” – just art).

Watterson’s legacy is the change on the Sunday newspaper cartoons: the standard cartoon starts with a large, wide rectangle featuring the cartoon's logo or a throwaway panel tangential to the main area so that newspapers pressed for space can remove the top third of the cartoon if they wish; the rest of the strip is presented in a series of rectangles of different widths. In Watterson's opinion, this format limited the cartoonist's options of allowable presentation. After his sabbatical year in 1991 he managed to gain an exception to these constraints for Calvin and Hobbes, allowing him to draw his Sunday strip the way he wanted. In many, panels overlap or contain their own panels; in some, the action progresses diagonally across the strip.

I did not grow up with this comic strip so I did not have any reminiscing moments while reading this. I bought this book around 10 years ago at Border's along Orchard when I was in Singapore. It was on sale and I decided to buy this because a couple of months before I was requested by an office mate to buy a Calvin and Hobbes t-shirt at a weekend flea market in Bangkok. When I saw the t-shirts they were so cool and it made me wonder who were those comics characters. I only knew Popeye, Brutus and Olive Oyl and Tarzan when I was growing up.

Now while reading Wiki entries about Bill Watterson, I learned that those images on the t-shirts were illegal. Bill Matterson did not allow to merchandise his works because he said it would cheapen his work. Finally, a guy with some deep-seated principles.

After I closed this book, I was craving for more. The images of Calvin will stay in my mind for a long time. I wished I was a child in 1985-1995 when this was being syndicated on Sunday newspaper. It's so cool. (less)

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Jun 03, 2012 Abhishek rated it 5 of 5 stars

Spaceman Spiff, Stupendous Man, Calvin the Tyrannosaurus... the kid's imagination has no ends, no bounds, no limits! Laws of the universe held sacred for centuries bend to his will if he wants to. The Creator of the Worlds is the Destroyer of the Worlds... and he is Calvin! Hats off to Bill Watterson for creating one of the best partnerships in the comic world, an undying friendship that does moisten your eyes once in a while, a relationship of love and sarcasm that makes you laugh so hard that...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Juan (He who reads!) Manuel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: the notes you're about to read were extracted from this book and I do not intend to take personal credit for any of them:

Watterson is so damn intelligent :) ...

Calvin : I call this “lookout” hill
Hobbes: Yes you can certainly see far from up here
Calvin: I call it “lookout” hill Because that’s what you yell whenever we go down it.
Calvin: You Know, sometimes it seems things go by too Quickly.
Calvin: We’re so busy watching out for what’s just ahead of us that we don’t take the time to e...more

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Jul 26, 2009 PurplyCookie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, comics-series, humour-parody, read-growing-up, ruined-copy

"The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book" opens with Calvin's 10-page adventure as Spaceman Spiff, interplanetary explorer extraordinaire, with one mission in mind: to destroy all aliens, which in real life, are disguised as his mother and Susie. Very funny stuff.

Yet Calvin's wild imagination doesn't stop there. For the rest of the colorful 100+ pages, he agitates his parents mercilessly, particularly his father; while with his mother, he adversely chokes down every disgusting meal she cooks, ma...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Valerie added it

Not surprisingly, this is primarily a collection of Sunday strips. I say 'primarily', because I think Watterson regarded the covers, end pages, introductions, etc as an entertaining challenge, and seems to've taken pleasure in creating new strips and tableaux for the collections. Even if you have the newspaper strips in other books, it's worth adding this to your collection for the additional material.

In an afterword, Watterson casts back to days when Sunday cartoons were large, often multipanel...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: humour

Culled from the Sunday papers, where apparently the comics are given more space allowing the artist to work outside of the regular 3-4 panel layout (and use more colours), this series of stand-alone pages are typically, wonderfully Watterson. Opening with a beautifully painted image of our heroes, walking through a snowy field, highlights for me include monsters under the bed, the intricacies of two-man baseball, the joy of giving a tiger a scratch, losing against Hobbes at Monopoly, Calvin’s Da...more

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Aug 15, 2009 Nathaniel rated it 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE this book. LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOO

(two hours later)

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...more

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May 22, 2008 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked this book to write the review b/c the Sunday strips were works of art each time. Because he had the larger format and color options to put out on Sundays, these were some of the most imaginative. You got to see other aspects of Calvin's imagination beyond Hobbes--the drooling, alien school teacher, spaceman spiff, etc. With regard to Sunday strips, Watterson repeatedly bucked the system and rallied against the marginalizing of the Sunday comics all the while fighting the uphill battle a...more I picked this book to write the review b/c the Sunday strips were works of art each time. Because he had the larger format and color options to put out on Sundays, these were some of the most imaginative. You got to see other aspects of Calvin's imagination beyond Hobbes--the drooling, alien school teacher, spaceman spiff, etc. With regard to Sunday strips, Watterson repeatedly bucked the system and rallied against the marginalizing of the Sunday comics all the while fighting the uphill battle as newspapers slowly but surely cut down the comics' space on Sundays (and during the week). His creative use of the space--whether he went big or used the traditional number of panels--never failed to please and entertain. The books are nice because you can see his art work (and yes, it is art!) develop over time as Calvin (Hobbes and the rest) becomes more detailed in both appearance and content.

I wrote my masters thesis on the strip and am 99% sure I have read every strip that exists. I covet the boxed edition--someday I will splurge for it...

Obviously I am a fan...literally devestated when the strip came to an end. When I went off to college my mother was so sweet and would cut out the strips and pass them along for me to read. I feel fortunate to have been old enough and cognizant of the importance of Watterson's work, what a true privlege to study in under/grad school and have professors who supported me in that endeavor.

Watterson himself is reclusive--and that's putting it mildly. He's more of a mystery than Thomas Pynchon! I respect the fact he refused to license out the strip and only did the dailies, Sundays and the books. My understanding is that although he was a huge Peanuts/Schultz fan, the merchandising/licensing of it made him sick. Let's face it, he could have made millions on stuffed Hobbeses alone! Even now, I am always irked on his behalf when I see those stupid stickers on cars, etc.--he made it known that he hated that stuff, and it only serves to prove his point about licensing gone amok I guess. (I must admit, though, I was guilty of having owned some Grateful Dead Tshirts with Calvin and Hobbes on them....hypocrite, I know!)

I do wish we had a little more insight into his genius--and yes, comics can be genius, this proved it for 10 wonderful years! He did pull back the curtain a bit for the 10th Anniversary book--just left me drooling for more. Writing that thesis with so little to go by on him personally was tough!

(less)

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Jul 30, 2009 Greg rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childhood-favorites, fiction-and-humor

Yet another among the books published by Bill Watterson from the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip that I have enjoyed. My children have literally worn out these collections of C&H comics, and with good reason. C&H is a unique blend of homespun philosophy, side-splitting humor, and insight into the human (child and adult) condition. Watterson's insights into, and sly digs at, various social, familial, and other institutions of modern life are masterful.

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Apr 26, 2013 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens-book-reviews

I confess, my son is only half way through this book. I have to review it now because he will only be allowed small doses in the future. He hides behind doorways and sneaks up behind me or pounces, much like these characters. I can't take it anymore. Given that he asks for these comics more than tv and laughs hysterically while reading, Calvin and Hobbes is getting five stars.

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Jul 08, 2012 Gabbie rated it 5 of 5 stars

lol not sure of this is the one i own but if am right lol .. this is the one where our favorite little guy pretends to be married to suzi and they have a "baby" who ends up being suzi stuffed bunny .. Calvin goes nuts and says hes not playing "house" cause the baby is a bunny OMG lol .

Another funny one is where he pretends to be a dinosaur and bites hes moms leg

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Jan 10, 2013 Nayantara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Where does one begin with Calvin and Hobbes? Bill Watterson is just awesome! My ten year old cousin enjoys the simplicity of Calvin and Hobbes. As you get older you appreciate it on a different level. The subliminal messages that are so brilliantly added in the comics is so great! Watterson's imagination and ingenuity astounds me! I love him!

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May 17, 2011 Laura Hall rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: humor

I spent many days reading calvin and hobbs when I was little and just enjoyed a sunday evening re-reading many of the books I have. I still laugh out-loud when I read these. I must give credit to Bill Watterson for expanding my vocabulary as I remember looking up many words in order to understand the humor better. What a great cartoon series!

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Oct 25, 2010 Alton Verwayne rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think Calvin & Hobbes is one of the funniest books I ever read in my life because instead of a boring old book it actually relate the to a life of a regular home boy that has a big imagination with his favorate stuffed toy.A librarian would be a kind of person would like it because it realy would make you put it in a library.I love Calvin & Hobbes becaues of the action.

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Jan 22, 2011 Alex rated it 5 of 5 stars

LOVED IT! This book brings back all the good memories of flipping through newspapers to the comics section when I was little. And it's even better now that I can understand it in a more mature/complex way than when I was eight! Oh, and of course, who doesn't love Calvin and Hobbes?

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Aug 02, 2011 Dan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Calvin and Hobbes books are great fun and really witty humor! A childhood staple comic book for me, but even now I go back and read them and understand the humor on a different level (now that I know the meanings of some of the words!). Great books.

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Sep 09, 2011 Liam Duffy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Calvin and Hobbes is my favorite book and I suggest it to anybody that likes comics it's not chanlenging to read so I look pretty dumb reading it, but it is enjoyable and makes my heart feel good. Heart warming my opinion it's good for any age!

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May 25, 2010 Lia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humor

My review for all Calvin and Hobbes books is this:

When you need to relax and laugh, this is a great place to go. Watterson is insightful, hilarious, and very, very funny. Highly recommended.

I grew up on C&H, and I'm very glad I did.

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Jan 09, 2010 Farheen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Don't know how many times I read this as a kid- I LOVE LOVE LOVE Calvin- what a great kid with a great imagination. My favorite cartoon in here is the one where Calvin draws a bedtime story for his dad to read- hilarious.

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Jan 31, 2008 Pedro rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-picture-books

All the time I pick up any Calvin and Hobbes collections I lose myself for an hour. I still laugh as hard as I did the first time I read them. I always related to Calvin, in the sense that he is a loner and he does not care. I always was a type of loner in which I could never stay put with the same set of friends because getting to involved with people meant that you lost time with yourself. I would always (and 'til this day, I will admit) imagine myself in another place or silly situations, and...more

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May 11, 2011 Morgan is currently reading it

this book is hilarios and is a good short read.I love the charecter calvin and buddy hobbs.being a six year old with a sharp mind and a attitude he is a really funny charecter.

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Feb 01, 2009 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

A lot of these books repeat some but I have read them all many times. Lately Josh has been checking them out of the library and we have really enjoyed them all!

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Mar 26, 2013 Joycetho1 rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought that this was a funny comic book. Calvin and Hobbes do many bad things, and they get into trouble a lot. I would like to read more Calvin and Hobbes books.

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Sep 05, 2011 Yichen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic, fiction, series

Delightful dips into the world of Calvin and Hobbes one Sunday at a time. This may reconcile me to the one day when dread looms largest upon my procrastinating self.

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Dec 04, 2011 Mell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: art

I still miss new installments of Calvin and Hobbes in the paper. Good thing I have the books to read. Hands down the best comic strip ever.

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Aug 04, 2011 Hazel rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love Calvin and Hobbes. This is one of the best comic strips ever written. Calvin and Hobbes will make you laugh every time.

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Apr 03, 2010 John rated it 4 of 5 stars

On a lazy Sunday this book is Perfect just grab some Hot chochlate find a comfy seat and relax to Bill Watersons great animated comics

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Oct 20, 2009 Luis Perez rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fiction. Collection of Sunday Calvin and Hobbes comic strips.

If you loved C&H, this is a must have. I first read this in 1990.

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Oct 02, 2012 Bill Sears rated it 5 of 5 stars

Classic Watterson C & H. I have re-read this so many times the book looks abused. I have all his other books... somewhere.

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May 02, 2012 Isabel del Río rated it 5 of 5 stars

Me encanta esta pareja, siempre saben cómo arrancarte una sonrisa
http://www.laodiseadelcuentista.blogs...

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About Bill Watterson

Bill Watterson (born William Boyd Watterson II) is an American cartoonist, and the author of the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes". His career as a syndicated cartoonist ran from 1985 to 1995; he stopped drawing "Calvin and Hobbes" at the end of 1995 with a short statement to newspaper editors and his fans that he felt he had achieved all he could in the comic strip medium. During the early years of...more

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The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book (Calvin and Hobbes)

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