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Dec 21, 2008

Todd rated it:

Thanks to the Palo Alto library system, my children are diehard fans of Garfield. On a recent trip to the library I decided to "uplevel" (not a real word, by the way) their taste by bringing home an armful of Calvin and Hobbes collections.

My kids are now diehard fans of both Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes, so I'm declaring semi-victory. While flipping through I noticed that this book has commentary by Mr. Watterson. He's a pretty reclusive guy, so I was excited to read his More...

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Oct 19, 2011

Dave rated it:

The real joy of this book is remembering, even for just a couple of hours, what it was like to be a kid. I don't know if the comics transported me there through writing or if it was just the nostalgia. I remember picking up Calvin and Hobbes for the first time at a garage sale. It was 50 cents or thereabouts, and I really just picked it up because I was a bored little kid waiting for his parents. When I looked at the inside cover, I saw that the previous owner's name was the same as a friend of More...

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Dec 04, 2011

Rhiannon rated it:

One of the many reasons I really love this book is it's not just about comics, it's also about the history of the comic strip, the backstory about the way the characters talk, how a comic is produced for the newspaper, and a whole bunch of other really amazing things! Most of that wasn't a priority part of the book when I was a kid over 10 years ago, because you know, as a kid the last thing you want to read is the "how to" or "history" of something unless it's fun, then it's More...

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Oct 18, 2011

Jordan rated it:

Calvin and Hobbes is a comic strip about a boy hamed calvin and his stuffed tiger hobbes. They are inseperable friends, who have many, many adventures. Calvin's wild imagination makes the strip interesting and appealing. Wstterson's drawings are pretty good, and the captions at the bottom of some of the comics offer an insight on the real meaning of the strip. As it turns out, comics really CAN be contemplative!

I picked it up becuase I have liked all other clavin and hobbes treasurie More...

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Dec 18, 2010

Mark rated it:

This edition, which must have coincided with the strip ending altogether, is a kind of annotated greatest hits. Watterson picks his favourite strips and includes a little write-up for each, explaining why he did things a certain way or any precedent Calvin or Hobbes’ actions might have in real life. There are also a few essays and mostly they’re entertaining and informative, but occasionally - such as when Watterson talks about the pressure of his job and his battles with the syndicate - he do More...

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Jun 26, 2007

Eric rated it:

Calvin & Hobbes creator Bill Waterson waxes philosophically about all things C&H in this 10th anniversary anthology (published in 1995). The reclusive Waterson talks frankly about the tortuous process of being a daly cartoonist (he has since retired the strip) as well as the evolution of his strip and his inspirations for the characters of Calvin, Hobbes, Susie Derkins, Miss Wormwood, Moe the bully, and the rest of the gang. (It was fascinating to read Waterson say that the truth about Hobbes More...

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Nov 30, 2011

Mario rated it:

This is a comic book that has little stories that combine into a bigger story. For example, Calvin and Hobbes have a water balloon fight and Susie comes out to have a water balloon fight with them. Hobbes has a balloon to throw at Susie but somehow she tricks him into using it on Calvin.

I loved this book. Calvin and Hobbes will keep you laughing. This book will keep you reading. I would recommend this book to all comic book lovers and young readers because it is a fun book.

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Mar 31, 2011

Austin rated it:

For anyone who likes the comics this is a great book for u. It is a collection of greatest comics (except for the Snowmen, there histaricle) I cannot do a full over Review but I can compare me to Calvin.
Basically make me six years old,with a best friend who is a tiger but u see a stuffed animal, and make me blonde and you got Calvin! It's a funny book and is good for anyone. If it was just comics it would be great but with the author notes to tip. It's incredible

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Jul 18, 2009

Airi's Timing is Off rated it:

DUDE!! Bill Watterson in da HOUSE!! Yes, this special collection has commentary from the ingenious creator himself. Everything I know about the crap cartoonists have to go through I learned from this book and it's tubular to the max to have a mind like Mr. Watterson's comment on this king of comic strips. I only lament our aggressively commercialistic world brought an end to my favorite comic strip. (Yep, that last sentence sounded incredibly shallow.)

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Dec 28, 2008

Shea rated it:

i didn't learn a thing from this book. It's a comic book. This book is fun when children a bored. I think comic books a as good as T.V. maybe even better. They are sometimes laugh out loud funny. Calvin is a 6 year old who couldn't have a sicker mind. Hobbes is his stuffed tiger who he thinks is real. People I know love it because I introduced them to it. My dad used to say the reason I love this comic so much is because I was just like Calvin.

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Nov 30, 2010

Danro rated it:

Bill Watterson does it again, but more creatively. Although I am a big fan of Calvin & Hobbes books, this one is my favorite. The tenth anniversary book goes behind the scenes of the cartoon world. Watterson shares his vast knowledge of cartoons in this book, along with many funny comics. It's a very helpful book for artists and cartoonists, yet it still provides entertainment. That's why I thought this book truly deserved 5 stars.

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Mar 03, 2010

Ben rated it:

This book is invaluable for any fan of Calvin and Hobbes, anyone interested in Watterson himself, or anyone wishing to know Watterson's opinions on the comic strip business. The opening section of the book contains much of Watterson's writings on these subjects, and it is incredibly interesting to read. I also enjoy reading Watterson's feelings on his hand-picked, favorite strips. It's always a joy to be able to get into the mind of the creator, especially one so reclusive and private.

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Sep 21, 2010

Julie rated it:

I had forgotten how completely brilliant Calvin & Hobbes is. Henry has recently become obsessed, and I have to say that many, many of these are laugh-out-loud funny. This is the book out of all the ones we checked out that I sat down to read myself, because it has a whole text-and-context thing going on, where Watterson explains what he was thinking when he did each comic, and also mentions what jokes he think failed and story ideas he wishes he hadn't started, as well as which ones he was delig More...

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Dec 31, 2008

Rob rated it:

With the possible exception of The Far Side, no comic strip has touched me more in my lifetime than Calvin and Hobbes. Honest, philosophical, and imaginatively compelling, books have been written on this one. Is Hobbes real? Evidence suggests both yes and no. What do Calvin's (nameless) parents represent? Oh, if snowmen could talk...

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May 15, 2009

Aaron rated it:

An iconic author leaves thoughts on the growth and brilliance of his work as a whole, and on individual strips he has something to say about. An excellent glimpse into the background of an amazing comic strip that defined comics, the trade and the imagination. I'll always be a little bit of Calvin with a need for a lot more Hobbes.

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Nov 15, 2007

Nathan rated it:

Aside from “The Complete Calvin and Hobbes” this has to be the best collection of the comic. It's a sort of “greatest hits” album from the strips' first decade. While some of the material has been reprinted, there is still a large amount that (at the time)had never appeared in book form. However, it is the commentary by Bill Watterson that really makes this book worthwhile . It seems like every other page has some little snippet, fact or story about his years drawing the comic. They give a lot o More...

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Jan 14, 2009

Charlie rated it:

In this collection, Bill Watterson shares his insight on this legendary comic strips. His insight was of interest to me, but it kept the publishers from putting more strips in, but I guess that is okay. Calvin and Hobbes are two of my favorite literary characters and role models. This book featured them so I liked the book.

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Aug 20, 2007

Felis rated it:

Calvin and Hobbes is my favorite cartoon-strip and often I identify myself as Calvin, pondering same questions about world as Calvin does. Hobbes, in the other hand, with his insight gives surprising answer. One of the strips that I remember clearly is the strip where Calvin asked Hobbes the purpose of human in the world, Hobbes answered it playfully: to become tiger food. A very clever answer actually, it reminds us that we are here as one of element in ecosystem, that tiger, human, or even mus More...

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Dec 16, 2009

Clayton rated it:

I'm now working at the circulation desk at the library and this book came across my path the other day. I was, and still am, a tremendous fan of calvin and hobbes. I always read it growing up and was so sad to see it go when it did. I hate to sound sappy, but this comic strip touches me, takes me back, puts things in perspective. I've read several of the books/collections over the years, but never read this one. I really enjoyed all of the commentary provided by Watterson. He explains how More...

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Jan 19, 2012

Kerri rated it:

LOVE Calvin & Hobbes!! But this book is much cooler than all the other anthologies (of which I own two others as well) because this one is organized and annotated by Bill Watterson. Sometimes pages, sometimes paragraphs, but lots of background insight. I love that kind of thing. FUN FACT: Watterson has NEVER licensed anyone to use his strip or images for ANYTHING -- i.e. Any of those gross Calvin peeing (etc) window stickers you've seen were pirated. That is super lame, but made me glad to know. More...

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Aug 03, 2011

Kevin rated it:

An autobiography of Mr. Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes, the highly philosophical newspaper treat from the eighties and nineties about a little over imaginative six year old. Classic humour, great artwork, insights into the thoughts and principles of Mr. Watterson.

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Jan 04, 2011

Matt rated it:

Read this book to just take a look into the mind of Bill Watterson. He fills the book with a lot of commentary and he comes off as still very bitter about the way his cartoons have been received. He spends a lot of time discussing the syndicates that distributed his work.

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Oct 18, 2009

Benjamin rated it:

Fantastic. What sets this apart from the 950 other Calvin and Hobbes collections is that this one is heavily interspersed with Watterson's own observations about the strip, his creative process, and the elements of his own life that have informed his work. Highly recommended.

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Aug 16, 2008

Lance rated it:

While I own quite a few of the collections, this one will be the only one I list. I always like seeing the evolution of an artists work and this book gives most of it in one volume. Starting with some commentaries by Watterson, like the troubles he had with the syndicate and editors. I can see both sides of the argument. As an editor, the need for a format and a timetable are important if you want to publish your paper on time. As an artist, the format can be restricting. The popularity of Calvi More...

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Sep 07, 2011

Renato rated it:

Calvin is the best.
I was a teenager when I read in this book why Watterson did not want to merchandise Calvin.
His ideas still resonates.
Mauricio de Souza, a leading brazilian cartoonist, said once Calvin was the character he would like to have created.

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Aug 02, 2011

Dan rated it:

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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May 13, 2010

Aaron rated it:

It was neat to get insight regarding Bill Watterson's inspirations and thought process. His criticisms of the newspaper industry at the time were interesting to read too. Having specific C & H strips to reference made this especially fun. Watterson is a genius.

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May 25, 2010

Lia rated it:

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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Feb 02, 2012

Simon rated it:

Probably the greatest things I've ever read. And that includes the greatest of the classics. The first time I encountered the last strip in this album (the one that takes up the whole last page), I'm pretty sure I cried from nostalgia.

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Dec 29, 2010

Nicko rated it:

This is a great look inside Watterson's mind and creativity, and ideals. The stories about him fighting his publisher over the use of Calvin & Hobbes on tea-towels, T-shirts and the like are astonishing. Especially because he won.

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