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Calvin and Hobbes

Calvin and Hobbes: Sunday Pages, 1985-1995: An Exhibition Catalogue

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Celebrating an exhibit of ten years of Sunday comics featuring the beloved boy and his tiger, Calvin and Sunday Pages 1985-1995 is sure to bring back memories.

New York Times best-seller!

Everyone misses Calvin and Hobbes .

It reinvented the newspaper comic strip at a time when many had all but buried the funnies as a vehicle for fresh, creative work. Then Bill Watterson came along and reminded a new generation of what older readers and comic strip aficionados A well-written and beautifully drawn strip is an intricate, powerful form of communication. And with Calvin and Hobbes , we had fun—just like readers of Krazy Kat and Pogo did. Opening the newspaper each day was an adventure. The heights of Watterson's creative imagination took us places we had never been. We miss that.

This book was published in conjunction with the first exhibition of original Calvin and Hobbes Sunday pages at The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library. Although the work was created for reproduction, not for gallery display, was a pleasure to see the cartoonist's carefully placed lines and exquisite brush strokes. In an attempt to share this experience with those who were unable to visit the exhibition, all of the original Sunday pages displayed are reproduced in color in this book so that every detail, such as sketch lines, corrections, and registration marks, are visible. On the opposite page the same comic strip is printed in full color. Because Watterson was unusually intentional and creative in his use of color, this juxtaposition provides Calvin and Hobbes readers the opportunity to consider the impact of color on its narrative and content.

When I first contacted Bill Watterson about the possibility of exhibiting his original work, I used the term "retrospective." He replied that we might be able to do an exhibit, but that calling it a retrospective made him uncomfortable. He felt that a longer time was needed to put Calvin and Hobbes in the historical perspective implied by that term. Nonetheless, this show is a "look back" at the comic strip as we revisit favorites that we remember. Calvin and Sunday Pages 1985-1995 is particularly interesting because each work that is included was selected by Bill Watterson. His comments about the thirty-six Sunday pages he chose are part of this volume. In addition, he reflects on Calvin and Hobbes from the perspective of six years, and his essay provides insights into his life as a syndicated cartoonist.

Reprint books of Calvin and Hobbes are nice to have, but the opportunity to see the original work and read Bill Watterson's thoughts about it is a privilege. He generously shared not only the art, but also his time and his thoughts. When I first reviewed the works included in the exhibit, I knew that everyone who visited it would begin with laughter and end with tears.

On behalf of all who enjoyed Calvin and Hobbes , thank you, Bill Watterson.

--Lucy Shelton Caswell, Professor and Curator The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library, June 2001

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2001

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About the author

Bill Watterson

398 books4,845 followers
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 his career he produced several drawings and additional contributions for "Target: The Political Cartoon Quarterly". Watterson is known for his views on licensing and comic syndication, as well as for his reclusive nature.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
Profile Image for Katya.
485 reviews
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May 22, 2025
O facto de a FLL ainda não ter começado, não me impede de começar já a desgraçar as finanças naquilo que é a minha literatura de conforto. Mas, tendo a edição completa das tiras de Calvin Hobbes, para quê repetir-me com as suas coletâneas especiais? (Vamos fingir que é coisa que me pergunto muitas vezes). Devo dizer, em meu abono, que na edição que adquiri vem plasmado um autocolante vermelho com as seguintes palavras: "Só para colecionadores". Acho que isso me isenta de mais justificações. Mas, façamos de conta que esta razão - mais do que válida - não é suficiente, porque há duas outras razões de peso para adquirir este catálogo. A primeira: uma introdução pela mão de Watterson aos dez anos da sua carreira como cartoonista - um texto com cerca de sete páginas recheado de curiosidades sobre o formato escolhido e a sua evolução, os materiais usados no desenho de Calvin & Hobbes ou as dificuldades de criação desta BD histórica.
A segunda: o facto de o autor fazer acompanhar cada uma das pranchas, selecionadas por si para esta exposição, de um comentário que versa ora sobre a inspiração para determinados quadradinhos, ora sobre os seus aspetos técnicos, todos eles mimosos textos que oferecem pequenos insights sobre a sua generosidade e humildade artística.
É esta aproximação ao autor, um autor de culto, sem dúvida, aquilo que transforma este já de si magnífico catálogo de uma exposição da Universidade Estadual do Ohio, no ano de 2002, numa edição de luxo.
Nele, cada uma das 36 Páginas de Domingo preferidas de Watterson se mostram tal como chegavam à editora: desenhadas à mão, a carvão e tinta da China, e demoradamente coloridas a aguarela. Para esta exposição, um critério atípico para uma BD humorística: realismo e veracidade.

"(...) estava certa de que os visitantes começariam por sorrir e sairiam com os olhos húmidos de lágrimas."

Estas palavras pertencem a Lucy Shelton Caswell, curadora desta exposição, mas servem igualmente bem para descrever a experiência desta leitura.
Profile Image for Paula.
335 reviews17 followers
March 6, 2019
If you haven't read the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes" by Bill Watterson, I think you should. Making an investment in any of his collections will be money well-spent.

This particular collection is An Exhibition Catalogue of Sunday strips from 1985-1995. They were displayed at the Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library from September 10, 2001 to January 15, 2002. The 36 selected strips are displayed on the right-hand page with the uncolored strip on the left-hand side. Watterson provides descriptions of them all, along with his motivation for creating each one the way he did. Some of his comments are on comic book art. Others explain how he formatted for a Sunday newspaper space provided to him, as well as his experience in the newspaper industry itself.

The cover is from the artist's private collection, an unpublished pastel (12 x 12.5 cm) with Calvin and 'Hobbes ol' buddy' riding downhill in the wagon. In this particular collection of Sunday strips, you will enjoy Calvin, Hobbes, Dad, Mom, Susie, and Calvin's glorious imagination. A couple of his alter-egos show up, as well as Miss Wormwood, his patient (?) teacher. It's a walk down memory lane for me that doesn't last waaay long enough. (I satisfy my Calvin "jones" daily on a Facebook group with over 52,000 members. For added interest, you can find one every day at GoComicsDOTcom.)

Watterson retired from his work with the strip in 1995 and within these pages is included the final strip, published the last day of that year. It's a poignant and typical look at the enduring relationship between Calvin and Hobbes, using words that only a retiring Mr. Watterson could choose as his goodbye.
Profile Image for Dilli Fussolini.
45 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2025
Very good reprints of the best Sundays (including the famous Dancing Calvin) , and Watterson lets some secrets out from behind the curtain. Definitely worth the 5 dollars at the Half Price Books sale.
Profile Image for Olivier Goetgeluck.
138 reviews69 followers
May 24, 2014
"Isn't it strange that evolution would give us a sense of humor?"

"You know, Hobbes, sometimes even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help."

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want."


Profile Image for Iris.
375 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2019
Reseña completa en Sweet Darkness: http://bit.ly/2XPiVDL

Cuando Calvin y Hobbes llegó a mis manos, tenía mis dudas, porque pensé que se trataría de una colección de tiras muy arraigadas a la época en la que fueron ilustradas. De hecho, no sabía demasiado de Calvin y Hobbes.

Lo admito, me volví un prejuiciosa con las tiras (je, je, je).

En fin. Con la intención de cumplir con mi compromiso de reseñarlo, comencé a leerlo… ¡y me llevé una gran sorpresa!

Mi lado de Artista Visual y Diseñadora Gráfica lo amó mucho.

El autor se nos presenta y nos cuenta respecto a su obra; nos cuenta, a lo largo de cada tira, su evolución como ilustrador, la forma en la que tuvo que trabajar a la hora de llegar los cambios de formato, el cómo se superó a sí mismo para dibujar, colorear; el uso de conceptos en algunas de las tiras… etc.

pensé que era posible que el publico mexicano, ajeno al Diseño y la Ilustración, no disfrutaría tanto de las tiras (sin sus descripciones, quiero decir), pero cuando fui a hablarle a mi hermano de mi lectura y llevé el libro conmigo, él me sorprendió a mí. Me dijo que le gustaba mucho Calvin y Hobbes.

Como dije, pensaba, antes de esta situación, que alguien más no disfrutaría las tiras debido a la perspectiva que yo tuve al leerlas. Pero, reconsiderando mi posición y volviendo a examinar las tiras, me di cuenta de que son atemporales.

El humor de las tiras es muy diverso. Hay tiras que simplemente se dedican a hacerte reír y otras tantas que te invitan a reflexionar mediante la ironía.

En cuanto a la técnica de ilustración… ¿qué puedo decir? No me gustan muchos los trabajos nacidos en la época del posmodernismo; pero el autor se aleja de todo esto y cuando tiene que hacer referencia a otros movimientos, usa movimientos como el arte pop o el cubismo, ¡y los ejecuta de maravilla!

Además, poder ver las tiras en su original en inglés… Disfruté mucho de observar y repasar las líneas del autor.

En español: ¡Bill Watterson es todo un ilustrador!
Profile Image for Abril G. Karera.
484 reviews262 followers
May 20, 2018
Este fantástico volumen aborda el proceso creativo de Bill Watterson para conseguir que tanto Calvin como Hobbes fueran personajes queridísimos por todos. Un paseo interesante en cuanto a ilustración, distribución de viñetas e ideas fantásticas que compartir. Sin duda, imprescindible para los amantes de las historias gráficas.
Profile Image for Katrien.
647 reviews4 followers
April 8, 2020
Aahh Calvin & Hobbes. Ik kreeg dit boek jaren nadat de comics gestopt zijn, om mijn collectie te vervolledigen. Ik hou van de fantasierijke, filosofische jongen met zijn tijger.
Deze versie bevat de grotere "sunday strips", een fenomeen dat ik in 1995 op uitwisseling in de VS leerde kennen.
Het boek toont de originele, niet ingekleurde versie naast de finale versie, met uitleg van de auteur. En een voorwoord van de auteur. Een voorwoord waarin je heel wat leert over de achterliggende belemmeringen bij strips die in de Amerikaanse kranten komen. Nice.
Profile Image for Roger.
1,068 reviews13 followers
March 18, 2021
I could wax rhapsodic about Calvin and Hobbes for as long as you'd let me. Surely one of the last great comic strips to appear in an American newspaper-it beats the hell out of Mary Worth-with fantastic art and humor that still stands up today. I miss it.
Profile Image for idana.
60 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2024
Wow…… just exquisite….. wow………. Wowwwww
74 reviews
December 27, 2025
Maybe the best book where an artist explains their thought process that I’ve ever read.
Profile Image for Heather.
798 reviews22 followers
March 22, 2015
My boyfriend checked this book, which is a catalog that accompanied a 2001/2002 Bill Watterson show at The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library, out of the library and thought it'd be fun to read together. I think he was a little surprised that I didn't have a strong connection to Calvin and Hobbes from my childhood. I don't know: I read the Sunday comics at my grandparents' house, including Calvin and Hobbes, but Calvin was such a boy, and so active, and I was a girl, and bookish, and I wasn't really into any comics, except for The Far Side. But reading comics together sounded like fun, so I agreed to make an exception to the TBR Double Dog Dare rules for this, and I'm glad I did. The book contains 36 Sunday Calvin and Hobbes strips from between 1985 and 1995, chosen by Bill Watterson, preceded by a short preface by the show's curator and an introduction by Watterson himself. Each strip is presented twice on facing pages, once in the original black and white and once in the final colored version. Some strips include more commentary from Watterson, and it's fun to see his thoughts on either individual comics or other things, like the challenge of making a Sunday comic that will be run in different sizes/formats by different papers. My favorite thing in the book is the "homicidal psycho jungle cat" strip from 1993, but I liked the whole thing. And oh, the neo-Cubist strip is also pretty great!
Profile Image for Michelle.
315 reviews31 followers
September 6, 2011
Do I cry that I'll never see another original Calvin & Hobbes cartoon or do I rejoice that I own this book and others? I'll go with rejoice. What makes this collection special is that it's the catalog for an exhibit of some of Watterson's Sunday Pages. Each comic is shown with the original black and white sketch on the left and the full color strip on the right. Most include comments from the cartoonist as to why he chose the specific strip for the exhibit. As I read each strip I found myself smiling and thinking, "Oh yeah, I remember THIS one!" Reading the included commentary just made me smile more. Some think Watterson was difficult because of how he fought for the Sunday format he really wanted and refused merchandizing. Seeing this celebration of the best of his Sunday comics makes me so glad he won those battles.
Profile Image for Patrik Hamberg.
94 reviews
January 17, 2021
Vilken fin utgåva det här var. Ursprungligen en katalog till en utställning. Fin introduktion av Watterson själv. Utvalda söndagssidor från hela perioden med kommentarer kring de flesta. Som en liten skola i serietecknande. Vi får allt i två versioner. Watterssons svartvita original med engelsk text till vänster, den färglagda och översatta till höger. Visar tydligt vad som händer längs vägen. Oj vad fint det var att få besöka Kalle och Hobbes värld igen. Det var verkligen längesen. Så mycket lekfullhet i text ovh bild, så genomarbetat. Väldigt kul att kunna följa seriens utveckling i så här koncentrerad form. En perfekt introduktion för den som aldrig läst Kalle och Hobbe tidigare. Ett kärt återseende för oss som försökte läsa allt då.
Profile Image for Mitchell Friedman.
5,845 reviews230 followers
February 26, 2024
I prefer my Calvin and Hobbes to be mixed about with words ABOUT Calvin and Hobbes. And this book has that, though not quite enough. And this did have just a hint of the making of, in that it showed the Sunday comics minus the color and with just a hint of visible markup and white-out. But the Sunday comics were one off gags - and so they are kind of hit and miss. It was still fun to say an author's selection though of course including the first and the last. 3.5 of 5.
Profile Image for HeavyReader.
2,246 reviews14 followers
November 15, 2008
I think I sent a copy of this book to Cassidy. Of course, he really likes Calvin and Hobbes.

I prefer the strips that are not crazy dinosaurs on the planet Zoirbsky sequences, so the Calvin and Hobbes Sunday strips are some of my least favorite.
Profile Image for Miss.
550 reviews11 followers
August 18, 2012
I miss Calvin & Hobbes.

This was an interesting perspective on the strip, focusing on the art more than the stories.

It's always interesting to gain insight into the creative process. (well, maybe not always!)
Profile Image for Daniel.
812 reviews74 followers
September 4, 2015
Jos jedna kolekcija koja je zabavna za citanje zbog komentara samog autora posto su slike vec sve poznate.
Profile Image for Gimena Reche.
255 reviews8 followers
April 13, 2018
Nunca es tarde para conocer un gran cómic, pensé cuando llegó a mis manos la edición de Calvin y Hobbes, tiras dominicales 1985-1995, un catálogo de las tiras seleccionadas por Bill Watterson para ser exhibidas en la Cartoon Research Library de la Universidad Estatal de Ohio en 2001.
Algunos lectores podrán pensar que poco de original hay en esta obra ya que está compuesta por historietas previamente publicadas y, por lo tanto, ampliamente reconocidas. Si es así están muy equivocados. Este libro es un tesoro de colección para todos los seguidores de las aventuras de Calvin y su mejor amigo de peluche Hobbes, y también, por qué no, para el disfrute de nuevos lectores.
Es una edición bilingüe con poco menos de 100 páginas, las suficientes para comprender la magnitud que llegó a cobrar la historieta publicada por unos 2400 periódicos a lo largo de diez años, en donde se leen las palabras iniciales del propio Watterson, narrando lo que sintió al examinar su trabajo y llevando adelante la selección de las tiras cómicas que serían exhibidas, además de recordar el proceso de creación haciendo énfasis en su lucha con los editores para que le permitieran cambiar los formatos de la tira; y se pueden apreciar las treinta y seis historietas recopiladas. A un lado de la hoja una reproducción de la original en inglés con detalles de las correcciones, las marcas de registro y las líneas de los bocetos, y en la opuesta la misma historieta a todo color traducida al español. En la parte inferior de cada página figura la fecha en la que fue publicada la obra y la mayoría es acompañada por comentarios del autor.
De los personajes ¿qué puedo agregar que ya no se haya dicho? Por supuesto se han convertido en mis favoritos; la imaginación de Calvin, su ironía, sus muchas reflexiones, pero por sobre todo su esencia de niño es lo que hace a esta tira algo inolvidable.
Profile Image for Polonorte.
6 reviews
March 19, 2019
Si tuviéramos que escribir una reseña sobre Calvin y Hobbes, Páginas dominicales 1985-1995, ¿por dónde deberíamos empezar? ¿Cómo podríamos capturar en un fragmento la esencia de un cómic que es ya de por sí fragmentario? ¿Cómo podríamos dejar de sentirnos traidores al destacar unos elementos y olvidando otros? Es probable que su atractivo resida precisamente en su brevedad, en la capacidad de sugerir más que en la de decir.

El autor de estas divertidas historias se llama Bill Watterson, y este libro es el catálogo correspondiente a su exposición en «The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library».
Ediciones B ha tenido a bien brindarnos una maravillosa edición bilingüe que además cuenta con los comentarios a pie de página del propio autor. Estos comentarios, a mi parecer, son de gran ayuda a la hora de profundizar en los personajes y entender mejor el proceso creativo.

De sus dos personajes principales poco se puede decir que no se haya dicho ya. Por un lado está Calvin, ese niño sin pelos en la lengua que, sin embargo, en ocasiones tiene que enfrentarse a las situaciones más traumáticas. Y por el otro está Hobbes, su tigre de peluche y fiel compañero. Todo Quijote tiene su Sancho, y el de Calvin es sin duda Hobbes. Es el tigre el depositario de la imaginación y de la alegría del niño, pero también su paño de lágrimas y su máximo consuelo.

Los dos juntos correrán, reirán y gritarán a través de las menos de cien páginas que forman el libro. Y les dará tiempo por el camino a reflexionar sobre temas tan transcendentales como la guerra, la amistad, la educación, el bullying o tantos otros que sería casi imposible enumerarlos a todos. De modo que, por estas y muchas razones más, recomiendo leer, ahora y siempre, a Calvin y a Hobbes.
1 review
January 26, 2023
Siendo sincera, no conocía ni había oído hablar de Calvin & Hobbes ni mucho menos de Bill Watterson cuando llegó a mis manos. Incluso le pregunté a mi hermano (fiel lector) que si lo conocía después de haberle descrito la portada, porque en el momento en el que lo hice ni recordaba el nombre de ninguno. Me respondió un "Ahh! Ya sé, es que ¿tú no?". Así que empecé a leerlo y descubrí unas viñetas y unas descripciones que te hacían conocer al autor. Nos presenta sus viñetas desde 1985 hasta 1995, tanto a color como en blanco y negro y justo abajo, datos. Habla de cómo quitaron ciertas cosas porque no les parecía correcto, de lo que significaban algunas de ellas, e incluso cambios que hice en personajes para que se viera mejor. Habla de personajes que iban a ser únicos pero que al final aparecieron más veces. Relata cosas que en aquella época eran actuales o cómo tuvo que rectificar viñetas para adaptarlas a un libro en formato cuadrado o vertical, cómo coloreaba o dejaba algunas a medias tintas.
Lo atractivo de esta recopilación es ese conjunto, el poder leer las viñetas dominicales y a su vez poder comprender qué pasaba en ese momento con el autor, qué cambios o qué avances en su dibujo veía el tiempo después. El notar que estaba orgulloso de ese trabajo y que, esas viñetas que en un principio no llegaba ni a los periódicos de donde él vivía, llegó a mucha gente.
Profile Image for Andrew Ives.
Author 8 books9 followers
December 25, 2019
Although I rather enjoyed, maybe even loved, some of the cartoon strips from the Science Goes Boink book, this 'catalogue' for the exhibition left me rather underwhelmed. Firstly, it doesn't contain very many of the comic strips, as each is printed in b&w and in colour, so they occupy two full pages each. Bill Watterson's textual introduction is arguably the best part of the book. I found it amazing that he managed to create complete, meaningful 'Sundays' considering all the restrictions imposed upon him by the editors and distributors. Secondly, the strips chosen for this exhibition may perhaps be representative of the decade as a whole, but for me, weren't the best Calvin & Hobbes strips I've ever read. I love the artwork, and occasionally, I love the storyline/joke too, but the two didn't coincide very often here. Mildly enjoyable and amusing, and rather pleasant. 3.25/5
Profile Image for Bego.
52 reviews
November 5, 2019
Es nada más y nada menos lo que dice el título: páginas dominicales. A parte de las historietas, Watterson habla bastante de cómo es trabajar sabiendo que el formato que te dan es más bien escaso y de cómo tuvo que tratar los espacios para cuadrarlo todo con el hueco que le daban en el periódico.

Escoge él mismo las historietas que salen y debajo de casi todas explica parte del proceso creativo: porque ha cargado mucho diálogos en esas viñetas, porque ha querido combinar esos colores o porque ha querido hacer la historia en una sola viñeta con los personajes moviéndose a través de ella, etc.

Obviamente es escaso pero es interesante ver por encima el proceso de adecuar tu historia al espacio que tienes.
Profile Image for manuti.
335 reviews100 followers
January 7, 2017
Había leído a Calvin y Hobbes cuando salían en el suplemento dominical de El País o de El Mundo, lo verdad es que no recuerdo cuál de ellos era. Siempre me gustó y regalé este tomo hace tiempo tras verlo por encima. Ahora me lo han regalado a mí.
Se lee en una sentada, es una recopilación para una exposición que luego se ha editado como libro. Incluye el original sin colorear y en inglés y luego la versión final coloreada y en español. Igualmente, muchas de las tiras incluyen una pequeña reseña del propio autor.
No es de 5 estrellas por ser corto y saber a poco. Ya no me quedan muchas excusas para ir a por más Calvin y Hobbes.
Profile Image for Margarita.
906 reviews9 followers
July 31, 2019
I picked up this collection because I recently finished watching a documentary on this comic strip. Growing up, I didn’t read Calvin and Hobbes, but what a delight to have discovered it now in adulthood! The collection is assembled by Bill Watterson and includes his commentary on several of the chosen strips. It’s a wonderful introduction to the clever world of Calvin and Hobbes – the imagination, the artistry, the philosophical ponderings. I’m so keen to continue this discovery through Watterson’s other collections.
Profile Image for Bill Coffin.
1,286 reviews8 followers
August 30, 2020
Watterson's finest work on Calvin & Hobbes was in his transcendant Sunday pages, especially during the later years of his run, when he gained the freedom to arrange his panels however he liked, and really began to experiment with format and color. Each of his Sunday strips is a little masterpiece, and here, we get. guided tour of some of the best and some of Watterson's favorites. Even if he had only ever done Sunday strips, Watterson's Calvin & Hobbes would still rank among the very best strips ever produced. His work here is *that* good.
Profile Image for Puri Kencana Putri.
351 reviews43 followers
January 24, 2017
It's a catalogue book wherein the author made personal curating for each selection comic strip Calvin and Hobbes since 1985 to 1995. But I found delightful messages on it. Especially when the author believes that we can talk about things without reducing them to one liners right away.

My favorite part conversation is when Hobbes says, "I suppose if we couldn't laugh at things that don't make sense, we couldn't react to a lot of life."

Such virtue.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews

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