The Complete Calvin and Hobbes - Book Three

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes #3

by Bill Watterson

[ Box Set | Book One | Book Two | Book Three ]

Calvin and Hobbes is unquestionably one of the most popular comic strips of all time. The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger was first syndicated in 1985 and appeared in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996. The entire body of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons published in a truly noteworthy tribute to this singular cartoon in The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Composed of three hardcover, four-color volumes in a sturdy slipcase, this New York Times best-selling edition includes all Calvin and Hobbes cartoons that ever appeared in syndication. This is the treasure that all Calvin and Hobbes fans seek.

Genres: Comics, Fiction, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics, Graphic Novels, Childrens, Comic Book

Paperback

Published November 13, 2012

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Caleb M. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so good.

[Blindzider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, some of my favorites are anything to do with snowmen. I also like when Hobbes teases Calvin about Susie around Valentines day.

See my review of the entire box set for overall thoughts.

[London Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calvin and Hobbes was a HUGE part of my childhood. These books were so entertaining. The art. The stories. They captivated my young mind. However, reading them as I’ve grown up has shown me another level to these beloved classics. A deeper level.

The philosophy and commentary on the human condition within Calvin and Hobbes is stunning. With topics ranging from the education system, pollution, materialism and much more Watterson packed quite a punch and made me examine myself more deeply.

If you haven’t already done so go and buy a Calvin and Hobbes collection. Then sit down and enjoy it.

[Ryan Acosta-Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece.

[Jon Mellberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

If we cannot agree from the onset that Calvin & Hobbes is comic strip gold you may wish to stop reading… I’ve long since grown up around this most enduring and endearing comic. We (my sister and I) would buy the comic collection books for our Dad for birthdays and Christmas. Even without understanding the content, the artistry is its own masterwork of communication. Once old enough to appreciate it, I began my own book collection. But it wasn’t until my wife bought me the complete Calvin & Hobbes collection that I really began to care. The collection is massive (this 3rd volume is 500 pages) and weighs several pounds in print and is split into 3 equal (and hefty) volumes in chronological order. The 3rd volume thus is the latter years, where the artistry is peak as author and illustrator Bill Watterson’s savage wit. When Calvin isn’t busy in fantasy (flying spaceships, being a dinosaur, or fighting crime) and when he’s not involved in the height of childish shenanigans, he and Hobbes the tiger spew endless social commentary regarding values and ethics. I don’t mind at all; probably because their wit is spot on. The observations are as timely as ever and have not diminished in the decades since the comics have ended. Reading so many strips back to back to back reveals perhaps that this commentary is more caustic than I remember, but it is nonetheless brilliant. I look forward to the day when I can pass these along to my kids as they mature.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been our "bedtime" book for most of August/September. It's been fun to go back and re-discover Calvin and Hobbes along with my daughter. I probably should have insisted we start with Book 1, but she's still be completely enamored with the comic - especially Hobbes.

I did forget just how philosophical the strip got in its later years, specifically when Watterson was going through his intellectual property debate with the syndicate. The long narrations by Calvin are still relevant (probably more so now that I'm the adult) though slightly less interesting to an 8yr old. It's also been fun to discover the little 90's Easter-egg type references that are no longer relevant - wall phones? Fax Machines? All there for your enjoyment.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has comics from 1992 through 1995. Calvin, the wise-beyond-his- years six-year-old makes many observations about modern culture, the human condition, and life in general, many of which are laugh out-loud funny.

[Dominique Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m happy I’ve read it all, finally!

[Nicole Flowers Frye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. If you enjoy Calvin and Hobbes you will enjoy this book. It was fun to read all the comic all the why through. It's was fun!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good old fashioned fun

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sad that I finished the series. So heartwarming and witty :(

[Mark Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are ones that work and others that don’t, but it felt like the average that hit was higher in this collection and even the ones that don’t are still delightful as all heck.

[Isabel Bryan [the Bookmark Hoarder] · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite comic strips of all time.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous therapy!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I reread Calvin and Hobbes I'm shocked at Watterson's prescience.

[Louisa Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent compilation including some real highlights such as Calvin sending himself prank letters and some of his best dinner responses. Always a joy to read

[John Ollerton · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd Book of my box set Christmas present from Michael. Beautiful artwork and gloriously funny.

[Gandhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read so much Calvin and Hobbes that I'm starting to psychoanalyze Calvin now

[Kirby Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Calvin and Hobbes" was 25 years old when I finished my first review of this set. Reading this anew only reinforces how Watterson's strip remains the best we've seen. It also reminds us how little things have changed in terms of our society and government.

Dec. 2023 update: I just finished reading through this for who knows how many times. For the first time I recognized how early Watterson commented on today's woke trends, which he must have witnessed near their inception. It took a couple of decades for those elements to reach me in central America. I wonder what role these movements played in his ending the strip and his relative silence afterwards.