Alex Weller’s Reviews > The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 1 > Status Update

Calvin is reading a book, and points out a word he doesn't know to Hobbes to ask what it means. Hobbes is shocked at the sight of it and pretends he doesn't know. Calvin demands a dictionary to find out for himself. Probably not a good idea, Cal.

Calvin pretends he is a dinosaur, chasing fleeing cavemen to devour them. In reality, he's watching TV and noisily eating popcorn, much to the ire of his mom.

Calvin once again imagines he is Spaceman Spiff, chasing Zorgons in his ship to blow them up. In reality, he's in class, supposed to be taking a test. Susie asks him what the capital of Poland was until 1600, and he says "Krakow". He unknowingly gave her the right answer, but he was really making sound effects as he blew up Zorgons. Oh, Calvin. Susie owes you for this one.

Calvin takes the umbrella outside, having Hobbes ride the wagon down a hill while Calvin wears roller skates and tries using the umbrella to fly. It doesn't work, and Calvin bumps into a lot of things and drags on the floor. It only "works" temporarily when the wagon goes off the dock and crashes into the lake. Calvin decides to bring some other kids over and charge them to try it.

While relaxing in the woods, Calvin asks Hobbes if he ever thinks about the end of the world as they know it. But he's not talking about a nuclear war. He means if Mom catches him letting the air out of the car tires again. Damn, Cal!

Calvin tries commanding his homework to do itself via magic, but it doesn't work. Nice try, Cal!

Calvin is angry because he looked everywhere he could have possibly left his jacket, but he can't find it anywhere. Turns out, somebody put it in his closet. He doesn't seem very happy about that.

Moe tells Calvin he has two periods left to live before he turns Calvin into hamburger casserole in gym class. Calvin hates gym class because the coach "thinks violence is aerobic". I see.

Calvin tells Hobbes he almost died from laughter when a classmate told a funny story. But not from the story itself. He laughed because when the classmate laughed, the milk he was drinking came out his nose. That's ... nice, Calvin.

Calvin has trouble building a model airplane because he can't understand the instructions. So he smashes it with a hammer and concludes that it was hit by anti-aircraft guns, which his planes seem to fly into a lot, according to Hobbes. Maybe get some help for that, Calvin.