I’ve got all of the C&H books up to the complete collection, and I’ve read all of them through from begining to end dozens of time. Yeah, I’m a big fan. But I just haven’t gotten around to buying the complete collection.
To those of you who have, is it worth it? Does it have any strips that had never appeared in the earlier collection, or any new material written or drawn specifically for the set? Are there any other reasons why I have to have it?
The only new stuff is about 12 pages of introduction by Watterson.
I think it’s worth it. It’s a beautiful set, with wonderful paper.
Great question, I am curious also. I have most of the books and need justification for the additional expense.
Jim
I got it for my Birthday so I cant say one way or the other on money out of pocket.
However, I love Calvin and Hobbes so much, that I wanted ““The complete series”” boxed set. 
Also, I bought a lot of the collections I had second hand. For me, and the circumstances that I recieved it in I would have to say it is a good investment. As a Reference for the ENTIRE C&H mythos, you cant go wrong.
I only wish my Mom had picked a better box. It was damaged before she got it home.
And, If I can figure out what Hamster Huey and the Kablooey thing is…
Yes, oh, yes, oh, god, YES!
I don’t know if you have seen this but somewhere out there on the Internet, some true believer has actually written, illustrated, and published a children’s book entitled Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooie.
I bought it for my 22-year-old brother, who just about peed himself.
Calvin & Hobbes is a treasure beyond pearls. 150 years from now, you’ll be confounding your g-g-g grandkids with Calvinball. What? Of course, you’ll live that long. In the meantime, go rent Secondhand Lions.
I’d read a fair chunk of the Calvin and Hobbes material (but not all) prior to buying the complete collection. I enjoyed it immensely. It is expensive but the quality of the illustrations (ie printing) inside is far above that of the individual books.
The paper is a decent weight and glossed. I’m not too sure about the actual bindings but they look sturdy enough. The cover box is quite rugged.
I accidently managed to spill some water on the binding cover and it didn’t warp. The collection is quite heavy but not excessively so.
One thing that might have been nice would have been an index of strips but that’s a bit of a gripe.
I sucked it up and bought it for myself last year when Media Play was going out of buisiness. I think it was well worth it.
I still haven’t read them all. I’m trying to savor them bit by bit rather than a huge gulp.
I got this for my birthday as well… Even if I never read it, it looks great on the shelf. But I have read it, bits and pieces. The paper quality is sumptous, something I never thought I’d describe nonj-toilet paper as.
Basically, its the same principal as double-dipping DVD’s… do you out hand in pocket AGAIN for a special edition? I love my C&H set, but it would have been a long time before I bought it myself (I have all the books seperatly).
Now, The Complete Far Side, THAT I would like. Dont own any Far Side, see?
I think I might have a single Calvin And Hobbes book packed away somewhere. Next to The Far Side this was my favourite series. So it would be worth it to me to buy the whole set. I went to eBay and found one for $53 (currently 12 bids). But shipping by Parcel Post is $33.46! :eek: (UPS is $32.18 and Media Mail is $13.59.) I wonder how much amazon charges for shipping?
For those of you who have it, are the strips arranged chronologically (as they were written), or in some other fashion?
Yes, everything is in chronological order and every page gives the dates in which the strips originally appeared.
I bought both the Calvin & Hobbes and Far Side collections from Barnes & Noble online because of they offer free shipping on both, while Amazon does not. I thought that paying $108 at B&N’s member price, vs. 99 + shipping at Amazon, was a much better deal. Buy them both! Picking out a "perfect" box was not worth the extra to me, but I ended up with a “perfect” C&H, and a slightly dented box corner on the Far Side. The books themselves are perfect and well worth the price, IMHO.
The C&H collection is very well made set, and I am glad to own it (fambly x-mas present last year.).
But the books are VERY large.
IMO, the original paperbacks are more enjoyable for reading.
You see, that was one thing I was wondering about. I like to read C&H in bed before going to sleep and was thinking that might be a problem with these big books.
But thanks for the comments, folks. I’ll probably go out and get the set if I can find a good price somewhere.
I also read in bed (on my stomach), and found the C&H volumes awkwardly large for that purpose. But they are the kinda books I’m just glad I own…
Any reasonable rumors on Watterson coming back from retirement?
Unless they’ve recently changed their policies, Amazon will ship any order over $25 for free, as long as you don’t mind waiting a week or so.
Yes, but is it any good? The Amazon reviews largely dinged it, and the excerpt shows a page full of text (no illustrations? :eek: ).
Most importantly, does it have the scene where the townspeople search for Hamster Huey’s head?