# Calvin & Hobbes: Why do you suppose ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 1, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922 "2002-08-01T21:07:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/1 "2002-08-01T21:07:56Z")
… Hobbes was never part of Spaceman Spiff’s world? Spaceman Spiff was Calvin’s longest running fantasy but not once did Hobbes appear in that world in ahy shape or form. Can anyone give me theories on why this might have been so? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/2 "2002-08-01T21:12:24Z")
Dunno, but they did travel to Mars together once. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/3 "2002-08-01T21:31:02Z")
But that wasn’t Spaceman Spiff, that was just Calvin and Hobbes leaving to go to Mars, like they left to go to the Yukon or went backwards intime (twice). I thought it might be that Spiff was a school fantasy but not always, sometimes he appears in the backyard or on his parents bed while his father sleeps. It’s odd I say. ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/4 "2002-08-01T21:45:10Z")
Hobbes doesn’t turn up in his floating away on a balloon or being a dinosaur fantasies either, perhaps because much of his fantasy-time is at school where Hobbes isn’t there? Gotta love Calvin and Hobbes… just gotta ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/5 "2002-08-01T21:50:40Z")
Re: Dinosaur fantasies. Not so. In at least one Hobbes became a sabre-toothed tiger that Calvin the tyranosaur unwittingly pissed off to amusing effect. Although that may be the only time. ---
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/6 "2002-08-01T22:12:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Osiris \* > Re: Dinosaur fantasies. > > Not so. In at least one Hobbes became a sabre-toothed tiger that Calvin the tyranosaur unwittingly pissed off to amusing effect. Although that may be the only time. They were both Tyrannosaurus Rexes in F-16s Calvin: This is _so_ cool. Hobbes: This is _so_ stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/7 "2002-08-01T22:26:58Z")
Hobbes also didn’t appear in the Tracer Bullet strips, or (my favorites) the ones where he and Susie were pretending to be grown-ups. (“No, you’re the president of Deluded Fruitcakes Anonymous. Give me a break!” “You need a lobotomy. I’ll get a saw.”) ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/8 "2002-08-01T22:27:52Z")
Maybe his brain doesn’t have enough RAM to process 2 simultaneous fantasies? \ Is this thing on? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/9 "2002-08-01T23:57:16Z")
I read somewhere that _Spaceman Spiff_ was a cartoon (one of many) that Bill Watterson attempted to sell before finally hitting it big with _Calvin & Hobbes_. This being the case, then I suppose that Watterson included him (as one of Calvin’s alter egos) simply as a means of using some of his old strip ideas in a new venue. [aside] I read that in _Spaceman Spiff_ (the original, rejected strip), Spiff wandered through the universe puffing on a cigar. Reading that got me to wondering if Watterson _really **really** _ wanted to call his creation _Spaceman SPLIFF_, who wandered through the universe puffing on a, well, never mind 😛 . [/aside] ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/10 "2002-08-02T01:15:37Z")
Is there any place on line with a big archive of C&H? I miss Calvin and Hobbes so much! ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/11 "2002-08-02T01:19:30Z")
Probably not since the books are still in print. I imagine the company would come down swiftly on whoever tried such a thing. Calvin & Hobbes are the most read books in my home library. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/12 "2002-08-02T01:42:26Z")
[http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/](http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/) ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/13 "2002-08-02T01:47:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Is there any place on line with a big archive of C&H? I miss Calvin and Hobbes so much! \*\* [Right here.](http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/) You have to sign up for a subscription, but they’ll send you a Calvin and Hobbes everyday, in order. Click on the link right above it that says “Email me this daily”. They’re back at the beginning right now. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/14 "2002-08-02T03:42:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rastahomie \* > \*\*I read somewhere that _Spaceman Spiff_ was a cartoon (one of many) that Bill Watterson attempted to sell before finally hitting it big with _Calvin & Hobbes_. This being the case, then I suppose that Watterson included him (as one of Calvin’s alter egos) simply as a means of using some of his old strip ideas in a new venue. > \*\* In the _!0th Anniversary Book_, he said that Spaceman Spiff started out as an assignment for a high school class. Later, but before he started _Calvin & Hobbes_, he tried selling a variation of the spaceman comic strip, but none of the publishers wanted it. As for why Hobbes doesn’t appear in the fantasies, it would contradict Spiff’s character. Spiff is a loner, who explores and fights without any assistance from anybody. The same could also be said for Tracer Bullet. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/15 "2002-08-02T13:51:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Spaceman SPLIFF, who wandered through the universe puffing on a, well, never mind Why am I not surprised that this came to mind to someone who goes by the name **rastahomie**? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/16 "2002-08-02T14:44:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Osiris \* > \*\*… Hobbes was never part of Spaceman Spiff’s world? Spaceman Spiff was Calvin’s longest running fantasy but not once did Hobbes appear in that world in ahy shape or form. Can anyone give me theories on why this might have been so? \*\* IIRC, Calvin only fantasized about Spaceman Spiff when he was bored in school. Since Hobbes usually didn’t go to school with Calvin, that would explain why he doesn’t appear. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/17 "2002-08-02T15:47:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\* > IIRC, Calvin only fantasized about Spaceman Spiff when he was bored in school. Since Hobbes usually didn’t go to school with Calvin, that would explain why he doesn’t appear. \*\* Actually, Spaceman Spiff was also fantasized about at home–waking his parents, avoiding baths, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/18 "2002-08-02T18:39:48Z")
**Guin** : the books are also dirt cheap now, and in many bookstores’ bargain bins. I’m guessing it’s because the uber-fans like myself bought all the books long ago and don’t need to buy them again. I’ve seen them as cheap as $5. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/19 "2002-08-02T18:58:33Z")
Not all of the original strips are in the books, right? There have to be some that were never published outside of the newspapers… right? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922/20 "2002-08-02T19:16:01Z")
And why the hell are there a bunch of Jesus-freaks driving around my area with a sticker of Calvin _praying to a cross on his knees???_ Calvin don’t play that crap! * * * “Being drunk is the best feeling in my poor world!”-- Drinky Crow [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calvin-hobbes-why-do-you-suppose/121922.md?page=2)