# Today is the 40th anniversary of the launch of Calvin and Hobbes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-strips\ **Created:** [November 18, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955 "2025-11-18T15:21:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/61 "2025-11-20T18:06:29Z")
My favorites were always Dad answering questions … questionably. One I still use today: [![](https://featureassets.gocomics.com/assets/0a979490df960131725e005056a9545d?optimizer=image&width=2800&quality=85) ](https://featureassets.gocomics.com/assets/0a979490df960131725e005056a9545d?optimizer=image&width=2800&quality=85) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/62 "2025-11-20T18:11:53Z")
Oh, it’s tempting sometimes. I try to give factual answers to everything my kid asks me, but I often don’t know what the hell I’m talking about, so it’s usually, “I think. I’ll have to look that up.” That there is Calvin’s Dad saving face. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/63 "2025-11-20T18:13:28Z")
Trying to answer questions for my daughter is what led me to the Straight Dope and then the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/64 "2025-11-20T18:19:59Z")
One of the best ones involving Calvin’s dad was when he explained why old photographs were in black and white. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/65 "2025-11-20T18:51:04Z")
Probably one of my favorites of all time. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/66 "2025-11-20T18:52:07Z")
It actually makes me think Watterson might have been pretty good at writing over-the-top hard boiled detective fiction. Good enough to have have made a career of that too. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/67 "2025-11-20T19:20:06Z")
One of my favorites: > **[https://i.redd.it/xnqb70am1vn91.jpg](https://i.redd.it/xnqb70am1vn91.jpg)** ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/68 "2025-11-20T19:22:45Z")
Calvin’s dad was probably just like Calvin when he was his age. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/69 "2025-11-20T19:41:56Z")
CALVIN’S MOM: Someday I hope you have a kid that puts you through what I’ve gone through. CALVIN: Yeah, Grandma says that’s what she used to tell you. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/70 "2025-11-20T19:49:47Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > One of the best ones involving Calvin’s dad was when he explained why old photographs were in black and white. The photos were in color, it was the _world_ that was black and white. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/71 "2025-11-20T19:51:51Z")
Thanks. As Calvin said, “The world is a complicated place.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/72 "2025-11-20T21:24:52Z")
And when it seems that way, I climb into a tree for a nap until dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/73 "2025-11-20T21:54:18Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > One of my favorites I pulled this on my 18 year old son a few months ago. The 18 year old who is currently studying to be an engineer. He totally bought it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/74 "2025-11-20T22:06:29Z")
While Calvin and Hobbes is certainly great, keep in mind that this board or Giraffe has a certain demographic. We’re mostly Americans, and we were mostly young when the strip was in its original run. A strip from another country, or from an earlier era, is going to be at a disadvantage in an environment like that. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/75 "2025-11-21T14:23:20Z")
Yes, I’ve heard great things about Pogo, but i have only read a few strips, long after its prime. I’m not a fair judge between Pogo and Calvin & Hobbs. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/76 "2025-11-21T15:22:03Z")
I was going to make a similar comment. Both Pogo & Krazy Kat always felt both vapid and dated to me. They might have been just the thing to my parents, but as a kid/teen in the 60s & early 70s they were (in the vernacular of the day) lame; very lame. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/77 "2025-11-21T15:27:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Both Pogo & Krazy Kat always felt both vapid and dated to me. I had little appreciation for either until I had acquired an academic knowledge of the art form as an adult. Pogo wasn’t written or drawn for me or my generation. Calvin & Hobbs was. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/78 "2025-11-21T15:27:57Z")
Yeah, I don’t see why the love for Pogo. Maybe it is the strip, or maybe it’s me. But don’t you all be bad mouthing Peanuts! There’s room for more than one great comic strip. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/79 "2025-11-21T15:47:50Z")
In one guys opinion, these are the 30 best Valvim strips ever published. [https://www.cbr.com/greatest-calvin-and-hobbes-newspaper-strips/](https://www.cbr.com/greatest-calvin-and-hobbes-newspaper-strips/) Number 30 [![](https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/calvin-snowman-car-accident.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=500&dpr=2) ](https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/calvin-snowman-car-accident.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=500&dpr=2) Number 1 [![](https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/calvin-and-hobbes-virtue-needs-some-cheaper-thrills.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=500&dpr=2) ](https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/calvin-and-hobbes-virtue-needs-some-cheaper-thrills.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=500&dpr=2) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955/80 "2025-11-21T16:15:08Z")
I always liked the realistic touch of Calvin setting the table in the “life of virtue” comic - it’s one of those mundane, ubiquitous childhood chores that’s so rarely depicted in fiction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-calvin-and-hobbes/1024955.md?page=5)