Reviews - The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

103 reviews for:

The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes

Bill Watterson

4.74 AVERAGE

castoffcreature's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

rainbowrachel's review against another edition

2.75

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is the first Calvin and Hobbes I've read. I know that it's a widely beloved series so I had pretty high hopes going into this but I have to say that I don't get it. Yes, it was reasonably charming in places, and yes it was somewhat amusing in places, but for the most part it read like exactly what it is: another syndicated newspaper comic. Even just within this one volume, it felt as if it was largely made up of variations on the same handful of jokes, repeated ad nauseam. It was definitely feeling very stale by the time I reached the end. I can definitely see why some people enjoy this more than I did, but it baffles me a little that it's just as popular as I know it is.

In addition to the staleness, I did have one other problem with this, and while I don't want to bang on about it too much, I do feel it warrants a mention. See, there are two things about Calvin. One is that he's kind of a jerk sometimes, and the other is that he often says, does and thinks things that are far beyond his supposed six years of age. Each one of these things is fine on its own.He throws a snowball at his neighbour? Yeah, it's kind of mean, but it's fitting for a six year old. He speaks with an adult vocabulary full of complex and technical terms? Yeah, it's out of character, but it's done for humourous effect. But I did have a problem when these two elements came together. For instance, there was one time when he mentioned using binoculars to ogle women. This isn't anything a six year old would do, it isn't funny, it's just creepy and gross and it made me enjoy the book less.

cutesi's review against another edition

5.0

Best Calvin and and Hobbes book ever! It's seriously hilarious.

lasmariquitastambienleen's review against another edition

5.0

Fantastic, amazing, funny, enjoyable, lovely, incredible 😍

cthib9's review against another edition

5.0

When I was a kid, the only books I had the energy to read when I took ill were Calvin and Hobbes collections. This weekend's sniffle fest reminded me of those bittersweet memories.

pandora_snead's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional funny relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jaysrubberduck's review against another edition

2.0

When I was a kid I would always skim over the parts where Calvin imagines himself transformed as a dinosaur or spaceship pilot, now I find them to be super enjoyable. I find myself disliking his dad more and more, he just doesn't take the time to even try to understand Calvin. At least his mother tries, after all she did make his costume for Stupendous Man, even if she makes him take it off for dinner.

I think distancing us from adults is what Mr. Watterson is trying to do. We see Dad being a typical stuck in his own head adult vs. Calvin and his imagination. We are shown that we have to make an effort with either path we choose, but there is a chance to become either. I think I like this strip more than I ever have before.