The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book

(A Collection of Sunday Calvin and Hobbes Cartoons)

by
Bill Watterson

Andrews and McMeel, August 1989, 128 pp.
ISBN: 0-8362-1852-3

Genre: Comics
Subgenre: Comic Strip / Humor
Reviewed: 12/21/2004

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Comic Strip

Synopsis

The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book by Bill Watterson is a collection of Calvin and Hobbes Sunday comic strips. This book includes cartoons from previously released books, but all in glorious living color. A color, ten-page story appears in the beginning of the book entitled, "Spaceman Spiff" where Spiff battles a loathsome bat-winged booger being (Susie) on an unknown planet. There are no black and white daily comic strips in this book, only full page color Sunday comics.

Calvin and Hobbes became very popular in the mid-1980's, and continued into the 1990's, until Bill Watterson decided that he was going to retire the comic strip. It was seen daily in hundred of newspapers and enjoyed by millions. Calvin is a quirky 6 years old boy who has a pet stuffed animal tiger names Hobbes. But to Calvin, Hobbes is alive. Together, they constantly get into mischief. Hobbes often acts as Calvin’s conscious, but being a tiger, he also acts upon his whims. Calvin’s parents can also be quite funny. Calvin always seems to be testing his mother. And Calvin’s father’s explanations of how things work are always hilarious. And then there is Calvin’s arch nemesis, Susie. Usually innocent of all wrongdoing, Calvin loves to harass her. But she always beats Calvin in the end.

Review

Unlike all of the previously released collections of Calvin and Hobbes comic strips, this one is all color and all Sunday strips. There are no storylines, as those are reserved for the daily comic strips. Still, this is a wonderful collection of funnies that will tickle your funny bone.

Calvin is eternal. He is ageless and will be enjoyed by many generations to come. At school, I see elementary grade students reading Calvin and Hobbes books during silent reading periods, and it takes me back to when I used to read the newspaper every day just to see what kind of mischief Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes got into.

No comic strip has ever come close to making more people laugh than Calvin and Hobbes, and I doubt one ever will.

So, if you are looking for a great book to relax with and get a few chuckles out of, pick up Bill Watterson's book, The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book. You won't be sorry.