Summary
Calvin and Hobbesboth have a reputation for being rambunctious scamps who regularly break the rules and get into trouble, but that is far from what the comic strip is about. At its core,Calvin and Hobbesis about seeing the world through the eyes of a child, complete with all the highs and lows childhood offers, with no shortage of imaginative play throughout. And during childhood, there’s arguably nothing more important than friendship and loyalty, andCalvin and Hobbesdepicts that beautifully.
Behind every troublemaking adventure and every trip intoCalvin’s imagination inCalvin and Hobbes, one thing always remains: Calvin and Hobbes’ unbreakable friendship. Those two have a relationship that can weather any storm, even though they certainly have their fair share of fights throughout the series. At the end of the day, Calvin and Hobbes are best friends, and they each take that position very seriously, which leads to a great number of touching moments. Here are10 of the most heartwarmingCalvin and Hobbescomics about friendship (and loyalty).
Calvin and Hobbes' 10 Best Spaceman Spiff Comics
Sometimes the greatest Calvin and Hobbes comics don’t feature either of them, but instead Calvin’s alter ego: Spaceman Spiff! Here are the 10 best!
10The First Calvin and Hobbes Comic is a Historic Moment that Establishes Their Friendship
Calvin and Hobbes, 11-18
This is definitely a weird start to a lasting friendship, but the specifics are nowhere near as important as the outcome.
Perhaps the most important moment of any friendship is how it starts, and Calvin and Hobbes' friendship has a decidedly interesting beginning. Readers are introduced to Calvin as he’s talking with his dad, telling him that he’s going to catch a tiger by luring one into a snare trap with a tuna fish sandwich. The comic then cuts to Hobbes hanging upside down in the trap,happily eating the sandwich he effectively risked everything for.
Once Calvin sees that he successfully caught a tiger, he then brings Hobbes back to his house and continues to feed him - andHobbes has stuck by Calvin’s side ever since, with a sense of loyalty that can never be shaken. This is definitely a weird start to a lasting friendship, but the specifics are nowhere near as important as the outcome.
9Hobbes Shows Calvin that He’s Always There for Him, Even When Things are Hard
Calvin and Hobbes, 8-22
When Calvin is walking with Hobbes through the woods one day, he opens up about how a bully named Moe punched him at school the day before. Calvin then says that he wishes he had more friends at school, admitting that it’s hard for him to make new ones. But then, Calvin says thatwhat’s really important is to have just one really good friend who is always there for him,even when things are hard, and Hobbes couldn’t agree more.
This comic is one of the most heartwarming in the entire series, as it showsCalvin and Hobbes not just as a troublemaking duo, but as true best friends who aren’t afraid to be vulnerable around each other. All Calvin needed at this moment was a good friend to listen and be there for him, and Hobbes proves that he will always fill that role.
8No One Understands & Supports Calvin’s Childhood Wonder Like Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes, 6-6
One day, Calvin decides he’s going to dig for buried treasure, and Hobbes walks up to him to ask what he’s doing. As Calvin explains, Hobbes asks if he’s found any treasure yet, and Calvin excitedly tells him that he’s found a few rocks, a root, and some grubs. While these finds aren’t riches by any means, that doesn’t mean they’re not treasure, and Hobbesimmediately matches Calvin’s excitement about what he’s found.
This comic speaks to how treasure is in the eyes of the beholder, and how even the most seemingly insignificant things can be seen as significant. But what it also does is showhow supportive Hobbes is of Calvin’s childhood wonder, building up his excitement about the weird things he’s found rather than crushing it, proving how good a friend he is.
7Calvin Learns About the Concept of Death, & is Scared to Lose Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes, 3-18
After Calvin brings home an injured baby raccoon, and his parents are unable to save its life, Calvin learns first-hand about the concept of death. Calvin’s mom explains to him that everyone dies eventually, and how death is just a natural part of life, even if no one really understands why. In this comic, Calvin is talking to Hobbes about it,still trying to make sense of this heavy concept. The strip ends with Calvin giving Hobbes a big hug, saying, “don’t you go anywhere”.
Hobbes arguably never meant more to Calvin than during this moment, as this was the first time Calvin even considered the possibility that he’d someday lose Hobbes.If everyone dies, then that includes Hobbes, and that thought made Calvin appreciate his best friend even more- and the love he expressed for him was beautifully reciprocated.
6Calvin and Hobbes Have the Sweetest Bedtime Routine You’ve Ever Seen
Calvin and Hobbes, 1-16
this one stands out from the rest as being the sweetest of them all.
Calvin and Hobbes have always slept in Calvin’s bed together, something that’s been featured in a number ofCalvin and Hobbescomics. However,this one stands out from the rest as being the sweetest of them all.When Calvin asks Hobbes why he thinks people dream, Hobbes answers, “I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can play together all night!”, and Calvin excitedly agrees with Hobbes' conclusion.
Calvin and Hobbes are so inseparable, that they’re literally in each other’s dreamswhile they sleep soundly next to each other, only to get up the next day and play together again in real life. This is a truly sweet moment between these two, and proves how strong their bond really is.
5Even When They’re Apart, Hobbes is All Calvin Can Think About
Calvin and Hobbes, 5-8
When Calvin is stuck attending a wedding with his parents, all he can think about is how boring it is, and how he can’t believe that he accidentally left Hobbes at home. While the fact that he misses his best friend is enough to provehow much he cares for him, Calvin takes it one step further by being genuinely concerned about Hobbes' well-being. Calvin notes that they didn’t leave any food out for him, and that Hobbes might starve to death while he’s gone.
While the comic strip ends with a hilariously dark joke about how Calvin will have his dad walk into the house first in case Hobbes is dead, the overall message here is thatCalvin is worried about his best friend, and that concern comes from missing him while they’re apart.
4Calvin is Utterly Heartbroken When He Thinks Someone Stole Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes, 5-13
After coming home from the wedding Calvin and his family attended in the previous comic strip, they find that their house has been broken into. The entire place is a wreck, expensive possessions are missing, and the family’s sense of security is shaken. But,for Calvin, the real catastrophe is the fact that he can’t find Hobbes anywhere. Calvin is running around, screaming about how his best friend is missing, horribly worried about his safety. The comic ends with Calvin in tears over his missing friend.
Like the comic strip detailing Calvin coming to terms with the concept of death, this one proves how much Calvin really cares about Hobbes, as shown by Calvin’s reaction to the belief that he’s lost him.It’s a truly heartbreaking strip, but it’s also one that shows how intense Calvin’s love for Hobbes really is.
3Hobbes is There for Calvin to Help Him Through a Traumatic Experience
Calvin and Hobbes, 5-21
When Calvin finally finds Hobbes after the traumatic experience of not only losing him, but having his house broken into, Hobbes is the one who’s comforting Calvin through it. Calvin’s parents are cleaning up the broken glass, patching up the vacant space where the window was shattered, and talking about how this all must be really hard for a little kid like Calvin. However, nothing could be further from the truth, asCalvin is handling this situation quite well - and it’s all because of Hobbes.
If Calvin didn’t have Hobbes, then he may have been spared the worry of not knowing where his best friend was, but he’d also be utterly alone while dealing with the complex emotions associated with a traumatic experience like this one- proving that their friendship is more than strong, it’s essential.
2Hobbes Lets Calvin Know that Their Friendship is the Best Christmas Gift of All
Calvin and Hobbes, 12-25
One Christmas morning, Calvin shamefully approaches Hobbes, admitting that he didn’t get him anything for Christmas - not even a lousy card. However, Hobbes isn’t bothered by this, especially since he didn’t get Calvin anything either. Instead, Hobbes offers Calvin a “tiger hug” for Christmas, which Calvin happily accepts. Indeed, this gift meant more to Calvin than any object Hobbes could have given him, which is expressed by Calvin’s tears while in Hobbes' embrace.
This comic strip is incredibly heartwarming, as it ties Calvin and Hobbes' truly special friendship with the magic of Christmas. Despite being in each other’s lives every other day of the year,Calvin and Hobbes prove that their friendship is the best Christmas gift of all, and that sentiment is very sweet.
1Calvin and Hobbes' Final Comic Confirms They Have a Friendship that Will Last Forever
Calvin and Hobbes, 12-31
In the finalCalvin and Hobbescomic strip, Calvin and Hobbes venture into the outdoors with their sled after fresh snowfall the night before. The two talk about how the world looks brand new, “like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on”, allowing for limitless possibilities. Calvin and Hobbes then get on their sled together and take off for their next adventure.
This comic is the perfect final send-off for Calvin and Hobbes, with the biggest takeaway being the fact that this strip makes it clear that,no matter what they do next, Calvin and Hobbes will always be friends, as their friendship and loyalty to one another is something that will never go away. And that’s why this is one of the 10 most heartwarmingCalvin and Hobbescomics about friendship (and loyalty).
Calvin and Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes was a satirical comic strip series that ran from 1985-1995, written, drawn, and colored by Bill Watterson. The series follows six-year-old Hobbes and his stuffed Tiger, Calvin, that examines their lives through a whimsical lens that tackles everyday comedic issues and real-world issues that people deal with.
