Calvin and Hobbes

Meet Calvin—a chaos-loving six-year-old—and Hobbes, his witty tiger friend. This first collection launches the iconic strip and friendship with snowball fights, time travel, philosophical musings, and original humor that captures the magic of childhood. 

This is only the beginning! The very first volume of Calvin and Hobbes introduces the world to the most unforgettable duo in comics: Calvin, a wildly imaginative six-year-old, and Hobbes, his sharp-witted tiger companion who springs to life when no one else is watching. Together they mix everyday childhood events with adventure, rebellion, satire, and laughter—whether they’re building mutant snowmen, outsmarting babysitters, or pondering life’s biggest questions under the stars.

Originally published in newspapers between November 1985 and August 1986, these early strips showcase the humor, heart, and razor-sharp wit that would make Calvin and Hobbes a global phenomenon. This debut volume also features exclusive original content with a foreword by Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist Garry Trudeau.

Highlights from this collection include:

• The cardboard box as spaceship, time machine, and invention lab
• Calvin’s epic dinosaur daydreams interrupting schoolwork
• Monsters lurking under the bed (with Hobbes playing along)
• Snowball fights, sledding crashes, and bizarre snow sculptures
• Calvin’s ongoing battles with homework, babysitters, and classmate and neighbor Susie Derkins.
• Philosophical banter on everything from free will to the environment.

With expressive artwork and storytelling that balances chaos with insight, Bill Watterson transformed the antics of one mischievous boy and his tiger into something timeless. Both laugh-out-loud funny and quietly profound, this debut collection captures the spark that made Calvin and Hobbes a fan favorite from the very beginning.

For longtime devotees and brand-new readers alike, this first volume is more than just a comic strip—it’s the beginning of one of the most beloved and imaginative worlds ever created.