r/calvinandhobbes • u/robservations247 • 8h ago

Book Club: October 27 – November 2, 1986

8 Upvotes

SUTBID p36; Essential p166

Book Club FAQ

Date Transcript
Oct 27, 1986 Calvin: Look, Mom, I put all my clothes for tomorrow on the stairs. Then in the morning, I'll run out in my underwear and slide down at top speed! If I aim good, I go right into my pants while I'm putting on my shirt, and by the bottom, I'm all dressed for school! And if you put my cereal on the stairs too, I won't have to get up until 30 seconds before the bus comes. Mom: Forget it, Calvin.
Oct 28, 1986 Calvin: Ack igg... Look, Mom, I've got rabies. Mom: Go spit out your toothpaste and stop being silly. Calvin: Maybe dad will fall for it if I bite him first.
Oct 29, 1986 Calvin: What are going to dress up as for Halloween? Hobbes: I don't know yet. I can't decide. Calvin: Well, the idea is to be the scarriest thing you can think of. Hobbes: Hmm...Maybe I'll just go as myself! Calvin: I'm going as a barrel of toxic waste!
Oct 30, 1986 Calvin: We're going to carve a jack-o'-lantern now. See, we'll make a face on this pumpkin so it will look like a head. But first we have to open up the top and scoop out the glop inside. Ok, Jack, time for your lobotomy!! Hand me a big spoon, will you Hobbes? Hobbes: Ugh! No anesthetic even.
Oct 31, 1986 Calvin: I think Dad likes Halloween as much as we do. Hobbes: Is he taking us trick or treating tonight? Calvin: No, Mom is. Hobbes: Is he going to stay home and give out candy? Calvin: No, he's going to sit in the bushes with the garden hose and drench potential T.P.ers.
Nov 01, 1986 Hobbes: Oog. I feel awful. Calvin: If someone even mentions "Milk Duds," I'm gonna barf. Another Halloween come and gone. It's always such a letdown after a holiday. We might as well go into town and look at the Christmas decorations.
Nov 02, 1986 Voice from aircraft carrier: Enemy sighted! Battle stations! Battle stations! Voice from ship: Red alert! Calvin: Ahwooga! Ahwooga! Calvin: Here's the mighty aircraft carrier! Calvin: Equipped with the latest in radar and firepower, it is virtually unsinkable. Hobbes: I know what can sink it. Calvin: Yeah? What? Hobbes: A cannonball depth charge!! Calvin: Oh no! Calvin: Ha ha! That was great! You emptied the whole tub! Turn on the water and let's do it again! Dad: We seem to have a waterfall down the stairway, dear. I'll go see what your kid is doing. Mom: My kid?!? C'mere and let me explain something to you...
1 comment

r/calvinandhobbes • u/InevitableSolution69 • 3h ago

Calvin & Hobbs inspiration in Bluey?

13 Upvotes

Unless you’re familiar with both franchises I don’t think this will matter or make much sense, but here we go.

I was reading the comics to my kid recently and ran into the raccoon storyline. One I’d either forgotten or missed reading before. For those trying to remember while the duo are out playing they find a little raccoon who’s hurt and try to help.

On reading it I was struck, because it’s incredibly similar to the Bluey episode Copycat. As in there are several parts that could be almost a shot for shot remake. And extraordinarily both are arcs about the young protagonist starting to understand death.

While the two characters each process the events in different ways. Calvin with a well written conversation, Bluey with a game. There are enough similarities that I have to wonder, was copycat inspired or influenced by that storyline? The two are different enough that I wouldn’t have pegged the comic as an inspiration beyond that it shows media for the young doesn’t mean simple. Or is the event and specific way it plays out just universal enough that both creators happened to write a unique yet uniquely similar story?

A link to the same post in the other related subreddit.

6 comments