Bill Watterson - The Complete Calvin And Hobbes

This masterwork collection of the two greatest political thinkers of our time is gathered together in one large three volume treatise. I was pleased to find that this is indeed a complete collection of all the various musings, social discussions, political rants and general observations of our modern society by the great thinkers Calvin and Hobbes ever printed. Mind you, I am not referring to the antiquated thoughts of John Calvin, an early political and religious thinker of the 16th Century nor of English philosopher Thomas Hobbes who believed that life was "nasty brutish and short". No, these are the modern thinkers, known only by their first names, Calvin and Hobbes, perhaps capitalizing upon a trend developed in the 20th Century of using only a single name when you have achieved such outstanding success in your field as to be immediately recognized by a single name. Although neither Calvin nor Hobbes have actually published any of their works under their own names, we are extremely fortunate that the writer William "Bill" Watterson has been able to chronicle the vast array of musings put forth by these two great minds.

If you are not familiar with the two, I would note that Calvin tends to be optimistic, although he can make observations which are barely contained cynicism against the practices of modern society. His best friend, Hobbes, is a counterpoint to Calvin's musings, always offering his own observations of a world view and social observations, which frequently are of the diametric point of view of Calvin. Some detractors of the pair believe that Hobbes was actually a mythical or imaginary creation put forth by Calvin and existed only in Calvin's mind as some elaborate hoax on the general populace or perhaps some sign of mental illness. However, I can assure you that Hobbes is most certainly real.

However, rather than just bore you with my humble rhetoric about the two, I shall share with you some of the keener observations postulated by Calvin and Hobbes in various areas of current socio political thought, religion, family values, and general observations on life itself.

Fate and Destiny

Calvin Do you believe in fate?
Hobbes You mean that our lives are predestined?
Calvin yeah, that the things that we do are inevitable
Hobbes What a scary thought This interplay with the pair musing on the question of fate was actually presented when the pair were careening down a hill on a wagon of some sort, with Hobbes reply coming as the pair jettison off a pier.

Calvin I've decided to be a fatalist. All events are preordained and unalterable. Whatever will be will be. That way if anything bad happens, it's not my fault. It's fate.
Hobbes trips Calvin and responds Too bad you were fated to do that.
Calvin shouts back THAT WASN'T FATE!

Philosophy

Calvin Why do you suppose we're here?
Hobbes Because we walked here
Calvin No, no, I mean here on earth
Hobbes Because, Earth can support life
Calvin No, I mean why are we anywhere? Why do we exist?
Hobbes Because we were born.
Calvin Forget it.
Hobbes I will. Thank you.

Television

Calvin presents an inquiry to his father, actually a commentary on the values of the family versus those presented to us in popular media.
Dad, how come you live in this house with mom..instead of in an apartment with several scantily clad female roommates? Boy! ask a simple question and get all your television privileges revoked
In another diatribe Calvin comments on Marx, comparing him to television
Calvin it says here that 'religion is the opiate of the masses' what do you suppose that means?
TV it means Karl Marx hadn't seen anything yet

Risk v. Security

Calvin (headed to the top of a precipice) Do you think its better to live in stupefying security or to take risks and live life on the edge. I think its better to accept danger and live to the fullest! I take it by your silence that you agree.. We can see in our observation that Hobbes silence is actually due to the fact that he has chosen not to join Calvin on his risk taking slide down the hill.

Music as Rebellion

Calvin I got the new album by Scrambled Debutante. All their songs glorify depraved violence, mindless sex and the deliberate abuse of dangerous drugs
Hobbes Your mom's going to go into conniptions when she sees this lying around
Calvin replies as he tosses the record itself into the trash bin Well I sure didn't buy it for the music

War

Hobbes How come we play War and not Peace?
Calvin Too few role models
Calvin I'll be the fearless American defender of liberty and democracy and you can be the loathsome godless communist oppressor. We're at war, so if you get hit with a dart, you're dead and the other side wins okay?
The two immediately fire at each other and both are 'dead' by the rules of war. Calvin then comments Kind of a stupid game isn't it Hobbes just stands in agreement.

Military Politics

Calvin You see Hobbes, I have a water balloon and you don't; I therefore have offensive superiority so you have to do what I say. What do you think about that?
Hobbes I think I'll take this stick and poke your balloon
Calvin That's the trouble with weapons technology, It becomes obsolete so quickly

The Existence and Nature of God

Calvin Do you think there's a God?
Hobbes responds with silence
Calvin Well SOMEbody's out to get me

Environment vs. Progress

Calvin It took hundreds of years for these woods to grow and they leveled it in a week. It's gone. After they build new houses here, they'll have to widen the roads, and put up gas stations and pretty soon this whole area will be a big strip. Eventually there won't be a nice spot anywhere. I wonder if you can refuse to inherit the world? Hobbes I think if you're born, it's too late

Commercialization of Holidays

Hobbes Tomorrow is Independence Day. The Declaration of Independence says everyone is created equal and is entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Calvin Oh. So when does Paul Revere ride through town and give us our presents?

These are merely a few of the musings presented in Volume One. Watterson also recounts many of the encounters the pair had with people who influenced their lives and thoughts, Calvin's own over bearing parents, a certain babysitter named Rosyln and an intolerant teacher that Calvin had in grade school, Ms. Wormwood. Several of the encounters with one of Calvin's biggest detractors, Susan "Susie" Derkins, is also well documented.

Forays into scientific exploration by Calvin are also covered, including his plans for both a Time Machine, and the inherent paradoxes thereof, as well as his Transmorgification Machine.

Finally, I would note that William "Bill" Watterson has an introduction at the beginning of the first volume wherein he tells of how he came to meet Calvin and Hobbes and recount their exploits and musings. I would also note that the volumes chronicling the pair are not organized into particular topics. Thinkers like Calvin and Hobbes speak of what they wish on any particular occasion, and to present their thoughts in a categoric fashion would be to diminish the manner in which they actually expressed themselves. The three volume treatise is instead organized by years, covering the pair from 1985 to 1995 in chronological order.

The books themselves are heavy, as would be expected of such a monumental task of covering the vast array of thoughts set forth by Calvin and Hobbes, however, I was most delighted to find that the books are worthy of their subject matter. Many of the illustrations are in full color just as they have been presented in various newspapers throughout their history. The Volumes all fit into one attractive box for displaying your affinity for great thinkers to any of your guests.