World Famous Comics: The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (Calvin & Hobbes)
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (Calvin & Hobbes)
By: Bill Watterson Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Format: Box set Label: Andrews McMeel Publishing Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 1440 Publication Date: October 04, 2005 Release Date: October 04, 2005
Amazon.com: An Excerpt from Bill Watterson's Introduction:
"I've loved comic strips as long as I can remember. As a kid, I knew I wanted to be either a cartoonist or an astronaut. The latter was never much of a possibility, as I don't even like riding in elevators. I kept my options open until seventh grade, but when I stopped understanding math and science, my choice was made. There is great personal satisfaction in attending to detail and quality, and I remain very proud of the standards the strip met day after day. I also liked the responsibility of knowing that, succeed or fail, it was all my own doing. This approach kept the strip very honest and personal--everything having to do with Calvin and Hobbes expressed my own ideas, my own values, my own way. I wrote every word, drew every line, and painted every color. It's a rare gift to find such fulfilling work and I tried to show my appreciation by giving the strip everything I had to offer."
Exclusive Images from the New Collection
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Product Description: Calvin and Hobbes is unquestionably one of the most popular comic strips of all time. The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger was first syndicated in 1985 and appeared in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996. More than 30 million of the 17 Calvin and Hobbes books (all published by Andrews McMeel) have been sold. And now, the entire body of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons published in a truly noteworthy tribute to this singular cartoon. Composed of three hardcover, four-color volumes in a sturdy slipcase, this edition includes all Calvin and Hobbes cartoons that ever appeared in syndication. This is the treasure that all Calvin and Hobbes fans seek.
Wondeful! Ever since the Far Side collection came out, I had dreamed of the day they released a Calvin and Hobbes set. It's a great collection and looks good too.
The books are heavy, and a little bit big, so if you have a small bookcase, you might not be able to fit this on the shelves easily.
It's worth it: trust me! Bill Watterson managed in a relatively short time to fulfill something few cartoonist do in their entire careers: to create 2 classic an enternal characters, worthy of a place of honor in the Pantheon of comic strips, right along the Peanuts gang & Garfield.
And then, when he felt he had accomplished the goal set for himself, and had nothing left to prove to anyone, Watterson decided to say good-bye to his beloved hyper-active 6-year old & his inseparable feline accomplice just when they were at the top of their game; free to continue their amazing adventures fueled by the inexhaustible imagination of Calvin, their fantasy world unlimited except for when it's time to go to bed or finish homework--and sometimes not even then!
In this beautifully-crafted box collection resides the entirety of Calvin & Hobbes, from the very first strips that appeared on newspapers in 1986, to the very last sledding trip they took to explore their "magical world".
Now I know what some of you may be thinking, because I had the same doubts: "sure they look nice, but IS IT WORTH IT?". Well, in this humble enthusiast's opinion, the answer is a rotund "yes!".
For starters these books are HUGE. They let you focus on every tiny detail Watterson drew, inked and painted that made this strip stand out from the rest; all the attention and love he used to portray those wonderful dinosaurs, or the woods where Calvin & Hobbes spent so many idle hours together. In fact, the size of the books may be ironically the very single thing I may not like about them, but only because it is kind of uncomfortable to enjoy these jewels if you're already tucked in your bed! No, I recommend instead that you to choose a nice comfy armchair when perusing the alien landscapes of "Spaceman Spiff", or the heroic deeds of "Stupendous Man" fighting the evil "Mom Lady".
The quality of the paper is also of note, along with the printing that managed to capture all the richness & subtleties of the watercolors Watterson enjoyed so much to apply in his work. The man truly believed in the art of his medium and felt his readers deserved nothing but the best of what could come out of him.
So overall I seriously urge you to consider the investment of acquiring this wonderful collection. These books are intended to last a lifetime, and will probably be a matter of protest between your future inheritors--unless of course, you end up deciding you want to be buried with them :-)
The Ultimate! If you love Calvin and Hobbes, this is it! My husband got this for me for Christmas and II think it's the best present ever. I don't have to miss them any more; I have everything in this set!
Review for Calvin & Hobbes Collection Product was delivered well on time, however unfortunately the case was slightly damaged. As this is a collector's item I would have appreciated if the book was wrapped in bubble plastic, instead of that it was just put in the box without any protection.
This is the only reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5, because the book itself is great. I always enjoyed the comics and I was delighted to see that a collection was available in the original language (something not easy to get in my country). Certainly an excellent gift or treat for someone who is a fan of Calvin & Hobbes!
The cocky kid and stuffed tiger are back! Oh, there is nothing more that I love than curling up on a rainy day and opening these cherished pages. Calvin and Hobbes are by FAR the best cartoon of the century and never seem to die out of kid's and adult's laughs. There is more than one comic where Calvin or Hobbes uses long, sticky words that don't make sense to us kids. But from the detailed looks and funny gestures of the characters always make it perfect. There are, however, a few things I grudgingly point out. First, if you are hoping to flip through the pges for years and years, think again. They are all VERY delicate, as is the terrible binding. One other thing... I love Calvin and Hobbes to death, but they are- repetitive, at times. A classic comic includes Calvin throwing a slush-ball at Susie and POWed in the face by her, and mumbling some rueful thing. There are ones starting with Calvin and Hobbes talking and Calvin getting into a fight with Hobbes. There are ones concerning Hobbes the ( quite frankly ) idiot bully, with Calvin making a smart comment and being punched, all broken looking and saying some other goofy thing at the end. Then there is the utmost classic with something happening and Calvin making a sharp or sad comment, making us laugh. Anyways, that's why I'm a 4 star girl. Love the comics, watterson... get more ideas, though! Sincerely, Moonwhisker
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Trevor
"I've loved comic strips as long as I can remember. As a kid, I knew I wanted to be either a cartoonist or an astronaut. The latter was never much of a possibility, as I don't even like riding in elevators. I kept my options open until seventh grade, but when I stopped understanding math and science, my choice was made. There is great personal satisfaction in attending to detail and quality, and I remain very proud of the standards the strip met day after day. I also liked the responsibility of knowing that, succeed or fail, it was all my own doing. This approach kept the strip very honest and personal--everything having to do with Calvin and Hobbes expressed my own ideas, my own values, my own way. I wrote every word, drew every line, and painted every color. It's a rare gift to find such fulfilling work and I tried to show my appreciation by giving the strip everything I had to offer." 
