The Comic Strip

   

     For this week I chose to read Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson. For many people this is a comic they grew up on and look at quite fondly. For me, this was my first time reading it but I am not oblivious to the appeal. It is known for it’s whimsical nature and insight into the imagination of a child.

     Calvin and Hobbes is about the adventures of a young boy and his stuffed tiger. Often the panels are drawn from Calvin's imagination where his tiger, Hobbes, is a real anthropomorphic tiger. The situations he is in are common for a child - like having his father check for monsters under the bed. What I think makes this comic so charming is that it is shown from a parents perspective as well as the child's. The punchline is often when Hobbes is alive and makes a comment to Calvin or vice versa. 

   In class I read Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. While I was blown away by the art style, designs, and color - I found the story to be lacking. That being said, I would still read more of it simply because it is a feast for the eyes. I see Calvin and Hobbes to be kind of the opposite of Nemo in this regard. Where Nemo was intricate and detailed, Calvin and Hobbes is clean and straightforward. This comic is simplistic in its art style and story structure, but that is what makes it ideal for comic strips.   Calvin and Hobbes is appealing to people of all ages and it is a comic that I wish I had read as a child.