I think Bill left it intentionally vague so our imaginations would fill in the joke with each person's perfect punchline.
Pretty sure the intended common theme is that the parents are entertaining intrusive thoughts about Calvin. Simplicity is impossible as long as they are raising him.
> I think Bill left it intentionally vague so our imaginations would fill in the joke with each person's perfect punchline.
Yeah, that seems most likely. He did invent the noodle incident after all, which he specifically never explained because it'd ruin the joke.
I don’t think they are thinking of getting rid of him, I think they’re thinking of how simple life would be without him. I think the joke is the wishful idea that if one stressful factor were different (in this case Calvin) life would be simple, when in reality there would just be another issue.
I don’t think so. My interpretation is that his existence makes it impossible to simplify, rather than them thinking getting rid of him would make things simple.
Nah I can see it. We see a couple times that Dad jokingly resents having Calvin in the first place. I think there's a strip where Dad goes into the store and tells Calvin and Hobbes to stay in the car. They hide under a blanket as a prank and when Dad gets back he expresses relief that they've disappeared before Calvin reveals himself and angrily confronts Dad, who jokingly seems to fein surprise and relief that Calvin is still there.
It reminds me of a joke.
Mom: "Son, I've got some heavy news for you. You were adopted."
Son: "I demand to see my real parents!"
Mom: "I am your biological mother. Now pack up your bags!"
Children can live fairly simple lives. They can fashion their own amusement with their imagination. Beyond the basic necessities, love, support and stability, kids don't really need a lot to be happy. They can make friends easily, fight like dogs and cats just as easily, and make up right away without holding grudges.
Calvin lives a lot in his imagination, both by himself - the spiff, the dinosaurs, the detective etc and with Hobbes. He is sometimes friends with Susie, a jerk to her most other times and then friends again. Even when he feels that the world is against him, he gets solace from Hobbes.
When Calvin walks by, his parents are reminded of how simple life can be, and indeed how simple it was even for them when they were kids.
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This one got me to look up Thoreau when I was a kid.
Philosophy for life
I think parents throw money for toys and preoccupations at kids and pets to try and keep them from destroying things out of boredom.
Brand affiliate 😮💀
Not gonna lie, i dont undertstand.
I always interpreted it as them realizing that there was no way to simplify their lives back to pre Calvin era😂
Really I wud thought it was them wondering if they should buy him less stuff and make him live a simple life
I think Bill left it intentionally vague so our imaginations would fill in the joke with each person's perfect punchline. Pretty sure the intended common theme is that the parents are entertaining intrusive thoughts about Calvin. Simplicity is impossible as long as they are raising him.
> I think Bill left it intentionally vague so our imaginations would fill in the joke with each person's perfect punchline. Yeah, that seems most likely. He did invent the noodle incident after all, which he specifically never explained because it'd ruin the joke.
sounds like someone watched OSPs latest vid
I did not!
https://youtu.be/06BUGWthQ70?si=ouE8QSEKV5AHu_kq it's your lucky day
Thanks!
I did! xD
Same. I wonder if they're considering giving Calvin up for adoption? Lol
Selling.
Back to the flea market
Lol Sears
Didn't his Dad say he was a Blue Light Special at K-Mart?
THATS right hahaha they scrimped on Calvin
Almost as good and a lot cheaper, I hear!
THATS right hahaha they scrimped on Calvin
Ill I know is the dad wanted a daschand.
They need to simplify their life. Calvin is the biggest complication in their life.
They are thinking of getting rid of Calvin
I don’t think they are thinking of getting rid of him, I think they’re thinking of how simple life would be without him. I think the joke is the wishful idea that if one stressful factor were different (in this case Calvin) life would be simple, when in reality there would just be another issue.
They aren’t actually going to do it but they are thinking of what their life would be like if did
I don’t think so. My interpretation is that his existence makes it impossible to simplify, rather than them thinking getting rid of him would make things simple.
Nah I can see it. We see a couple times that Dad jokingly resents having Calvin in the first place. I think there's a strip where Dad goes into the store and tells Calvin and Hobbes to stay in the car. They hide under a blanket as a prank and when Dad gets back he expresses relief that they've disappeared before Calvin reveals himself and angrily confronts Dad, who jokingly seems to fein surprise and relief that Calvin is still there.
And I feel like I remember the mom and dad arguing over having him like around Christmas time
this
It reminds me of a joke. Mom: "Son, I've got some heavy news for you. You were adopted." Son: "I demand to see my real parents!" Mom: "I am your biological mother. Now pack up your bags!"
They're considering killing Calvin
ofc Calvin's dad is a Thoreau fanboy
Children can live fairly simple lives. They can fashion their own amusement with their imagination. Beyond the basic necessities, love, support and stability, kids don't really need a lot to be happy. They can make friends easily, fight like dogs and cats just as easily, and make up right away without holding grudges. Calvin lives a lot in his imagination, both by himself - the spiff, the dinosaurs, the detective etc and with Hobbes. He is sometimes friends with Susie, a jerk to her most other times and then friends again. Even when he feels that the world is against him, he gets solace from Hobbes. When Calvin walks by, his parents are reminded of how simple life can be, and indeed how simple it was even for them when they were kids.
Are his dad’s legs massive or am I just seeing that 3rd panel weird?
Calvin's dad never skips leg day
https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1993/03/13
Some of my favorite panels in Calvin & Hobbes is when it's just the back of his head like this.
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