Read the first ever Calvin and Hobbes comic, published 30 years ago today

Calvin and Hobbes
(Image credit: Twitter.com/massimopolidoro)

A 6-year-old and his tiger began exploring the mysteries, profundities, and humors of childhood (and tuna sandwiches) exactly 30 years ago today. Calvin and Hobbes, which once ran in 2,400 newspapers, was first published on November 18, 1985, before it was abruptly pulled by creator Bill Watterson in December 1995. Watterson's decade of work immortalized the rambunctious Calvin and his maybe-not-so-imaginary tiger friend Hobbes as a staples of childhoods (and adulthoods!) everywhere.

See more

"Calvin and Hobbes created a level of attention and expectation that I don't know how to process," Watterson explained in a rare interview with Mental Floss. The cartoonist has famously resisted licensing merchandise and refused to allow his comics to be adapted or animated, turning down both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

Which leaves us with the comics, where everything began in the first place. Here's the first Calvin and Hobbes, from this day in 1985:

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
See more

This much remains true after all these years — it's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy... Let's go exploring!

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.