Read the first ever Calvin and Hobbes comic, published 30 years ago today
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.
"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:
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This much remains true after all these years — it's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy... Let's go exploring!
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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.
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