Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5347 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-17
• Format: Box set
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1440 pages

Synopsis
Brings together every "Calvin and Hobbes" cartoon that has ever appeared in syndication, along with stories and poems from classic collections.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic!
Brilliant. Just Brilliant. I've always loved the cartoons, but with this collection I got far more than I expected. As below, when I ordered this I was prepared for something slightly bigger than a DVD boxed set - what I got is a collection about A4 height (from there you can probably get an idea of scale from the picture supplied) and packed solid with cartoons. Apart from the obligatory Author's introduction, each page contains 4 regular strips or one large colour strip. The books are well finished and give the impression that, well treated, they will last a lifetime of reading. The paper is thick and durable, which adds to the weight of the collection but you won't be accidentaly tearing pages while flicking through. In fact, the whole thing seems to have been designed with longevity in mind.

I won't go on about how good the cartoons are - if you're looking at this item you probably already know that. If not, the fact so many people have forked out £40-60 for the privilege of owning it should be evidence enough. What I can say is that if you know you're looking for a collection of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons, the price of this collection is fully justified by the build quality. It would make an excellent gift or, as in my case, an excellent bit of self-indulgence, and will give years of smiles and laughter.

Well worth it's weight!
The other reviews here pretty much say it all... if you are a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, you are going to love this! And, if you are already a fan, you will undoubtedly own a few worn-out copies of the various collections. I already have most, if not all of the books;
what makes this special and worth having (..in addition!) is the beautiful presentation, in chronological order, of all the strips, with the large cover art added throughout.
It is big, it is heavy, but bearing in mind that it will probably stay put and be well looked after, I don't see any problem with this! It's obviously not intended to be lugged about as your sole copy, and it's nice to have a nice hardback volume to sit and read. If you want portable, take one of your paperbacks. If you want your favourite (and the best, most imaginative, philosophical, entertaining cartoon strip ever) in 3 well-made volumes, then you should really add this to your bookshelf. I just did, having read the previous reviews, and I love it already!
(I've read Calvin and Hobbes through many times, and they just don't date either.. Calvin's comments about the advertising industry, and his Dad's views about t.v, the media, traffic etc are as funny and relevant today as when they were written.)
Not much more to say... if you love Calvin and Hobbes, this collection really is well worth it's weight.

When cartoons grew up
I just got back from my post office here in Oslo Norway. The little woman who went back to get this package for me looked less than thrilled. This is HEAVY!

Well, anyhow, I just had my first look at this and it's stunning. Calvin and Hobbes deserve no less.

1987. It's been that many years since I was in Denmark on holiday and bought my first volume of Calvin and Hobbes? (Steen & Stoffer in Danish, Tommy & Tigern in Norwegian). Wow, how time flies.

Calvin and Hobbes have been a great influence on me. I have tried and failed over the years to be a cartoonist or graphic artist myself, but my failure aside, this series really pushed me in conveying ideas with simple yet effective drawings. And that's the crux of this whole success. Amazing yet simple art, effective storytelling, heart, cheekyness, flights of fantasy and even a bit of insanity.

Calvin and Hobbes is all about lost youth to me, and I always pictured the last Calvin and Hobbes showing Calvin walking past Hobbes, with Hobbes no longer a living tiger, but being just a stuffed toy. Calvin realising that this time of his life is over, bursting into tears, and running to his mother for comfort.

Instead he left us, looking for adventure in the woods behind his house with his best friend, destined to live forever in an endless summer.

When a cartoon gets to you on so many levels, does it seize being a cartoon? I'm not sure you can even use the word about something as monumental as this, but don't let that put you off. This is great literature, and you should own it simply to show people that you are a kid at heart, and that you know a great body of work when you see it.