36 Years Later, Calvin and Hobbes’ Wordless Comic Still Says Everything

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Published Oct 16, 2026, 7:19 AM EDT

Collier Jennings is an entertainment journalist with extensive experience. Collier, or "CJ" to his friends and family, is a dedicated fan of genre films - particularly science fiction, fantasy, and comic book adaptations, not to mention all forms of animation. This stems from a close bond with his father, who introduced him to these genres via copies of X-Men comics and reruns of the original Ultraman series. With his near-encyclopedic knowledge and bottomless love of genre, he's tackled a wide variety of articles.

Though it lasted only a decade, Calvin and Hobbes remains one of the most influential comic strips ever created. Part of that influence comes from creator Bill Watterson's constant experimentation with the strip's format and genre. While Peanuts spotlighted Charlie Brown's misfortune, Calvin and Hobbes embraced the childlike energy of its titular protagonist and his talking stuffed tiger. That meant that one moment, Calvin and Hobbes could have a surprisingly deep discussion about the nature of life, and the next, fly to space in a cardboard box.

One Calvin and Hobbes strip, in particular, stands out for two reasons. The first is that it's the first strip released in 1990, signaling the series' halfway point. The second is its setup: a series of images shows Calvin tossing a snowball down a hill, watching it roll, and then cheering. The final panel reveals that his next-door neighbor, Susie Derkins, is buried under a gigantic snowball, angrily shaking her fist. Watterson chose not to use a single word during this strip, and his choice ironically says far more than any words ever could.

'Calvin and Hobbes' Captures Everything That Makes It Work in One Strip

Part of what makes Calvin and Hobbes's snowball strip stand out is that it relies on visual humor, rather than wordplay, to sell its punchline. Watterson became known for his characters' animated expressions andhis eye for detail; Calvin and Hobbes strips are packed with intense grimaces and shocked faces that immediately draw the eye. The snowball strip is no different; Calvin's joy is just as easy to decipher as Susie's anger. The sight of a small snowball turning into a massive one is also a gag that belongs in the Looney Tunes hall of fame because it's so hilariously outlandish, yet it works if readers go with the flow.

The snowball strip also does a great job of showcasing Calvin and Susie's dynamic. When she's first introduced in Calvin and Hobbes, Susie is the complete opposite of Calvin. She's studious, well-mannered, and goes out of her way to befriend Calvin. Calvin, a six-year-old boy, utterly rejects this and goes out of his way to pelt Susie with snowballs or gross her out by pretending his lunch is something no one on the planet would eat. In a single strip, Watterson captures the duo's ever-shifting dynamic, which is ironic, given that an earlier Calvin and Hobbes comic had them convinced they liked each other after Susie smashes a snowball in Calvin's face. You wouldn't see that kind of dynamic in Garfield.

'Calvin and Hobbes' Remains an All-Time Comic Strip

The creative energy that Bill Watterson brought to the snowball strip, and many more installments of Calvin and Hobbes, helped cement it as an iconic comic series. Again, shifts in style, like a wordless strip or an expansion in size, made Watterson's work pop and showed that comic strips didn't necessarily have to be locked in a single genre. The strip's short run also adds to its timeless quality, as Watterson never overstayed Calvin and Hobbes' welcome or subjected it to the mass marketing that befell other comics. As a result, it captured the hearts of millions, including legendary comic artist Frank Miller (300, The Dark Knight Returns). Miller told Entertainment Weekly that Calvin and Hobbes remains his go-to example of how anyone can learn to make comics.

"If you want to see what comics can do and learn how to do it, the answer is Calvin & Hobbes. The drawing is such a joy."

Bill Watterson's ability to tell a single story in just five images backs up Miller's declaration and shows how Calvin and Hobbes still captures the imagination today. Whether it's a giant snowball, a Tyrannosaurus rex stomping through the forest, or the strange game that is "Calvinball," Calvin and Hobbes is one comic that isn't afraid to break out of the proverbial box.

Release Date 2016 - 2017-00-00

Network Cartoon Network

Aiden Lewandowski

Charlie Brown (voice)
Emma Yarovinsky

Sally Brown (voice)
Bella Stine

Lucy van Pelt (voice) / Crybaby Boobie (voice) / Peggy Jean (voice)
Jude Perry

Linus van Pelt (voice)