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Pop Classics #10
Let's Go Exploring: Calvin and Hobbes
A fascinating investigation of a beloved comic strip
The internet is home to impassioned debates on just about everything, but there’s one thing that’s universally beloved: Bill Watterson’s comic stripÌýCalvin and Hobbes. Until its retirement in 1995 after a ten-year run, the strip won numerous awards and drew tens of millions of readers from all around the world. The story of a boy and his best friend â€� a stuffed tiger â€� was a pitch-perfect distillation of the joys and horrors of childhood, and a celebration of imagination in its purest form. InÌýLet’s Go Exploring, Michael Hingston mines the strip and traces the story of Calvin’s reclusive creator to demonstrate how imagination â€� its possibilities, its opportunities, and ultimately its limitations â€� helped makeÌýCalvin and HobbesÌýNorth America’s last great comic strip.
The internet is home to impassioned debates on just about everything, but there’s one thing that’s universally beloved: Bill Watterson’s comic stripÌýCalvin and Hobbes. Until its retirement in 1995 after a ten-year run, the strip won numerous awards and drew tens of millions of readers from all around the world. The story of a boy and his best friend â€� a stuffed tiger â€� was a pitch-perfect distillation of the joys and horrors of childhood, and a celebration of imagination in its purest form. InÌýLet’s Go Exploring, Michael Hingston mines the strip and traces the story of Calvin’s reclusive creator to demonstrate how imagination â€� its possibilities, its opportunities, and ultimately its limitations â€� helped makeÌýCalvin and HobbesÌýNorth America’s last great comic strip.
120 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2018
31 people are currently reading
1,001 people want to read
About the author
Michael Hingston
13Ìýbooks52ÌýfollowersMichael Hingston is the author of Try Not to Be Strange, Let's Go Exploring, and The Dilettantes, and co-publisher of Hingston & Olsen Publishing. His journalism has appeared in Wired, National Geographic, the Washington Post, and The Guardian. Hingston lives with his family in Edmonton, Alberta.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 9, 2021
Michael Hingston may be preaching to the choir with this little love note slash history lesson, but when it comes to Calvin and Hobbes, well, I'll gladly sing songs of praise any day.
5 stars. Well-researched and well-written, Hingston wears his fandom on his sleeve and isn't ashamed to gush. I knew some of the background already from reading Watterson's own occasional commentary but Hingston delves more deeply, carving out a larger niche for the seminal comic strip to occupy. And he is a charming guide through what could otherwise be rather dry material. Recommended to huge fans, which of course means everybody who's ever read C&H.
5 stars. Well-researched and well-written, Hingston wears his fandom on his sleeve and isn't ashamed to gush. I knew some of the background already from reading Watterson's own occasional commentary but Hingston delves more deeply, carving out a larger niche for the seminal comic strip to occupy. And he is a charming guide through what could otherwise be rather dry material. Recommended to huge fans, which of course means everybody who's ever read C&H.
January 22, 2021
At one time, before the advent of that internet thing, we all read newspapers, pretty much everyday. And, on Sundays, we devoted hours to going through all the Sunday sections, most particularly, everyone's favorite section - the Sunday funnies. Nowadays newspapers barely exist and their buildings such as the LA Times building are vacant and deserted and lifeless. I haven't picked up a paper in ages except the complimentary hotel copies. But the Sunday funnies ruled and in the eighties - besides Peanuts -there was Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin and Hobbes was the best!
This fairly short book examines the comic strip, talks about how wonderful it was, and how Bill Watterson ended the strip, and went into seclusion. Great book. Doesn't try to make the comic fit into any preconceived ideas.
This fairly short book examines the comic strip, talks about how wonderful it was, and how Bill Watterson ended the strip, and went into seclusion. Great book. Doesn't try to make the comic fit into any preconceived ideas.
April 19, 2018
The trouble with this book is that it instilled an instant, insistent urge in me to run out and buy the definitive box set special edition of Calvin and Hobbes and read nothing else for the next week.
This books does a couple of things, and all of them well: it’s a history of Calvin and Hobbes (of which I knew nothing) and a run-down of how daily newspaper strips used to work, and a philosophical and media-studies look behind the hood of both the strip and its wider cultural significance. Finally, it’s a love letter to the strip, one which communicates Hingston’s love for Calvin and Hobbes without making him the centre of the story - which, as we learn, writers seem to have a hard time doing with Calvin and Hobbes, and which I hugely appreciated here.
Also now I’m addicted to Pop Classics. At least they’re going to look beautiful on my shelf when I finally get them all together.
This books does a couple of things, and all of them well: it’s a history of Calvin and Hobbes (of which I knew nothing) and a run-down of how daily newspaper strips used to work, and a philosophical and media-studies look behind the hood of both the strip and its wider cultural significance. Finally, it’s a love letter to the strip, one which communicates Hingston’s love for Calvin and Hobbes without making him the centre of the story - which, as we learn, writers seem to have a hard time doing with Calvin and Hobbes, and which I hugely appreciated here.
Also now I’m addicted to Pop Classics. At least they’re going to look beautiful on my shelf when I finally get them all together.
February 7, 2018
Let's Go Exploring: Calvin and Hobbes was an entertaining and informative book for me since, although I very much enjoy Calvin and Hobbes, I didn't discover it until well after its newspaper run had ended (I didn't learn to read until about halfway through it, and we were overseas for the rest). So while some fans may be well aware of the timeline of the strip, this was all new information to me, so very interesting.
Aside from tracing the evolution of the strip and creator Bill Watterson's career, the author spends some time analyzing what it was about this strip that made it so beloved by nearly everyone, covering major characters and familiar elements -- as he mentions early on, there are "haters" for just about anything, but very rarely for Calvin and Hobbes. This part (the first couple chapters) was enjoyable and can help fans feel a sense of commonality in their appreciation of the strip, without getting bogged down in details or overanalysis.
The final chapter covers the numerous tributes and homages that have continued to try and help fans fill the gap left by Calvin and Hobbes since its end. This was slightly less interesting to me, but at the same time it also ponders the question of why so many felt the need to find closure in the first place, and demonstrates the degreee to which Calvin and Hobbes has become a pop culture icon, even without lucrative licensing.
(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)
Aside from tracing the evolution of the strip and creator Bill Watterson's career, the author spends some time analyzing what it was about this strip that made it so beloved by nearly everyone, covering major characters and familiar elements -- as he mentions early on, there are "haters" for just about anything, but very rarely for Calvin and Hobbes. This part (the first couple chapters) was enjoyable and can help fans feel a sense of commonality in their appreciation of the strip, without getting bogged down in details or overanalysis.
The final chapter covers the numerous tributes and homages that have continued to try and help fans fill the gap left by Calvin and Hobbes since its end. This was slightly less interesting to me, but at the same time it also ponders the question of why so many felt the need to find closure in the first place, and demonstrates the degreee to which Calvin and Hobbes has become a pop culture icon, even without lucrative licensing.
(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)
July 4, 2018
A detailled look at the history of Calvin and Hobbes. This was a fun pop culture read.
March 9, 2018
I got a chance to peek under the hood at the newest Calvin and Hobbes book� So, it’s more of a Bill Watterson book than a Calvin and Hobbes book, but I was excited nonetheless. Michael Hingston’s Let’s Go Exploring is an interesting peek at the inner battles between the famously reclusive Bill Watterson (one of my personal heroes) and the monstrous men in black, the corporate suits that controlled the evil comics� syndicate.
It’s maybe not as black and white as all that and really came down to one man standing up to the corporate machine and refusing to sell out his principles. While I really wish there were more Calvin and Hobbes coming, there are not. Watterson is far too principled a man to allow such a thing. Hingston’s book shows us some of the inner workings of that syndicate and the pressures that they famously exerted to try and milk the tiger for every penny while Watterson stood in their way, unwilling to budge.
Truly, his principles may have galvanized the late gen-xers such as myself into the generation that so often refused to sell out.
I proudly own paperbacks of every Calvin and Hobbes book ever printed and have dog eared them and passed them on to my children. They might very well be the best philosophy books to have emerged in the 20th century.
Hingston draws most of the information in his text from both personal experiences and from public records and other widely known sources as he weaves a narrative depicting many struggles: Watterson’s conflicts with the syndicate, his struggle to maintain Calvin’s wonderful world, and his personal fight against a world that sought to exploit the very thing that he had created (as well as keep his mental sanity as the media tried to rob him of the very things that made Watterson unique and which trickled down into Calvin like bottled lightning.)
It’s an interesting book. I got a free copy as an advanced review.
It’s maybe not as black and white as all that and really came down to one man standing up to the corporate machine and refusing to sell out his principles. While I really wish there were more Calvin and Hobbes coming, there are not. Watterson is far too principled a man to allow such a thing. Hingston’s book shows us some of the inner workings of that syndicate and the pressures that they famously exerted to try and milk the tiger for every penny while Watterson stood in their way, unwilling to budge.
Truly, his principles may have galvanized the late gen-xers such as myself into the generation that so often refused to sell out.
I proudly own paperbacks of every Calvin and Hobbes book ever printed and have dog eared them and passed them on to my children. They might very well be the best philosophy books to have emerged in the 20th century.
Hingston draws most of the information in his text from both personal experiences and from public records and other widely known sources as he weaves a narrative depicting many struggles: Watterson’s conflicts with the syndicate, his struggle to maintain Calvin’s wonderful world, and his personal fight against a world that sought to exploit the very thing that he had created (as well as keep his mental sanity as the media tried to rob him of the very things that made Watterson unique and which trickled down into Calvin like bottled lightning.)
It’s an interesting book. I got a free copy as an advanced review.
March 14, 2018
I received a free copy of this in exchange for a fair review from NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this book. I'd previously read by Nevin Martell, and I was a little hesitant to read this, thinking it would be more of the same. I was happily surprised, as it gave a bit more background information, and read like journalism, instead of the work of a super intense fan. I felt like I came away from "Let's Go Exploring" book with more of an appreciation of "Calvin and Hobbes", but I do wish there had been more (although that's typically the case with the "Pop Classics" series). Overall, it was nice to get more info, especially because I was very young when the strip ended, and didn't get the full effect until later in life when I purchased all of the collected books. I definitely recommend this to anyone who is a big fan of the strip, although many of them may know a great deal of this already. Quick and easy read; left me feeling informed, but still wanting more.
I really enjoyed this book. I'd previously read by Nevin Martell, and I was a little hesitant to read this, thinking it would be more of the same. I was happily surprised, as it gave a bit more background information, and read like journalism, instead of the work of a super intense fan. I felt like I came away from "Let's Go Exploring" book with more of an appreciation of "Calvin and Hobbes", but I do wish there had been more (although that's typically the case with the "Pop Classics" series). Overall, it was nice to get more info, especially because I was very young when the strip ended, and didn't get the full effect until later in life when I purchased all of the collected books. I definitely recommend this to anyone who is a big fan of the strip, although many of them may know a great deal of this already. Quick and easy read; left me feeling informed, but still wanting more.
March 4, 2018
I have been a long-time fan of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, just like the book asserts many people are. No one actively dislikes the comic and it’s easy to see why. With its layered look at the world and its ability to stretch the imagination, the comic allowed us to escape reality and view life from a new perspective.
The book gives great insight into the history of the comic, spanning from Bill Watterson’s background to the storylines we saw featured during the strip’s ten year run. However, while its insight into why the comic works on multiple levels is a welcome addition to the historical overview of Calvin and Hobbes, the book could have benefited from some visual examples of the strips. While I’m guessing it had to do with licensing issues, the textual overview of the works felt disconnected from the comics themselves without this comparison available.
Overall, if you’re a fan of the comic strip and want to get more in-depth about what it was all about, this book is a welcome read. But, like Calvin, you’ll have to rely on your imagination to see the world being created in full color. Somehow, that seems a little bit fitting in light of the topic.
The book gives great insight into the history of the comic, spanning from Bill Watterson’s background to the storylines we saw featured during the strip’s ten year run. However, while its insight into why the comic works on multiple levels is a welcome addition to the historical overview of Calvin and Hobbes, the book could have benefited from some visual examples of the strips. While I’m guessing it had to do with licensing issues, the textual overview of the works felt disconnected from the comics themselves without this comparison available.
Overall, if you’re a fan of the comic strip and want to get more in-depth about what it was all about, this book is a welcome read. But, like Calvin, you’ll have to rely on your imagination to see the world being created in full color. Somehow, that seems a little bit fitting in light of the topic.
September 18, 2019
I’m glad I came across this book. It’s a great little overview of Calvin and Hobbes and its history. Like millions of others, I adore Calvin and Hobbes and it’s been important to me since I was a kid. While it doesn't contain many new insights into the strip itself, this book was a fun read and did answer some questions I had about its creation and aftermath.
It’s to author Michael Hingston’s credit that he doesn’t come across as sycophantic in this book when discussing Bill Watterson. Though he does write about Watterson’s life and desire for privacy, he clearly respects the man and doesn’t obsessively mine for information about him like other journalists and writers have. The last two chapters, about Watterson’s activity since Calvin and Hobbes and the comic’s legacy, are by turns heartwarming and sad.
I think any fan of Calvin and Hobbes (i.e. most people) would get something out of this book. It doesn’t present much information that isn’t already out there, but it’s an accessible and enjoyable appreciation of a beloved comic.
It’s to author Michael Hingston’s credit that he doesn’t come across as sycophantic in this book when discussing Bill Watterson. Though he does write about Watterson’s life and desire for privacy, he clearly respects the man and doesn’t obsessively mine for information about him like other journalists and writers have. The last two chapters, about Watterson’s activity since Calvin and Hobbes and the comic’s legacy, are by turns heartwarming and sad.
I think any fan of Calvin and Hobbes (i.e. most people) would get something out of this book. It doesn’t present much information that isn’t already out there, but it’s an accessible and enjoyable appreciation of a beloved comic.
April 14, 2018
I received an advanced reading copy of this book, from the publisher (ECW Press), in exchange for my honest feedback.
An entertaining and informative read about the creation of everyone’s favourite comic, Calvin & Hobbes. More than just a biography of the comic’s creator (Bill Watterson) - this book takes you through the comic’s evolution - and explores why we all loved Calvin & Hobbes so much.
This was a short read - but it packed a big punch! The first few chapters explored the community and the fandom surrounding Calvin & Hobbes - which really sucks you in, so you feel connected and invested in the story. Towards the end, the book also explores the future of Calvin & Hobbes - including homages to them, and how they continue to develop new fans every day.
A short, fun read - especially great for already existing Calvin & Hobbes fans, as this is sure to bring up some nostalgia!
An entertaining and informative read about the creation of everyone’s favourite comic, Calvin & Hobbes. More than just a biography of the comic’s creator (Bill Watterson) - this book takes you through the comic’s evolution - and explores why we all loved Calvin & Hobbes so much.
This was a short read - but it packed a big punch! The first few chapters explored the community and the fandom surrounding Calvin & Hobbes - which really sucks you in, so you feel connected and invested in the story. Towards the end, the book also explores the future of Calvin & Hobbes - including homages to them, and how they continue to develop new fans every day.
A short, fun read - especially great for already existing Calvin & Hobbes fans, as this is sure to bring up some nostalgia!
February 8, 2018
A great, short read about the advent of Calvin & Hobbes, stories of its creator, brief tellings of its impact on our culture, and our fasciation with both the author and his creation. I don't really know anyone who doesn't treasure the old comic strip, and Hingston is inviting us along to analyze, remember, and appreciate it for what it is, and not what we think it should be.
Naturally, due to the iron grip Watterson has on C&H, don't expect any animated examples in the book, but please don't let that dissuade you from reading. I would imagine that most anyone thumbing through these pages will at least learn a little about the beloved series. Lots of information, it's an easy read, and highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the advance review.
Naturally, due to the iron grip Watterson has on C&H, don't expect any animated examples in the book, but please don't let that dissuade you from reading. I would imagine that most anyone thumbing through these pages will at least learn a little about the beloved series. Lots of information, it's an easy read, and highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the advance review.
July 9, 2018
Calvin and Hobbes was my generations' reason to read the newspaper, and Michael Hingston examines why. This book kept me reading way past bedtime. It made me happy/sad. Let's Go Exploring is written conversationally which I really appreciated. He captures all the whimsy and yes, the sadness that Calvin and Hobbes is no more. Mr Hingston gives the background on the strip's creator and his reasons for stopping the strip. I was not aware that the comic's creator never licensed the Calvin and Hobbes images and the reasoning behind his decision. Calvin and Hobbes have stood the test of time, and Michael Hingston does them and their creator, as well as their impact, justice.
I can see this book as a discussion group selection, as I certainly want to share, discuss, and debate.
I can see this book as a discussion group selection, as I certainly want to share, discuss, and debate.
December 18, 2018
I’m not obsessed with Bill Watterson. But it’s debatable. As a pastor, I resonate a lot with the cartoonists. The daily pressure to package creative content in a way the audience resonates with is common to both professions. The more I hear about Watterson’s dedication to his art, and refusal to cheapen it for money, the more I’m inspired to deliver the gospel creatively, Sunday after Sunday, without cheapening it for money or power. If you’re a Calvin and Hobbes fan, this is a good read. If you’re not, what’s wrong with you? Go right now and buy the Complete Calvin and Hobbes.
January 21, 2019
really smart and fun. honestly I did learn a lot of new stuff about Calvin & Hobbes which I didn't think was possible - and some really thoughtful insights about the strip I'd never considered before.
February 14, 2018
Overall an interesting book about my all-time favorite comic strip and its creator. Well-written and researched, interesting while avoiding becoming boring.
April 10, 2023
A true treasure of a little book.
Hingston honors and embodies the bittersweet nature of Calvin & Hobbes with this concise and insightful exploration of the truly singular comic strip. The wonder and the sadness, the imagination and the loneliness.
Calvin & Hobbes’s role in my life has been strikingly parallel to that of God’s. The way it’s factored into my growing consciousness in childhood, my self-concept and view of the world around me; the way it is so central to who I am that as I list my first principles, I often forget to include it in the list because it encompasses everything else. It’s never left me and never will and it ends in an exclamation point that lands more like a question mark that I’m spending my life responding to.
Hingston honors and embodies the bittersweet nature of Calvin & Hobbes with this concise and insightful exploration of the truly singular comic strip. The wonder and the sadness, the imagination and the loneliness.
Calvin & Hobbes’s role in my life has been strikingly parallel to that of God’s. The way it’s factored into my growing consciousness in childhood, my self-concept and view of the world around me; the way it is so central to who I am that as I list my first principles, I often forget to include it in the list because it encompasses everything else. It’s never left me and never will and it ends in an exclamation point that lands more like a question mark that I’m spending my life responding to.
February 10, 2018
I received a digital copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've read previous entries in the Pop Classics series and really enjoyed them - it gives you a slim, in-depth look at the deeper meaning and legacy a piece of pop culture might have had. Calvin and Hobbes feels like a perfect selection for this series, but the actual look into its legacy makes some good points about what it has to say about imagination, childhood, and creative control of your artwork, but never really chases any of these points down fully enough to be satisfying on any of them. This is a pretty slim volume and breezy read, but I wanted it to go further.
I've read previous entries in the Pop Classics series and really enjoyed them - it gives you a slim, in-depth look at the deeper meaning and legacy a piece of pop culture might have had. Calvin and Hobbes feels like a perfect selection for this series, but the actual look into its legacy makes some good points about what it has to say about imagination, childhood, and creative control of your artwork, but never really chases any of these points down fully enough to be satisfying on any of them. This is a pretty slim volume and breezy read, but I wanted it to go further.
January 4, 2020
I struggled through this book. I loved the comic strip and wanted so much to like this in the way I enjoyed the Parables of Peanuts and the Gospel According to the Simpsons. In those, I was taught new ways to experience something from my childhood that I had loved. Unfortunately, this book reads a bit like a college thesis. It’s very dry and doesn’t really add a lot to what might be behind the strip. It discusses so much on how others have tried to contact Watterson or give their own tributes. In some ways it’s a love letter to the strip and in others it feels like the author is trying to give forgiveness to Bill Watterson for ending the strip.
March 12, 2018
My family and I were/are huge C/H fans. We bought our sons every book published and bought replacements when they wore out. So I am very enthusiastic about this book. The author has done his research and presents an entertaining and insightful book. Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 31, 2023
A beautiful love letter filled with nostalgia and insight!! Really made me appreciate the art of the comic.
December 31, 2020
I enjoyed this for all the expected reasons: nostalgia, understanding why, getting details on how it all happened. I also appreciated the understanding of how it changed comics. This strip started the year I was born...I grew up with it, and so I didn't understand how it changed the genre.
Also, there's a whole little section on the genesis of Peeing Calvin, which had always mystified me.
Worth a quick read by any C&H lover.
Also, there's a whole little section on the genesis of Peeing Calvin, which had always mystified me.
Worth a quick read by any C&H lover.
July 16, 2018
I received this novel from a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway and as a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, it was nice to read about the history of the comics.
May 29, 2019
Calvin and Hobbes is one of those rare comic strips that appeals to absolutely everyone. My husband and I enjoyed reading them just as much as our children, who began enjoying them as soon as they could read. Age, ethnicity, geographic location, economic status... C&H transcends all these factors and is what made it so beloved, by so many people around the world. That its creator, Bill Waterson, pulled the plug on it after only ten years devastated fans and still leaves many people puzzled over his abrupt ending to such a successful run.
Let’s Go Exploring covers the history of Calvin and Hobbes, how comic syndication works, and gives as much biographical information on Waterson as is possible (considering that he’s pretty much a recluse). Waterson’s refusal to “sell out� and stick to his principles is something to be admired. He could have made millions by marketing C&H products, yet stayed true to his ideals and quit when he felt the time was right for him. I had read a lot of the information before, although the very few contributions Waterson has made to the public world in the past few years were news to me. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful trip down Calvin’s lane, so to speak, and it really examines the wide cultural significance of Calvin and Hobbes in-depth.
A definite must-read for Calvin and Hobbes fans (and let’s face it, who isn’t? And if you’re not, what’s wrong with you? LOL). Let’s go exploring!
Let’s Go Exploring covers the history of Calvin and Hobbes, how comic syndication works, and gives as much biographical information on Waterson as is possible (considering that he’s pretty much a recluse). Waterson’s refusal to “sell out� and stick to his principles is something to be admired. He could have made millions by marketing C&H products, yet stayed true to his ideals and quit when he felt the time was right for him. I had read a lot of the information before, although the very few contributions Waterson has made to the public world in the past few years were news to me. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful trip down Calvin’s lane, so to speak, and it really examines the wide cultural significance of Calvin and Hobbes in-depth.
A definite must-read for Calvin and Hobbes fans (and let’s face it, who isn’t? And if you’re not, what’s wrong with you? LOL). Let’s go exploring!
October 21, 2018
I’ll start with this obvious blanket statement....I love Calvin and Hobbes. So the moment I learned of this book by Micheal Hingston, I knew it would be added to the reading list.
It’s a quick and enjoyable read. It was fun to hear about the birth and rise of the greatest comic strip in history as well as the abrupt end at its height of popularity. A lot of things were not surprising revelations during those chapters. I’ll admit, I (like I’m sure many others are) was looking forward to the chapter that dove into the question “So what is Bill Watterson doing now?� I’m a sucker for wanting to know what this genius is spinning next....and decoding the tale of why he is such a recluse. That chapter, along with the one on enduring legacy and people paying homage was what really had me turning the pages.
As much as I enjoy trying to get more and more info, I can appreciate the book’s perspective of letting the body of work speak for itself as a full, complete piece of art. The ten year old in me wants more (heck...the forty-five year old me wants more) but it is just not going to happen.
Always fun going down the Calvin and Hobbes rabbit hole. This book is a must read for anyone who loves the comic. So that’s everyone.
It’s a quick and enjoyable read. It was fun to hear about the birth and rise of the greatest comic strip in history as well as the abrupt end at its height of popularity. A lot of things were not surprising revelations during those chapters. I’ll admit, I (like I’m sure many others are) was looking forward to the chapter that dove into the question “So what is Bill Watterson doing now?� I’m a sucker for wanting to know what this genius is spinning next....and decoding the tale of why he is such a recluse. That chapter, along with the one on enduring legacy and people paying homage was what really had me turning the pages.
As much as I enjoy trying to get more and more info, I can appreciate the book’s perspective of letting the body of work speak for itself as a full, complete piece of art. The ten year old in me wants more (heck...the forty-five year old me wants more) but it is just not going to happen.
Always fun going down the Calvin and Hobbes rabbit hole. This book is a must read for anyone who loves the comic. So that’s everyone.
February 27, 2018
As an educational reference for the unforgettable Clavin and Hobbes, Let's Go Exploring gives a lot of background and explains why we lost Calvin and company too soon. If you are a casual fan, you won't like this book. This isn't some fun insight into the comics. At first, I was discouraged by the lack of strips, but it made sense as I truly understood what this book was about. For a fan like me, this book gave me closure. I learned a lot about how the comic industry works and how cartoonists are treated. I learned a lot about Bill Waterson and the history of Calvin and Hobbes. It was like learning more about your middle school best friend who moved away and you didn't know why and then you connect on Facebook years later and get the whole story.
I received an ARC through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.
June 8, 2018
A fascinating investigation of a beloved comic strip
The internet is home to impassioned debates on just about everything, but there’s one thing that’s universally beloved: Bill Watterson’s comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. Until its retirement in 1995 after a ten-year run, the strip won numerous awards and drew tens of millions of readers from all around the world. The story of a boy and his best friend � a stuffed tiger � was a pitch-perfect distillation of the joys and horrors of childhood, and a celebration of imagination in its purest form. In Let’s Go Exploring, Michael Hingston mines the strip and traces the story of Calvin’s reclusive creator to demonstrate how imagination � its possibilities, its opportunities, and ultimately its limitations � helped make Calvin and Hobbes North America’s last great comic strip
The internet is home to impassioned debates on just about everything, but there’s one thing that’s universally beloved: Bill Watterson’s comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. Until its retirement in 1995 after a ten-year run, the strip won numerous awards and drew tens of millions of readers from all around the world. The story of a boy and his best friend � a stuffed tiger � was a pitch-perfect distillation of the joys and horrors of childhood, and a celebration of imagination in its purest form. In Let’s Go Exploring, Michael Hingston mines the strip and traces the story of Calvin’s reclusive creator to demonstrate how imagination � its possibilities, its opportunities, and ultimately its limitations � helped make Calvin and Hobbes North America’s last great comic strip
May 27, 2018
A very enjoyable retrospective on Calvin and Hobbes and the man behind the panels. In addition to the thorough yet very approachable analysis of various aspects of the strip, I especially enjoyed learning more about Mr. Watterson's post-C&H time, and the wide range of tributes to him and the strip that have continued to appear. The author came across as being thorough and compassionate in the telling of Watterson's dealings with the syndicate and the reading public; one truly feels for the artist in the end, and that helps to lessen the pain of having no more new Calvin and Hobbes material, and ultimately serves to increase the appreciation of what we do have.
November 15, 2019
I love Calvin and Hobbes. So much so that I didn’t learn a lot reading this, but I really enjoyed the trip down memory lane and reliving some of these memories. The second half had more to offer than the top. I enjoyed some of the unique opinions that were throughout the book and wish some had been fleshed out more. Cool book if you grew up on the comic or wanted to learn more about everyone’s favourite boy and tiger duo.
May 4, 2018
Our family are all huge Calvin and Hobbes fans so having the opportunity to read and review Lets Go Exploring was really amazing. I appreciate Michael Hingston and all his efforts to put the new perspective on one of the most loved comic strips of all time. I hope the word has gotten out about this book because it's captivating and page turning, loved it.
October 23, 2023
Man, I just love Calvin and Hobbes. I think some people look too much into Watterson's actions as some kind of personal affront, and he really just...wanted to do other stuff. Can't we just appreciate what we had and love him for bringing it into the world?
Anyway, this book was pretty good. I'm baffled by the people that think Calvin was schizophrenic.
Anyway, this book was pretty good. I'm baffled by the people that think Calvin was schizophrenic.
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