CALVIN
Named for a sixteenth century theologian who believed in predestination. Explains his idea that he was born to be great doesn't it?
Most people think that Calvin is based on a son of mine, or detailed memories of my childhood. In fact I was a fairly quiet and obedient kid, (have you seen the strip with the octopus legs trailing out of a fridge, the use of a plumber's helper as a cooking utensil? You have? Then you must of read the last sentence, for those who haven't it says " As you might have guessed, I was an unappreciative little kid once.")
Calvin is autobiographical in the sense that he thinks about the same issues I do, but in this, Calvin reflects more my adulthood than my childhood. Many of Calvin's struggles are metaphors for my own. I suspect that most of us get old without growing up, and that inside every adult is a bratty kid who wants everything his own way. I use Calvin as an outlet for my immaturity, as a way to keep myself curious about the natural world, as a way to ridicule my own obsessions, and as a way to comment on human nature. I wouldn't want Calvin in my house, but on paper, he helps me sort through my life and understand it. Well, without Calvin, there would be no Hobbes, and therefore, no Calvin and Hobbes. Most people enjoy Calvin, because he represents what a real kid should be, I enjoy Calvin more for his crazy imagination and I think I would enjoy having him over to play. I had a friend like Calvin along time ago, and I seem to have developed a liking and patience for kids like him. Needless, to say, I'd enjoy having a kid like Calvin.


HOBBES
Named after a seventeenth century philosopher with a dim view on nature (I thought every one had a pretty grim view on humans), Hobbes has the patient dignity and common sense of most animals I've met. Hobbes was very much inspired by one of our cats, (Yay for cats!) a grey tabby named Sprite. Sprite not only provided the long body and facial characteristics for Hobbes, she was also the model for his personality. She was good natured, intelligent, friendly, and enthusiastic in a sneaking-up-and-pouncing sort of way. Sprite suggested the idea of greeting Calvin at the door at high velocity.
Hobbes stands straight upright and talks of course, like most cartoon animals. I try to preserve his feline side, (if I had a feline side, I wouldn't give it up either) both in his physical demeanor and attitude. His reserve and tact seem very catlike to me, along with his barely contained pride in not being human (I think this is a sentiment most animals preserve).
The so-called gimmick of the strip, the two versions of Hobbes is sometimes is misunderstood. I do not think of Hobbes as a doll that miraculously comes to life when Calvin's around. Neither do I believe of Hobbes as a figment of Calvin's imagination. The nature of Hobbes really doesn't interest me and I try to keep the issue unresolved in every story. I show to versions of reality, Calvin seeing Hobbes one way, and everyone else another; and each makes sense to the participant who sees it. I think that's how life works, Nobody sees the world the same way, and I demonstrate that literally in the strip.


THE PARENTS _{(who have no name)}
Never given names, because as far as the strip is concerned, they are important only as Calvin's mom and dad. Calvin's dad has been rumored to be a self-portrait. All my characters are half of me, so it's true in some ways, but he is also a satire of my own, well, partly. The strips about "building character" is usually a verbatim of my dad's explanations for why we were freezing, exhausted, hungry, and lost. These things are a whole lot funnier twenty-five years after they have passed.

Calvin's mom is a daily disciplinarian, a job that taxes her sanity, (let's face it, with a kid like Calvin's who wouldn't have their sanity taxed), so I don't think we get to see her at her best. I regret that the strip only shows her impatient side, but I try to hint at other aspects of her personality and her interests, by what she is doing at the time Calvin barges in.
I personally like Dad most, since I find his sarcasm toward raising Calvin, and his explanations are always fun. My father was never like him, and I always felt that I would of enjoyed his company a bit more had he made up crazy explanations to my questions, then having told me the boring truth of it all.


Susie Derkins
A very smart and in ways I believe, pushy (well, determined) little girl. Susie is earnest, serious and smart. Derkins was the name of a family beagle. The early strips had that love-hate conflict, and it's taken me a while to get the relationship between her and Calvin. I suspect he has a mild crush on her that he expresses annoying her (and throwing snowballs at her), but Susie is a bit unnerved by Calvin's weirdness (just a little?) and is put off. This only leads Calvin to be even more weirder (is that possible?), so it's a good dynamic. None of them however, really understands what's going on, which is mostly true in relationships.
I think Susie and Calvin are the only children on that block of their age. Otherwise, Susie is either some sort of masochist who likes having mushy apples and snowballs thrown at her, or she enjoys Calvin's company. Probably the only kid Calvin actually talks to and occasionally plays with.


MOE
Every jerk I've ever known. Big, dumb, ugly, and cruel. They can be found in every school. If there isn't one at yours, that's probably because you the Moe of your school. I always disliked Moe and to the day have still not found anything remotely good about him and never will.









ROSALYN
Probably the only person Calvin fears. Appeared in a Sunday strip early on, and her intimidation of Calvin has made her a regular. She even daunts Calvin's poor parents, using their desperation to leave to demand advances and raises. Her relationship with Calvin is pretty one-dimensional. As a kid I had a babysitter like Rosalyn and disliked her as much as I dislike Rosalyn, she wasn't mean or anything, I just hated having to need a babysitter, however, from what I know my babysitter charged my parents, Rosalyn was very underpaid.


MISS WORMWOOD
Named after the apprentice devil in C.S. Lewis's The Screw tape Letters. We get hints she waiting to retire, that she smokes too much, and takes way too many medications (are those even prescribed medicines?). She truly believes in the value of education, so needless to say she's an unhappy person. I always felt pity for the old, retiring Miss Wormwood. Her health doesn't seem to be that well either, since she smokes so many packs of cigarettes a day. However, she seems like a nice old lady, except with Calvin this seems hard for her to do.



Other Characters

Mister Spittle Calvin's school principle. Is getting to used to seeing him pretty well.

Uncle Max Showed up only once failed because it made the strip awkward since he couldn't ever call Calvin's parents by them, and brought nothing new in Calvin's personality.

The Doctor Calvin fears him since he doesn't want a shot, but that doesn't stop from making the doctor regret he ever became a pediatrician.

Mr. Lockjaw A gym teacher and baseball coach.

Charlie Rosalyn's boyfriend. He's always calling her, since she seems to postpone dates to go baby-sit Calvin. Calvin doesn't refuse a chance to tell him to dump her. BACK TO TOP

[ also ]

other regulars
alter egos