Calvin and Hobbes is VERY mean-spirited. It’s a major reason why I’m not a fan of the comic strip.
Wow, way to mischaracterize the comic by completely disregarding it's kinder, lighthearted moments which far outnumber the more cynical ones.
Also, Calvin is hardly a victim. Any punishment he received, be it from his parents, Susie, or Ms. Wormwood, was almost always richly deserved because Calvin brings it on himself by provoking them.
@Miin U I highly suggest you read Calvin and Hobbes’s YMMV page.
Thank you for speaking up. I agree, the art is great, there are several strips full of wonder and imagination and the author nails how a child\'s creativity flows. But at the same time everyone is a huge explosive jerk, especially Calvin.
@Gamer Man Drew: I take it you're referring to the Alternate Character Interpretation section? Just because someone can misconstrue something in the worst light possible doesn't make it true.
@Miin U Now, I highly suggest you read the rest of Calvin and Hobbes’s YMMV page.
Telling someone to 'go read something else and guess at what you're getting at' isn't much of an argument. If you have a point to make, then make it. Otherwise, why bother?
It's like telling someone they've done something wrong, then when they ask, "What did I do?" you reply, "I'm not going to tell you. Guess."
I agree that that pointing people to a work\'s YMMV page isn\'t a very good rebuttal, since the YMMV page can be a dumping ground for complaining about a work.
As someone with a considerably more positive opinion of the series, I\'m considering doing my own review.
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Honestly a mixed bag
When I was younger, I loved this strip. Rereading it, however, I've noticed that there is ONE really big problem that prevents me from enjoying it as much as I did before. That being that the strip is honestly kind of mean-spirited.
You see, this is one of those "Everybody is an unlikable jerk, the main character gets punished for this while everyone else gets off scott-free" things. Everyone in this strip is a whiny, short-tempered jerk: Calvin, Hobbes, Susie, Calvin's parents, Miss Wormwood, Rosalyn, Moe... it's hard to sympathize with the other characters for having to put up with Calvin's antics when they're eager to dish it back out.
But the strip is still genuinely funny and imaginative, and gives me a lot of nostalgia. This keeps me from disliking it.