The First Calvin And Hobbes Comic Strip Of The ’90s Is Still Perfect 36 Years Later

Published Sep 6, 2026, 12:54 PM EDT TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments. Despite its 10-year run ending in 1995, Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes comic strip remains one of the most iconic in history and is beloved by fans to this day. While the first strip, published in 1985, and the final strip, published ten years later, will always be iconic, fans should also take note of the first Calvin and Hobbes strip of the 1990s, as it is a simple example of perfection, even 36 years later. Even if they can’t recall the first strip of the 90s, many die-hard Calvin and Hobbes fans can easily and fondly recall the first and last strips of Bill Watterson’s iconic comic. The first was a four-panel strip that introduced Calvin, his dad, and Calvin’s iconic imaginary tiger, Hobbes, and depicted Calvin rigging a trap to catch a tiger with a tuna fish sandwich. A trap that Hobbes did, in fact, fall for. The last strip is far more bittersweet for fans and is a five-panel strip that depicts Calvin and Hobbes enjoying a recent snowfall. The strip kicks off with the duo trekking through a snow-covered forest with a sled in hand as Calvin and Hobbes discuss the new possibilities the snowfall has brought, which also serves as a greater metaphor for the possibilities that life holds. In this conversation, Calvin notably says, "A new year... A fresh, clean start!" to which Hobbes says, "It's like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on!" Calvin then delivers the comic's final lines as the two begin to sled down the snowy hill: "A day full of possibilities. It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy… Let's go exploring!" It's a bittersweet goodbye from Watterson, and one most fans can recall to this day. And while nothing will ever truly compare to this final strip, the first Calvin and Hobbes strip of the 90s is iconic in its own way. Bill Watterson Didn't Need Words to Convey the Iconic Humor of Calvin and Hobbes This Calvin and Hobbes Strip Was Published on January 1, 1990 While Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes strip was famous for its philosophical humor and sharp observations about everyday life through the lens of Calvin’s childlike mind, Watterson was also a master of gag humor and knew how to deliver a punchline without needing a single word. It's this skill that we see demonstrated in his January 1, 1990, strip, which, rather than starring Calvin and Hobbes, stars Calvin and Susie Derkins, Calvin’s 6-year-old neighbor. In the strip, Susie often served as Calvin’s ultimate foil and was the complete opposite of Calvin, which resulted in an exceptionally entertaining dynamic between them. Where Calvin was chaotic and hated school, Susie was a rule-following model student. Watterson’s January 1, 1990, strip brilliantly and humorously depicts the clash between these two characters. In the five-panel strip, the first four panels show only Calvin making a snowball and sending it rolling down a hill. However, it is the fifth panel that delivers the wordless punchline, showing the now-massive snowball on top of Susie as she angrily waves her fist at Calvin from beneath it. This is a prime example of three defining features of the iconic comic strip. Firstly, the winter setting reflects the season in which the strip was published, something Watterson often did by matching his settings to the real-world seasons. Secondly, it is a brilliant example of Watterson’s ability to create humor without words. And thirdly, the strip is a perfect example of Calvin and Susie’s contrasting personalities and their hilarious dynamic, making the strip notable not only for its publication date but also as a standout entry in Calvin and Hobbes’ 10-year run. Writer Bill Watterson Colorist Bill Watterson