Hobbes’ dual nature is a defining motif for the strip: to Calvin, Hobbes is a living anthropomorphic tiger, while all the other characters see Hobbes as an inanimate stuffed toy.
Calvin and Hobbes was conceived when Bill Watterson, while working in an advertising job he detested, began devoting his spare time to developing a newspaper comic for potential syndication. He explored various strip ideas but all were rejected by the syndicates. United Feature Syndicate finally responded positively to one strip called The Doghouse, which featured a side character (the main character’s little brother) who had a stuffed tiger. United identified these characters as the strongest and encouraged Watterson to develop them as the centre of their own strip. Though United Feature ultimately rejected the new strip as lacking in marketing potential, Universal Press Syndicate took it up.
The final strip ran on Sunday, December 31, 1995.
As the final strip was run on a Sunday, it was in color. It depicted Calvin and Hobbes outside in freshly fallen snow carrying a sled. Reveling in the wonder and excitement of the winter scene, Hobbes says, “Everything familiar has disappeared! The world looks brand new!” Calvin agrees saying, “It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy!” Hobbes remarks about the fresh snow, “It is like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on!” Calvin adds, “A day of possibilities.” Getting ready to sled down the hill, Calvin exclaims, “A new year…a fresh, clean start!” Calvin and Hobbes sled down the snowy hill, Calvin saying “Let’s go exploring!”
According to a critic, speaking in 2005, “They left a hole in the comics page that no strip has been able to fill.”
Picture Credit : Google