The Days are Just Packed
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As a Calvin and Hobbes enthusiast, I must point out that "The Days are Just Packed!" is my personal favourite of all the albums ever released. While there is not a single Calvin and Hobbes album that is short of excellence, this one in particular stands out in my preference because it features what is possibly the best streak of excellent strips ever made in the Calvin and Hobbes world.
Everything in this album will be thoroughly appreciated by every Calvin and hobbes fan and while it features strips published at a time when all the characters were fully developed (the album was originally released in 1993), it will leave a strong impression in a new reader who has just been introduced to the Calvin and Hobbes universe.
If there is one highlight to point in this album, it has to be the series of strips where Calvin must write and illustrate an assignment for school - truly, a classic involving virtually everything we cherish about Calvin and Hobbes.
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If you are going to have only one book about it this is it.
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Guess the one to go for is the Complete three volumes opus. But if you find expensive, or not enough a fan this is the best one.
WHY?
Well, in the first place, the comments from the author are +++++AAAAA, you'll understand a lot of things only hinted at... because it is a subtle comic strip!.
If you have another paperbacks be conscientious that this book is the personal favorite RECOMPILATION by the author... of previously PUBLISHED MATERIAL!... so do not complain afterwards saying I ALREADY GOT THEM ALL!...
I enjoyed a lot the perspective seen from the horse mouth so to speak.
A GREAT COMIC BOOK.
ADB
PS: I personally think Watterson is a genius using black and white minimalist drawings (aka: snowmen series).
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Bill Waterson's gift to the world
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If you like Calvin and Hobbes and are looking for a good C&H book to adorn your bookshelves - then this is the best one to get.
To start with, Bill Waterson discusses the history of Calvin and Hobbes and the inspiration behind it. He writes about the struggles he's had with them and the pressures applied to commercialise them more. Another reviewer here has said that he respects him for sticking to his guns about that - as do I.
The book is full of comic strips, some black and white, some are full colour. The strips which ran as a serialisation are all shown together. Bill also goes into the stories behind the story, he explains why he did what he did, what he was trying to achieve, and throws in other tasty morsels of information.
The sketches themselves are fantastic, they are incredibly cute and incredibly funny. Innocent fun at its absolute best.
For anyone not familiar with Calvin and Hobbes...
Calvin is a six year old boy, he has a toy stuffed tiger called Hobbes. In Calvin's head - Hobbs is a real Tiger and together they go on adventures. The strips normally depict Calvin and Hobbes getting into weird and wonderful situations, and often show the actual events too - i.e; a duplication machine will turn out to be a cardboard box. Calvin is the kid with the crazy and outlandish imagination, Hobbes tends to chip in with wonderfully dry comments.
There are other characters who appear too, notably his neighbour Susie. She is the polar-opposite of Calvin; serious and well mannered.
Bill has created a fantastic little person with Calvin. He often talks using comically long words and articulate terms well beyond his age.
Perfect for picking up and flicking through for a few minutes, or for having a session with. Everytime I read a bit of this I put it down with a smile on my face.
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Beware if you have other books of Calvin and Hobbes
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This book is just the same as the first Calvin and Hobbes compilation book entitled "Calvin and Hobbes" (published 1988 has a white cover with numerous pictures on it). This series is just the first book broken up into three volumes. I would advise you to skip this book and buy the book called "Calvin and Hobbes" as it is a single volume and contains all the same cartoons as the three volumes in this series, and is cheaper.
Don't make the same mistake I did by thinking it was a separate book with new cartoons. Beware also as some of the other Calvin and Hobbes treasuries are just reprints containing older books.
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Oh Dear...
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I bought this because many previous reviews refer to essays by the author [and some coloured images.] but this copy contains only cartoons that are available in other collections. Calvin & Hobbes are wonderful, and this is a smaller format than the other collections, just so long as you know what you're getting...
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