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1->'''Calvin:''' You know, sometimes the world seems like a pretty mean place.\
2'''Hobbes:''' That's why animals are so soft and huggy.\
3'''Calvin:''' ''[hugging Hobbes]'' Yeah...
4
5!!The comic strip
6[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chpanel.png]]
7
8* The entire idea that Hobbes isn't just Calvin's imagination but actually magic.
9** Even sweeter when you consider that magic could've been made by Calvin's love.
10** The most heartwarming part of all? Per WordOfGod, it doesn't matter whether Hobbes is real or not--to Calvin, he's real, and that's all that matters.
11* There's one strip in which Calvin has been having a bad day (rain, tough classes, Moe, etc.) and then glumly walks home. As he opens the door, he's lovingly tackled and hugged by Hobbes. As he walks in with a huge smile, Calvin's mom asks if he had a good day, and he responds with, [[http://assets.amuniversal.com/a16f2ce0df740131723d005056a9545d "Getting better."]]
12* The "Little Raccoon" story arc, while a definite {{tearjerker}}, has these moments throughout, as well as the whole strip being about Calvin's attempting to save the raccoon.
13** This line from Calvin when he and Hobbes find the injured raccoon and decide to get Calvin's mom:
14-->"You don't get to be Mom if you can't fix everything just right."
15** When Calvin brings his mom to the raccoon, she then tells him to go back and get some towels. As she sits and waits by the raccoon's side, she starts absentmindedly talking to Hobbes, who Calvin had left there to watch over the raccoon.
16--->'''Mom''': I don't think this poor little guy is going to make it, Hobbes. (''sighs'') I hate it when these things happen. [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments ...You can tell I'm upset when I start talking to]] ''[[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments YOU.]]''
17** The next day, Calvin comes running to his dad as soon as he wakes up to check on the raccoon. His dad, for once not in a sarcastic or bitter mood, breaks it to Calvin gently that the raccoon has died, and tries to comfort him as he breaks down sobbing. When Calvin says the line below, his dad has the saddest look, knowing how Calvin feels.
18--->'''Calvin''': I know. I'm crying because [the raccoon]'s gone out there, but he's not gone inside me.
19** Finally at the end, Calvin and Hobbes go to the raccoon's grave out in the woods, and after some reflection, they make a promise [[TrueCompanions to never leave each other]].
20* This strip:
21-->'''Calvin''': I wish I had more friends, but people are such jerks. If you can just get most people to leave you alone, you're doing good. If you can find even one person you really like, you're lucky. And if that person can also stand you, you're really lucky.\
22'''Hobbes''': What if you find someone you can talk to while you eat apples on a bright fall morning? ''(which is exactly what they're doing)''\
23'''Calvin''': Well, yeah... I suppose there's no point in getting greedy, is there?
24* The story line where Calvin comes home after a trip to find his house broken into and fears Hobbes has been stolen. His mom finds Hobbes and Calvin's reaction:
25-->'''Calvin''': You're safe and sound! ''(sniff)'' And now I am, too!
26** And in the same comic, in the panel with the above quote, what Mom and Dad has to say about it.
27--->'''Mom:''' It looks like we're a whole family again.
28--->'''Dad''': Such as it is.
29** His mom and dad talking that night about how uncertain adulthood is. His mom realizes that, in the grand scheme, everything will be okay when put into perspective.
30--->"Well, at least we weren't home when our house was broken into. No one was hurt. We're all together and okay. We lost a few of our nice things, but things don't matter much really. ''(snuggles up to Dad)'' It's hard to believe how often we forget that."
31* One strip has Calvin wondering why he and Hobbes dream when they sleep, afraid that their brains may get bored and they might be apart. Then Hobbes tells him the reason for their dreaming: That it doesn't have to mean being apart, because they can still play together all night in their dreams. It becomes even more powerful when you realize that [[RealitySubtext Watterson wrote the strip because his cat -- the thought-model for Hobbes in many respects -- had just died]], and what made him feel better was realizing that they could always be together in his dreams. Here's a panel-by-panel explanation for this event:
32-->'''Calvin''': ''[brushes his teeth while Hobbes combs his fur]'' I wonder why we dream when we sleep. ''[they then finish and head on to bed as he continues]'' Do our brains get bored? I wonder why we don't just plain sleep.\
33'''Hobbes''': I think we dream so we don't have to be apart for so long. If we're in each other's dreams, we can play together all night!\
34'''Calvin''': ''[realizes this]'' Hey, yeah! ''[shakes hands with Hobbes]'' Well, I'll see you in a few minutes, ol' buddy!\
35'''Hobbes''': I'll be there!\
36''[the lights turn off, and they both sleep as both z's appear over their heads together]''
37* There was that one Christmas Eve strip. It was an enormous single panel with an image of Calvin and Hobbes sleeping by the fire (Hobbes sprawled out, and Calvin laying against him) and a long poem describing the surroundings from Calvin's point of view. While not overwhelmingly heartwarming on its own, the last four lines definitely qualify:
38-->''Propped against him [Hobbes] on the rug, / I give my friend a gentle hug. / Tomorrow's what I'm waiting for, / But I can wait a little more.''
39* The "Rosalyn Plays Calvinball" arc was fun, and funny, but it was also great closure. Remember that Rosalyn is Calvin's enemy (and vice versa!) so having them make peace by setting aside their differences is a wonderful way to wrap up that conflict. There's a reason it's Roz's last appearance in the strip: The conflict has been defanged and from now on she's probably going to be Calvin's favorite babysitter. But [[SugarWiki/{{WAFF}} that's not so bad]], is it?
40* ''The Nauseous Nocturne'' - A poem at the start of one of the comic anthologies. It's narrated by Calvin, speaking about his fear of a monster hiding in the dark waiting to devour him. At one point Hobbes wakes up and the monster -- realizing there's a tiger with the kid it was going to eat -- retreats. Calvin goes back to sleep snuggling Hobbes while finishing the poem.
41-->''Rid of the pest, / I now can rest, / Thanks to my best friend, who saved the day.
42* The first Christmas strip, where Calvin looks so woobie-ish about being unable to get even a card for Hobbes.
43-->'''Calvin''': Uh, Hobbes?... I forgot to get you a present. I didn't even make you a card... I'm sorry, Hobbes. I didn't mean to forget.
44-->'''Hobbes''': It's okay, little buddy. I didn't get you anything either. (''hugs Calvin'') But here's a tiger hug for being my best friend.
45-->'''Calvin''': (''[[TearsOfJoy smiling and crying]]'') Not so hard, you big sissy. You squeeze my tears out.
46-->'''Hobbes''': (shedding tears of his own) Merry Christmas.
47** The "Lazy Sunday" Christmas strip: "MOM! Santa didn't bring Hobbes anything!... Well, here's a present from ''me'', anyway. (Hugs Hobbes) Hope it fits." "The best presents don't come in boxes. I'll treasure this one forever."
48* The [[http://i.imgur.com/Pbap0sm.jpg "dead bird" Sunday strip]]. Watterson initially feared the comic would spark controversy, given the semi-graphic nature of the first panel; to his surprise he received several moving letters from people who had recently had loved ones pass away.
49* During the baseball story arc, Calvin learns from Susie that he is the only boy who didn't sign up to play baseball during recess. After his obligatory GirlsHaveCooties moment, the next strip shows him riding the see-saw with Susie, talking to her in a very non-antagonistic way. Really, this more than anything emphasizes that, no matter how much they may antagonize each other, Calvin and Susie really are friends deep down.
50* A Sunday strip features Calvin in bed, unable to sleep. He looks over and sees Hobbes sleeping. Calvin wonders what he's dreaming about, and calls him friend, opining about how it's easier to sleep knowing someone you love is sleeping soundly next to you. With that, Calvin finally nods off.
51* In a story arc, Calvin makes a bet with Susie that he'll eat five worms for a nickel. Just when he's about do it, [[ThirdPartyDealBreaker his mom shows up and drags him away]]. Calvin complains that she spoils everything... Until they get far enough from Susie. Then he hugs her and says "What a relief! Thanks, Mom. Great timing."
52* Most instances of Calvin showing actual compassion for others, such as the aforementioned raccoon and bird instances, him caring for his mom in the story arc where she's sick, and the strip where he and Hobbes plot to bulldoze a construction site and plant trees (which they don't get to as the bulldozer doesn't have its keys.) There's also an early strip where Calvin is reading about starving people in the newspaper and shows concern, saying "Some people NEVER get enough to eat." Hobbes jokes: "I know what that's like." to which Calvin responds, "[[DudeNotFunny No, you don't]]!"
53* During the second Duplicator arc:
54** Calvin has sent his good clone to school. During one panel, we see the clone eagerly raising his hand after Miss Wormwood asks a question. Miss Wormwood pats him on the shoulder and calls him "dear" as she tells him to give the other children a chance.
55** Calvin's good clone writing a love letter to Susie.
56--->"And who could make
57--->My heart feel woozy?
58--->Only thou, my fair
59--->Sweet Susie."
60* One beautiful moment was in an arc where Calvin had just had to deal with Moe stealing his toy truck. Calvin didn't want to steal it back, didn't want to fight Moe for it and was overall frustrated that Moe was so content to live with himself. At the end of the arc he relates the whole thing to Hobbes which ends with this short and sweet strip.
61-->'''Calvin''': You know, sometimes the world seems like a pretty mean place.
62-->'''Hobbes''': (''Smiling'') That's why animals are so soft and huggy.
63-->'''Calvin''': (''As they hug each other'') ...Yeah...
64* The famous comic of Calvin dressing as his dad is hilarious and heartwarming because Calvin was able to make his mom laugh so hard she fell out of her chair.
65* In the 1986 Valentine's Day strip that ends the year's Valentine's arc, Calvin gave Susie dead flowers and an insulting Valentine for a "present." She, of course, beat him up for it. But as the two walk away, Susie thinks to herself, "A Valentine and flowers! He likes me!", as Calvin thinks, "She noticed! She likes me!" No matter how mean the two are to one another, they really are just showing affection in the only way six-year-olds know how.
66* A dialogue-free Sunday strip involves Calvin going through his daily routine of getting ready for school with Hobbes, including breakfast and waiting out at the bus stop in the rain. Once Calvin is gone, Mom notices poor inanimate Hobbes out in the rain with an umbrella and pulls him inside. The last two panels involve Calvin looking forlornly at the classroom clock while Hobbes is looking out the bedroom window into the rain, and no words are needed to know what they're thinking.
67* Calvin describing [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xW7MF0z8BJ8/Tqae0mrAbdI/AAAAAAAAAkg/7TPjfF2EuLQ/s1600/ae30cbda250a102d94d7001438c0f03b.gif why he likes animals so much]]. Even with the final panel changing to a less positive tone, it is still nice for Calvin to compliment animals for who they are.
68* In the [[https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1990/09/09 September 9th, 1990 strip]], Susie makes the effort to invite Calvin and Hobbes to a tea and cookie party being hosted by Mr. Bun. When Calvin told her he wouldn't have gone if she'd paid him, she looked genuinely broken up about it, and the joy on her face when he shows up anyway really shows how much she cares about Calvin (even if she can't stand him at times).
69* The last few strips of the Yukon arc, where Calvin's parents go out in the middle of the night to find Hobbes, as Calvin had left him outside.
70* In one strip, Calvin asks Hobbes if there's anything he wants for Christmas. Hobbes' reaction? "I've got a good home and a best friend. What more could a tiger want?"
71* Hobbes jumps on Calvin, and at first Calvin is mad at him but when he says, "It's morning, we can '''do''' things again!", to which Calvin says this line.
72--> [[http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1995/05/21 It's hard to be mad at someone who misses you while you're asleep.]]
73* Calvin and his parents actually having positive interactions. It's rare, given his BrattyHalfPint behavior, which makes it all the sweeter when it happens.
74** A small one in an earlier strip, Calvin is heard shouting "BANG!" from off-panel before he runs up, climbs onto the armrest of Dad's chair and makes a [[ShootingSuperman "Kawping!" pantomime]] and "flies" (okay, runs) away. Dad is left confused but Calvin was shown taking the imaginary bullet to protect him.
75** One storyline has Calvin coming down with a bad case of the stomach flu at two in the morning. When his mom goes to check on him in the morning, she mentions that she's going to have to call the doctor, and Calvin won't miss school because it's Saturday. Calvin's responses? A weak "Okay" and "I know." The last panel is a visibly panicked Mom running to the phone to call the doctor. Even though Calvin normally putting up a fuss about the doctor and being sick on weekends can drive Mom crazy, she still realizes that if her son's not reacting that way, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness something's wrong]].
76** Conversely, in an earlier arc when Mom got sick, Calvin offered to tell Mom a story similar to when she would tell him stories when he was sick and she preferred to get some rest instead. Saddened, Calvin remarks "It's hard to be a Mom for a Mom." before she hugged him saying he was doing just fine. Calvin, ComicallyMissingThePoint, freaks out at the possibility that she could be contagious.
77** "Mom knows ''[[https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1992/10/10 everything."]]'' This is what Calvin says after he exclaims that he's in a bad mood and thus not to be messed with, but his mother gives him a comic book and [[ComfortFood peanut butter crackers]] to cheer him up.
78** Similarly, "[[https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1988/01/17 Nobody knows how to pamper like a mom.]]" (Calvin came inside after a long time playing in the snow to find that his mom had made him peanut butter crackers and hot cocoa and had put Hobbes by the fireplace for him.)
79** One strip featured his mom chasing him around the house, seemingly angry (which was common, as Calvin frequently fled baths, homework and his babysitter,) but ended with her massive attack of the Tickle Monster. She'd planned to tire him out and make it easier to put him to bed, but then she got carried away playing with her son. Calvin notes how her plan backfired, though, in that he was now all wound up and ''she'' needed to be put to bed.
80** A [[http://i.imgur.com/zrT4qUd.png wordless Sunday strip]] where Calvin's dad has too much work to do to play with Calvin, then looks outside and then at his papers, and then joins his son outside to have fun in the snow. *sniffle* Not to mention the final scene from that comic ended with Calvin's dad doing his work at night, while Calvin kisses him on the head before bed. Awwwwwww. Just to top it off, Calvin's mom is lifting him up so he can reach his dad's head in the first place. The whole strip pulls it off without a single word of dialogue.
81** In a way, [[https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1989/10/18 this strip]]. Yes, Calvin's reason for not liking school is sad (and relatable to plenty of people), but the fact that his dad is willing to calmly listen to what Calvin has to say, while also pointing out that Calvin is capable of learning things, shows that deep down, Calvin's parents do value his strengths and want to know why he feels the way he does.
82** In one weekly-edition strip, Calvin is looking out the window at a raging snowstorm. "The roads are a mess! [[http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1993/01/01 I hope Dad makes it home OK."]] Fortunately, Dad's fine. He's just in denial about bicycle season being over.
83** This [[https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1986/09/28 Sunday strip]] has Calvin walking with his parents in the park. Calvin thanks his dad for the ice cream he bought him, and his dad replies "You're welcome" with a smile while walking alongside his mom.
84** Hobbes talks Calvin into doing good deeds with "Some philosophers say that true happiness comes from a life of virtue." One of them is making an "I love you" card for mom, and the other is shoveling snow off the sidewalk for dad. Both parents are equally speechless over the acts of kindness.
85** Calvin's father telling him a bedtime story with no ending, saying, [[http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1990/04/22 "This story doesn't have an end."]], then adding that Calvin can write an end of his own with Hobbes the next day. And even though the story insulted Calvin (mentioned him "rotting his brain" with cartoons, etc.), he ended up liking it just the same.
86*** The beginning also has Calvin's mom (teasingly) gushing over how cute her husband looks doing the Happy Hamster Hop for his son (although he's embarrassed by it).
87* Despite Calvin's habit of picking on Susie, the strip shows times he regrets having apparently overdone it.
88** In one arc, Calvin talks with Hobbes about how he accidentally went a bit too far in insulting Susie, which sent her home crying. Note that this isn't Calvin going into NeverMyFault mode... ''[[MyGodWhatHaveIDone he actually feels bad about it]]''. He eventually apologizes and to her and feels very relieved when she forgives him.
89** In one Sunday strip, Calvin hits Susie with a snowball from behind [[RunningGag (as per usual)]]; however, when Susie starts crying that the impact [[WoundedGazelleGambit knocked her eyeball out]], Calvin immediately panics and starts to look for it, offering a genuine apology.
90* One strip shows Calvin in school, suddenly freaking out because he's stuck inside on a beautiful day. Miss Wormwood, rather than punishing him for it, actually displays a fair amount of understanding and sympathy for this (which makes sense, given that she's desperately waiting for retirement), and helps him calm down, giving him advice for what to do next time this happened.
91* During one comic, Calvin in a cynical mood says that he doesn't see how people can fall in love, and how people can stand each other. He and Hobbes are strolling through the woods in the middle of fall. Hobbes then points out the leaves, and says that it's more fun to watch them with someone than to watch it alone. Calvin after a beat agrees, but says he'd rather watch with a ''tiger'' than with a person. Hobbes asserts, "That goes without saying."
92* During the arc where Calvin accidentally breaks his dad's binoculars, he panics about it the whole afternoon, and his conscience finally gets to him at the dinner table. Predictably, Calvin's Dad initially has a {{Freak Out}}... until he realizes just how badly Calvin has been beating himself up. He not only accepts Calvin's apology, but also apologizes to Calvin for yelling at him, admitting that in the grand scheme of things, a broken pair of binoculars isn't the end of the world.
93** Dad then buys Calvin his own set of cheap binoculars, because he knows that if Calvin breaks these ones he'll be willing to take responsibility and try to fix it. For a kid as badly-behaved as Calvin, that says a lot.
94** It's also a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}} because Dad says that when Calvin's 16, he'll probably wreck Dad's car, making the binoculars seem quaint. Also even more funny if you remember that Calvin has already been involved in several car-related mishaps by this point, albeit none of them actually involving driving.
95* The car mishap itself. After accidentally rolling the car down the driveway, across the street and into a ditch, Calvin is absolutely wracked with fear and guilt over what his parents are going to do to him. It's only revealed that, along with the car being pulled out without a scratch, that his parents were more concerned about ''him'' rather than the car. It's heartwarming both for Calvin to see that his parents weren't mad at what happened but also for Calvin's parents to see that their fear of his being injured was unfounded and Calvin wasn't hurt after what happened.
96* [[http://i.imgur.com/VkWBP.jpg This strip]], where Calvin's dad gives him another nonsense explanation for a hard question. It ends with Calvin saying "I hope someday I'm as smart as Dad is." Even if it's based on something silly, Calvin's admiration for his father is genuine.
97* The Uncle Max arc is pretty sweet, despite Bill Watterson regretting introducing him.
98** Calvin at first is antagonistic towards Max, from warning him that he's not sharing a room to tearing up his luggage looking for a present. He does appreciate, however, that Max treats Hobbes with the respect that a tiger deserves and enjoys the visit overall. By the end of the trip, he tries to go with Max on his uncle's plane to "have fun".
99** Hobbes is also flattered that Max was scared of him and said that he had a "killer's eye". He has a giant grin on his face when Max says that.
100** In general, Max is probably the most patient adult towards Calvin in the strip. While he's annoyed that Calvin got into his suitcase and asks inappropriate questions, he never really scolds him. Instead, he picks up his things and maintains a StiffUpperLip about Calvin being a smartass and actually interacts with him on his own level.
101* While most of the time Calvin's parents are shown to be annoyed by his overactive imagination, one Sunday strip saw Dad being genuinely interested in Calvin's latest tale (about how he apparently became immune to gravity and ended up in Phoenix). It's nice to see him going along with Calvin's world for a change.
102* In one strip, Calvin's ImagineSpot is him climbing the ladder of a slide that's so high, it breaches the atmosphere. He slides down it, screaming all the way. Then we see him sitting on a regular slide, with his dad at the bottom.
103-->'''Calvin''': Mm...I don't think so.
104-->'''Dad''': Oh, c'mon. I'm right here.
105* Last but absolutely not least, the final line of the final strip of ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'': "It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy... Let's go exploring!"

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