Comic strip review: Calvin and Hobbes 

(by Nathan Rodrigues)

Comic Strip title: ?

Written by: Bill Watterson

Art by: Bill Watterson

Release Date: 1986

Published by: Universal Press Syndicate

The comic strip above is  composed of four panels only. Analyzing its composition and the way the dialogues are arranged (simple writing, with no balloons, expressing lifeless conversations), here we are facing a situation that shows us the complexity of the modern society when it comes to the kids' hyperactivity. It is something that society doesn't understand as a natural thing, as a part of kids' necessity of having fun, but something seen as a problem if they need to acquire knowledge in a faster way.

After having an overall description and idea of this comic strip, it is possible to see that Calvin is under the influence of Ritalin, a medicine used to improve kids' focus. It is understandable because Calvin said that, according to his mom, the pills maybe were working. As he was really focused on the lesson, Hobbes became a normal teddy bear (better saying, a tiger toy) and consequently it was out of the boundaries of something that we could understand as the kid's imagination in action. Calvin was not anymore that kid able to use his imagination nor have fun with his creativity and innocence. He became a product of modern society, something that parents really want: a focused kid, with no extravagant and authentic attitudes. In short, a robot that can be approved by society's requests.