Calvin & Hobbes was probably the last great comic strip. I bought all the paperback collections as they came out, and have read them repeatedly. But I just couldn't resist this new collection.

As other reviewers have said: this box set is close to perfect. The reproduction is sharp, the bindings durable. The introduction by Watterson is revealing, and almost worth the price of admission all by itself.

One caveat mentioned by others is the weight of the set. I took heed and went with the paperbacks, and I was glad I did. The four volumes still make quite a massive package.

I do have a few quibbles. One is that the box itself should have those little semicircular cutouts in its front edge, to let you grip the books and pull them out. If you watch the (excellent) Calvin & Hobbes documentary that's making the rounds, you'll see that the head of the publishing company himself has experienced this problem - and solved it the same way I have, by leaving the books sticking out of the case by a centimeter or two.

I'd also have preferred more of a matte stock - glossy paper does give crisper reproduction, but the shine can be tricky to avoid unless you set up your lighting just right.

Finally, I do wish that the color strips had been reproduced with something approximating the original coarse color screens. In theory, full process color is 'better' - but it's simply not authentic. It's also not appropriate to the black line art - these strips weren't drawn with dense, opaque color in mind. This is particularly notable in the flesh tones, which seem too dark and heavy, with too little distinction between, say, Clavin's face and blond hair. I'm not sure why experienced publishers seem inexorably drawn to this 'upgrade' in color, when the technology to closely match the intent is readily available. (Recall the controversy when Disney created Blu-ray versions of its classic animated movies by going back to the original vibrant cel art, neglecting to reproduce the muting effect of the Technicolor film process.)

I must emphasize that these are minor quibbles. The C&H box set is a standout in the realm of comics reprints, many of which have been of absolutely dreadful quality. I'm glad to have these classic strips in a single deluxe format, and would certainly recommend the purchase to anyone with a love of intelligent writing and clever, evocative artwork. Thanks, Bill! You've spread a lot of sunshine with your creativity and integrity.

Brand	N/A
Rating	4.9 (13003 ratings)
Price	$97.99
Category	Comic Strips

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes