Superheroes tend to have super problems, but what about the day-to-day trials and tribulations of everyman everykid Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes? Whether it be transmogrifying, visiting Mars, or avoiding character-building, fans know Calvin’s great power is an unbridled imagination.

Still, there are those times when the back-to-school reality threatens the spirit…

Times such as Miss Wormwood’s classroom with its ever-exacting tests…

Bear witness to the rise and fall of Stupendous Man!, champion of the test-taking coping mechanism. “S” is for Stupendous! “T” is for Tiger, Ferocity of! “U” is for underwear, Red! “P” for power, incredible! “E” for excellent physique! N for…um…Something…hm, Well, I’ll come back to that… “D” for determination! “U” for… wait, how do you spell this? Is it “I”??

(Calvin is Stupendous Man!…..and Flunks His Test from Best of Calvin and Hobbes)

Calvin and Hobbes Use Superpowers to Fight Back-to-School

Calvin & Hobbes has always been one of my favorite cartoon strips. I fondly remember snatching the funnies out of the Sunday newspaper (you know, back when newspapers were a big deal) and carefully reading strips in a particular order. Peanuts was a light appetizer, Far Side was my dinner salad and that huge, full color Calvin & Hobbes strip was my delicious main course. While the Internet was still kicking off, I was digesting those thin paperback, 100-page releases of a year or two of Calvin & Hobbes strips.

When I revisited the comics as an adult about 15 years later, I started to pick up on the clever elements of philosophy and history that are wrapped into the comic strips. it makes me think Pixar stole their entire gameplan to make movies for both adults and kids directly from Bill Watterson.

Anyway, if you are interested in discovering or rediscovering Calvin & Hobbes, I highly recommend the Calvin & Hobbes Tumblr. For those familiar with the series, check out this collection of Calvin & Hobbes fan art created by a  large collection of different artists:

Calvin & Hobbes Fan Art

Nostalgic Calvin and Hobbes Fan Art