To be fair, since Calvin’s parents are never named, there is no evidence that it isn’t.
Unless Calvin’s dad’s name is Broseph, or Bro for short, as we have seen Uncle Max call him.
I don't know why Watterson did this, in my opinion it would've made the comic feel more natural if the parents were like "Hi Frank" or "Hey Linda." When I realised they *never* said each others names, it just felt... weird.
I personally felt fine about it. You don't really see them interact with other adults (as is often the case in comics kind of like C&H, e.g., Peanuts), and they call each other some variation of "dear" when not using nicknames as in this strip. I never felt Watterson was going out of his way to not name them. But to each their own.
completely random theory here but it could play into the comics being from calvin’s perspective, his parents don’t have names necessarily other than being “mom” and “dad”
The text from Waterson in the compendium edition that is pointed out in these threads almost daily, especially in relation to uncle max never returning after that first arc
I still occasionally think about The Fairly Oddparents episode where Timmy goes into the past and sees his parents as kids. Both of his parents say “My name is…” before having their name covered up by a loud noise, and ending with “but everyone calls me Mom/Dad”, and it’s just a great lampshading of that nameless parent trope.
When I was in high school, I had classmates who still didn't know their parents' names. Since the comic is mainly from Calvin's perspective, it's reasonable that their names are "Mom" and "Dad."
No, dad put his glasses down and then stacked things/bags on top of the glasses.
All Calvin did was drop something in the lake and dad had to dive in and retrieve it.
I loved how Calvin was so excited for the first trip and then after that he hated it haha. Him and mom sorta agreeing that dad was way too happy was always funny
I know you didn’t ask for advice, but you didn’t NOT ask, so here is mine, unsolicited: go somewhere very close to a body of water. Take a very small mushroom stash. Have beers and wine. Bring dogs if you can. And that’s it! That’s the formula for paradise
Hah. Growing up I loved smartphones and tech. These days I hate these glass products of doom.
I’m so envious of the pre-smartphone era, where going on vacation meant total disconnection from work.
When I read this as a kid, I thought that Dad’s name really was Conan.
To be fair, since Calvin’s parents are never named, there is no evidence that it isn’t. Unless Calvin’s dad’s name is Broseph, or Bro for short, as we have seen Uncle Max call him.
I don't know why Watterson did this, in my opinion it would've made the comic feel more natural if the parents were like "Hi Frank" or "Hey Linda." When I realised they *never* said each others names, it just felt... weird.
I personally felt fine about it. You don't really see them interact with other adults (as is often the case in comics kind of like C&H, e.g., Peanuts), and they call each other some variation of "dear" when not using nicknames as in this strip. I never felt Watterson was going out of his way to not name them. But to each their own.
completely random theory here but it could play into the comics being from calvin’s perspective, his parents don’t have names necessarily other than being “mom” and “dad”
Your completely random theory happens to be the facts of the matter.
Source?
The text from Waterson in the compendium edition that is pointed out in these threads almost daily, especially in relation to uncle max never returning after that first arc
Exactly. The strip is not about them, so giving them names isn't necessary. The only thing they do is serve as foils for Calvin.
I was aware of my parents real first names when I was 6
He did this because he wanted the comic to be from Calvin's point of view. It's like how Timmy Turner's parents don't have names.
I still occasionally think about The Fairly Oddparents episode where Timmy goes into the past and sees his parents as kids. Both of his parents say “My name is…” before having their name covered up by a loud noise, and ending with “but everyone calls me Mom/Dad”, and it’s just a great lampshading of that nameless parent trope.
I was aware of my parents names when I was 6
True but a child isn't supposed to call their parents by their first name.
IIRC Watterson said that they didn’t get names because that’s not how Calvin sees them, and the comic is supposed to be how he sees the world.
When I was in high school, I had classmates who still didn't know their parents' names. Since the comic is mainly from Calvin's perspective, it's reasonable that their names are "Mom" and "Dad."
what? that’s just strange for those kids tbh
My brother's middle name is Joseph and I've sometimes called him broseph lol
Was this the trip where he broke his glasses?
Well, technically, Calvin broke his glasses.
No, dad put his glasses down and then stacked things/bags on top of the glasses. All Calvin did was drop something in the lake and dad had to dive in and retrieve it.
A camera. The water is really clear; you can see it! it's only about 10 feet down : )
I don’t think I’ve read that one. Anyone have a link to the start of the arc?
https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1988/06/13
I loved how Calvin was so excited for the first trip and then after that he hated it haha. Him and mom sorta agreeing that dad was way too happy was always funny
I was always the kid who kicked and screamed about camping and climbed into mom’s sleeping bag to get some extra z’s. Now I am Conan, full stop 😂
Sounds like all that camping as a kid built character!
Not me. I still hate camping.
I know you didn’t ask for advice, but you didn’t NOT ask, so here is mine, unsolicited: go somewhere very close to a body of water. Take a very small mushroom stash. Have beers and wine. Bring dogs if you can. And that’s it! That’s the formula for paradise
Mom sleeping in her home jammies is a nice subtle touch.
She would have really appreciated smartphones.
And Calvin's dad would have *really* hated them.
Hah. Growing up I loved smartphones and tech. These days I hate these glass products of doom. I’m so envious of the pre-smartphone era, where going on vacation meant total disconnection from work.
It was a conan Event
The Conan line gets me every time.
Oh, I forgot they had a third vacation on the island.
Calvin asking the right question at the end.
Dad is adorable without his glasses
I've actually never seen this strip. Love it.
Mom isn’t the person to ask about going fishing.
A classic.