Cats Are Better Than Dogs….But Only This Once

Bill Watterson and Charles Schultz created two of the greatest comic strips in the history of newspapers.

Schultz pioneered the business with “The Peanuts,” while Watterson created the relatable world of “Calvin and Hobbes.” In both of the strips, there is an animal that is heavily personified. In Schultz’ strip, it's Snoopy and in Watterson’s strip, it’s Hobbes.

Snoopy is a beagle, and a character that is known worldwide. His face has appeared on everything from patches to bookends. Hobbes, on the other hand, is a little less known. He is a stuffed tiger that is brought to life by Calvin’s wild imagination and often ludicrous mind.

Snoopy is a great and dynamic character--don’t get me wrong--but he never speaks and is always pantomiming. Hobbes, on the other hand, can talk. So far, one point Hobbes. Another great thing about Hobbes is the role that he plays. Whenever others are around, Hobbes is pictured as a harmless stuffed tiger. However, when only Calvin is around, he becomes a fully personified tiger. Hobbes acts as Calvin’s conscience and often the voice of reason. This plays into the humor of the strip, as Calvin’s mind untamed is a terrible thing. Watterson played the two against each other for the better part of ten years, and sadly ended the strip one December 31st, 1995. He left a hole in the Sunday Paper’s Comics, which has not, and will not, ever be filled again.

By Tyler Greene