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Calvin




Calvin Stupendous Man Spaceman Spiff Alias: Spaceman Spiff
Stupendous Man
Tracer Bullet

Eyes: Black
Hair: Blond
Race: Human


Story: Calvin is a six-year-old kid living with his parents and his best friend the tiger Hobbes. In his world, the barrier between reality and fantasy is fluid, making him having to deal with monsters, especially under the bed, bullies at school and yucky food. Fortunately Calvin is the proud owner of a transmogrifier, which will turn him into anything, and a time machine which will take him anywhere in space and time.

Calvin has three great alter egos: Spaceman Spiff, the space faring adventurer, Stupendous Man, the superhero who can solve all his problems and Tracer Bullet, the hardboiled detective. Of these, Spaceman Spiff is the most dominant, especially in Miss Wormwood's classes.


Continuity: Calvin and Hobbes
Publisher(s): Universal Press Syndicate
First app.: Calvin: Nov. 18, 1985
Spaceman Spiff: Nov. 21, 1985
Stupendous Man: Oct. 30, 1987
Creator(s): Bill Watterson
Country of origin: USA USA


Background notes: Calvin is named for a sixteenth-century theologian who believed in predestination. Most people have assumed that Calvin is based on Bill Watterson's son or childhood memories. According to himself, that is not the case.

Unlike most highly successful series, Calvin and Hobbes was stopped while it was successful. The final strip was published Dec. 31, 1995 and new material has not been published contrary to the whishes of many fans. According to Watterson he felt unable to keep the quality of his work and rather than letting the quality slide he stopped the series.

Most successful comic strips will be turned into cartoons, merchandise, games etc., but Watterson has refused to let Calvin and Hobbes be used for anything outside the comic strip. The characters can be found as screen savers, animations etc. on the Internet, but no merchandise.


Names around the World:
DenmarkSteen
FranceCalvin
GermanyCalvin
SpainCalvin
SwedenKalle
UK/USACalvin



Names around the World:
DenmarkRumagent Spiff
FranceSpiff, le cadet de l'espace
GermanyRaumfahrer Spiff
SpainCapitan Spiff
SwedenRymdmannen Spiff
UK/USASpaceman Spiff



Names around the World:
DenmarkSluppermand
FranceHyperman
Germanyder Unfassbare
SpainEstupendoman
SwedenHäpnadsmannen
UK/USAStupendous Man



Names around the World:
DenmarkTracer Bullet
FranceBalle Traçante
GermanyKuno Knarre
SpainBala Rastreadora
SwedenKalle Hammare
UK/USATracer Bullet



Related links/characters:
- Dad
- Hobbes
- Miss Wormwood
- Moe
- Mom
- Rosalyn
- Susie Derkins