Summary
While a great manyCalvin and Hobbescomic strips take place almost entirely in Calvin’s creative imagination (including the very existence of Hobbes, though that point is debatable), there are just as many that highlight the highs and lows of being a kid beyond imaginative play.Sometimes that includes Calvin in school, or playing organized sports with other kids. However, there’s one ongoing activity that Calvin seems to enjoy more than any other: snowball fights.
Every winter in Calvin’s town,it snows enough for Calvin and Hobbes to do things like go sledding, build snowmen, and - perhaps best of all - have snowball fights.Not a year goes by that Calvin and Hobbes aren’t able to have funin the snow, which means there is no shortage of comic strips depicting the two of them having insanely epic snowball fights. But, out of them all, there are certainly a few handfuls that stand out from the rest. Here are10 of the most epic snowball fights inCalvin and Hobbes!
OriginalCalvin and HobbesBooks with all Strips
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes
September 1988
June 07, 2025 (first strip) to August 23, 2025 & June 03, 2025 to July 15, 2025
The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
October 1990
June 12, 2025 to August 17, 2025 & August 10, 2025 to June 02, 2025
The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
October 1992
August 06, 2025 to June 09, 2025 & August 09, 2025 to July 02, 2025
June 14, 2025 to July 02, 2025
The Days Are Just Packed
October 1993
August 11, 2025 to June 17, 2025 excluding June 10, 2025 to Jun 01, 2025 due to repeats
June 13, 2025 to June 28, 2025
There’s Treasure Everywhere
March 1996
July 12, 2025 to July 01, 2025 excluding April 3 to July 30, 2025 due to repeats (some strips from March and April 1995 are also found inIt’s a Magical World)
It’s a Magical World
October 1996
August 04, 2025 to July 02, 2025 (final strip) (some strips from March and April are also found inThere’s Treasure Everywhere)
10 Funniest Calvin and Hobbes Comics Starring Calvin’s Imaginary Inventions
Calvin & Hobbes perfectly depicts life through the eyes of a child, including all the imaginary inventions featured in the series. Here’s the 10 best!
10Calvin Can’t Trust Anyone During His Epic Snowball Fights, Not Even Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes, 12-22
Calvin and Hobbes build a fort out of snow together, as they intend to use it during a snowball fight against anyone who would challenge them. And then, with a mischievous grin,Hobbes turns on Calvin, throwing a snowball right in his best friend’s face, which is extra egregious given that Hobbes attacked Calvin within their own fort.
It seems all is fair in snow and war, and even those who claim to be allies will turn into enemies at the drop of a hat. That’s exactlywhat Hobbes did, proving to be an undercover opponent, while Calvin mistakenly thought they were preparing for an epic snowball fight together. Little did Calvin know, he was engaged in an epic snowball fight already, one fueled by betrayal and deceit.
9Hobbes Proves He Doesn’t Need Trickery to Beat Calvin in a Snowball Fight
Calvin and Hobbes, 12-29
While Hobbes pretending to be Calvin’s ally during a snowball fight was the perfect way to nail him with a snowball, this comic strip proves that Hobbes doesn’t need to resort to trickery to beat Calvin. During their battle, Calvin sees a snowball flying over his head, and he immediately knows that it was Hobbes who threw it.Unable to restrain himself, Calvin turns around to mock Hobbes for such a lousy throw- just as Hobbes knew he would. At that point, Hobbes pegged Calvin with a snowball right in the face.
Hobbes doesn’t have to resort to trickery, just good tactics
Hobbes admits that he only threw the first one so that Calvin would turn around,leaving him wide open for a snowball to the face. This proves that Hobbes doesn’t have to resort to trickery, just good tactics, which is the cornerstone of any epic snowball fight.
10 Hilarious Classic Comics That Just Turned 30 (Featuring Far Side, Peanuts, Calvin & Hobbes and More)
There’re countless comic strips out there for readers to enjoy, but only a handful of classics, & some of them just turned 30. Here’s the 10 funniest!
8Calvin’s Snowball Fight with Susie Gets So Intense, He Literally Sells His Soul to Win
Calvin and Hobbes, 1-22
As Susie Derkins is building a snowman in peace, Calvin lurks behind a nearby tree, waiting for the perfect moment to pelt her with snowballs.However, there’s a nasty wind that day, and every single snowball Calvin throws at Susie doesn’t even come close to hitting her. Susie even mocks Calvin about this, calling him, “the worst shot in the world”. But then, Calvin is able to somehow throw a snowball right into Susie’s face, despite missing every other time. And, in the last panel, it’s revealed how Calvin was able to do that: he sold his soul to the devil.
This snowball fight got so intense, that Calvin literally sold his soul to win -which is something that Calvin’s mom isn’t surprised by in the slightest, making this comic strip as hilarious as it is truly epic.
7Susie Epically Beats Calvin in a Snowball Fight by Flipping the Nature of the Game
Calvin and Hobbes, 1-5
ThisCalvin and Hobbescomic stripe details another instance where Susie is just trying to enjoy a nice winter day, and Calvin initiates a snowball fight out of nowhere.Only this time, not even an infernal bargain is enough to save Calvin’s skin. At first, Calvin is winning the snowball fight, as he manages to land a snowball right in the back of Susie’s head. However, he doesn’t have much time to celebrate, as Susie makes a giant snowball, picks Calvin up over her head, and throws him right into it.
Rather than throwing a snowball at Calvin, Susie throws Calvin at a snowball, which proves to be far more effective,as he’s utterly defeated by this single attack. Indeed, Susie beats Calvin by effectively flipping the nature of a snowball fight, and the result is utterly epic.
10 Most Brutal Moments in Calvin and Hobbes
While Calvin and Hobbes is well known for being an insightful look at childhood, it never shied away from having some pretty brutal imagery.
6Susie Beats Calvin in Another Snowball Fight (without Making a Single Snowball)
Calvin and Hobbes, 1-10
After crafting an especially gnarly snowball made from compressed snow, pieces of ice, and random debris, Calvin waits for Susie to cross his path to nail her with it.When the time finally comes, Calvin throws the snowball at the back of Susie’s head, and he hits his target. However, Susie immediately starts screaming, saying that Calvin hit her so hard with the snowball, he popped her eye out of its socket. Thrown into a guilt-induced panic, Calvin helps Susie look for her eye in the snow, only to learn that Susie was faking the whole thing.
Susie brought her fists to a snowball fight, and it totally paid off
When Calvin’s back was turned, Susie punched him,causing Calvin to do a full flip right into the snow-covered ground. Susie brought her fists to a snowball fight, and it totally paid off in the most epically hardcore way possible.
51 Calvin and Hobbes Snowball Fight was So Epic, Susie & Calvin Became as Ferocious as Dinosaurs
Calvin and Hobbes, 11-17
Calvin and Hobbesis no stranger to metaphor, especially if it gives series creator Bill Watterson an excuse to draw dinosaurs - and this particular comic strip is no exception. The majority of this strip features two dinosaurs engaging in a ferocious battle,before it’s revealed that these dinosaurs were actually Calvin and Susie having a snowball fight. And from the looks of things, this snowball fight was especially epic, as it required a dino-comparison to accurately convey the ferocity of the battle.
Calvin and Susie have had their fair share of snowball fights inCalvin and Hobbescontinuity,but only this one warranted the use of a dinosaur metaphor to show how epic it was, making this snowball fight a definite standout.
10 Most Philosophical Moments in Calvin and Hobbes Comics
Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes is a comic masterpiece, but it also contained regular deep musings on the philosophical ideals of absurdism.
4Susie Finally Gives Calvin a Taste of His Own Medicine (& Frames Hobbes in the Process)
Calvin and Hobbes, 12-10
As Calvin is walking alone one winter day, he’s suddenly struck by a snowball. He’s immediately filled with vengeful anger, and searches for the person responsible, and within mere moments,Calvin has his first suspect: Hobbes. Calvin is convinced that Hobbes threw the snowball at him, and when Hobbes denied it, the two fly into a physical altercation. Once they finish fighting, Susie walks over to Calvin and laughs at him, admitting that she was the one who hit him with the snowball.
Susie gave Calvin a taste of his own medicine
The snowball fights between Susie and Calvin usually start with Calvin sneaking up on Susie, but this time, Susie gave Calvin a taste of his own medicine.Plus, Susie’s scheme made Calvin turn on Hobbes, which ended with Hobbes pelting Calvin with snowballs for wrongly accusing him.
3Calvin Makes the Biggest Snowball in the World, but Sadly, It’s Too Epic to Throw (Literally)
Calvin and Hobbes, 2-19
Rather than making smaller snowballs to throw at unsuspecting people in his vicinity (more than likely, Susie), Calvin decides to concentrate his efforts on a single, massive snowball - and it pays off. Calvin creates the “biggest snowball in the world”, and as he’s showing it to Hobbes,Calvin says that he can’t wait to throw it at someone. However, Hobbes points out that this snowball is too big to throw, which utterly crushes Calvin’s dream of using it to ruin someone’s day.
While no actual snowball fighting takes place in this comic, it’s still a notable standout when it comes to the most epicCalvin and Hobbessnowball fights of all time because - in a hilarious twist of fate -this snowball is actually too epic to even use, with the true battle being Calvin’s emotional turmoil upon realizing it.
2Calvin is No Match for Hobbes Going All-Out in a Snowball Fight
As Calvin stands behind his snow fort, a pile of snowballs behind him ready to use for battle, he faces off against Hobbes, who is positioned off-panel.In this battle, there are no false alliances or trickery, and Susie is nowhere to be seen. This time, it’s just Calvin and Hobbes going one-on-one to decide who the greatest snowball fighter truly is. And, in just three panels, it’s clear that it’s Hobbes.
Calvin doesn’t even have the chance to throw a single snowball before Hobbes utterly demolishes him with a seemingly endless barrage of attacks. In the end, Calvin is completely covered in snow as a result of getting hit countless times by the snowballs Hobbes threw, and without hesitation,Calvin surrenders, as even he knew that he’s no match for Hobbes going all-out in a snowball fight.
10 Funniest Calvin and Hobbes Comics About Food
Monkey brains, popcorn attacks, and, of course, Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs – all appear in the Top 10 funniest Calvin and Hobbes strips about food.
1The Greatest Snowball Fight in the History of Calvin and Hobbes is the One that Never Happened
Calvin and Hobbes, 9-18
“Operation Kapow” is the elaborate plan Calvin and Hobbes come up with that would have cemented them as the greatest snowball fighters of all time. The plan details multiple stashes of hundreds of snowballs thatCalvin and Hobbes would ride their sled to before any given attack(with their primary target being Susie, of course). The plan also details a perfect getaway route that would allow Calvin and Hobbes to strike an unsuspecting target and then effectively vanish into the woods.
While “Operation Kapow” was a solid plan - complete with Calvin’s own illustrations - Calvin and Hobbes came up with it a bit too early, as there wasn’t even snow on the ground yet. Indeed, this is the greatest snowball fight that never happened, but the fact that fans got to see it at all (even just the planning stages) marks “Operation Kapow” as one of the 10 most epic snowball fights inCalvin and Hobbeshistory.
Calvin and Hobbes
Calvin and Hobbes was a satirical comic strip series that ran from 1985-1995, written, drawn, and colored by Bill Watterson. The series follows six-year-old Hobbes and his stuffed Tiger, Calvin, that examines their lives through a whimsical lens that tackles everyday comedic issues and real-world issues that people deal with.
