Calvin and Hobbes has mastered, it’s showing the importance of childhood friends (indeed, that’s the crux of the entire series).

Calvin and Hobbes are the ultimate example of true friends, and not just because they’re always there for each other and like to have fun together, but because they also do things like pranks, teasing, and throwing the other under the bus. Honestly, that level of razzing is how kids express true friendship in real life, and Calvin and Hobbes depicts that perfectly. Of course, like real friendships, Calvin and Hobbes also have their sweet moments where they show how much they genuinely care for each other. All-in-all, Calvin and Hobbes absolutely nails what it’s like to have a best friend as a kid, and these 10 comic strips prove it.

10 Hobbes Helps Calvin Get Over His Fear of the Dark

Hobbes’ Friendship Makes Calvin Feel Safe

Calvin and Hobbes are lying in bed together (as they do every night), but something is wrong: Calvin can't sleep. Calvin sits up, unable to lie still any longer. But when he does so, Calvin starts to become frightened of the darkness all around him. He its that, at night, the world seems so big and scary while he feels so small. In other words, Calvin is afraid of the dark, and the fact that he can't sleep only makes it worse. But then, Calvin looks over at Hobbes, sound asleep, and he immediately stops being afraid.

Hobbes makes Calvin feel safe, which is an excellent depiction of their friendship. Friends may tease each other in between doing things together they both enjoy, but the true meaning of friendship is safety and comfort - and this Calvin and Hobbes comic strip shows that perfectly.

9 Calvin its Why Hobbes is (Sometimes) the Perfect Friend

Calvin Thinks Animals Make the Best Friends Despite Sometimes Being Annoying

Calvin and Hobbes are walking through the woods behind Calvin's house one day, aimlessly wandering, enjoying the nice weather as well as each other's company. During their stroll, Calvin starts talking about how animals make way better friends than people. He says that animals don't try to change their friends, and that the love animals give is unconditional (unlike with people). Calvin's basically saying that he appreciates Hobbes, and he's glad that they're best friends. At least, some of the time, as Hobbes loudly blows his nose and asks Calvin for a tuna fish sandwich right at that moment.

Letting a friend know how much they are appreciated is the secret to maintaining lasting friendships, and the same goes for forgiving a friend for being occasionally annoying, despite otherwise being an incredibly important person in one's life.

8 Hobbes Plays a Hilarious (and Well-Deserved) Prank on Calvin

Hobbes’ Glowing Cat Eyes are Perfect for Late-Night Pranks

Calvin wakes up in the middle of the night because he's thirsty, so he gets out of bed and heads to the kitchen to get a glass of something to drink. However, on his way to the kitchen, Calvin runs into what he believes is a monster lurking in the dark. All he sees are two glowing eyes in the darkness, and Calvin gets so scared that he runs away screaming. Calvin's parents hear him scream and turn on the light to check on him, which reveals that the 'monster' Calvin was afraid of was actually just Hobbes.

Hobbes only pranked Calvin because he thought he was going to the kitchen to fix a snack without him (which he kind of was doing), making the prank perfectly justified in Hobbes' mind. It's kind of messed up that Hobbes used Calvin's fear of the dark against him for this prank, but hey, what are friends for!

7 Calvin’s Mom is Exhausted by Calvin and Hobbes’ Friendship

Calvin’s Mom is Jealous of Other Kids’ Moms

As Calvin is walking home from school with Hobbes (who, in this comic strip, is depicted as just a stuffed animal), they are stopped by Calvin's mom. She tells Calvin that she just got a call from school about one of Calvin's classmates named Moe, who has been bullying Calvin. Calvin's mom says that his teacher assured her that she'd put a stop to it, but Calvin says that that's not necessary. Apparently, Moe took one look at Hobbes and got so terrified that he decided to leave Calvin alone.

Based on her reply to what Calvin said, it seems clear that Calvin's mom isn't a fan of his dependency on Hobbes, since she only sees Hobbes as a stuffed animal. While she has a fair point, this comic strip isn't meant to be realistic; it's about a kid and his friend tiger - one who is willing to eat his bully if he asks him to.

6 Calvin Writes Hobbes a Poem for Christmas

Calvin is Most Thankful for Hobbes on Christmas

In this single- Calvin and Hobbes Christmas Special comic strip, the titular duo are lying together under the family's Christmas tree, with readers looking down at them from outside the living room window. Snow is gently falling to the ground outside, making the scene inside feel that much cozier. However, what really makes this comic strip special is the poem written in the top-right corner of the page, one that was seemingly written by Calvin about Hobbes.

The poem basically just reveals how much Hobbes means to Calvin, especially around Christmas, and it is truly one of the sweetest things in the world.

5 Calvin is All Hobbes Needs for Christmas

Calvin Thinks Hobbes is a Sad and Lacks Imagination

Calvin is working on his letter to Santa when he's approached by Hobbes. Calvin asks Hobbes if he can add anything to the letter for him, since tigers can't write letters to Santa, only little kids can (everyone knows that). But, to Calvin's surprise, Hobbes couldn't think of a single thing that he would want. Calvin can't believe it, asking Hobbes if there's really not even one thing that he would want. Hobbes assures Calvin that there isn't, saying that he's got a good home and a best friend, so he has everything he could ever want.

While Hobbes' sentiment is sweet, Calvin's response to it is priceless, as he thinks that Hobbes is "sad" and lacks imagination. Calvin is a kid, which means that - while he loves his home and his best friend - he doesn't see them as Christmas presents, and he's dumbfounded by the idea that Hobbes does.

4 Calvin and Hobbes Have the Best Discussions

Calvin and Hobbes’ ‘Deep’ Discussions are Ridiculously Hilarious

Calvin and Hobbes are watching a fly buzz around, and Calvin says that if that were him, he'd barf. Hobbes says that maybe the fly does barf, and the reason it keeps flying around is that it likes barfing. Calvin busts out laughing at the thought of that, and so does Hobbes immediately after he said it. A few moments later, Calvin tells Hobbes how much he appreciates their "earnest discussion of ideas" - as if they're talking about something important, not bug puke.

But, in all honesty, talking about dumb stuff like bug puke, and then laughing together about it, is super important - especially for a kid. And Calvin and Hobbes captures that perfectly.

3 Calvin Finds Hobbes Equal Parts Annoying & Loveable

Calvin and Hobbes Express Their Friendship in a Hilariously Honest Way

The moment Calvin is awake on this particular morning, he's immediately attacked by Hobbes, who has evidently been awake for hours just waiting for Calvin to wake up so that they can start their day and play together. Hobbes tackles Calvin to the ground, resulting in a momentary tussle, before Calvin manages to escape and run away. At first, Calvin is annoyed by Hobbes, since the tiger didn't wait a second before attacking him. But then, Calvin realizes how lucky he is to have a best friend who is this excited to play with him.

It's a rare thing to have a best friend like Hobbes, who is literally the happiest when he's hanging out and playing with Calvin, and Calvin knows it - at least, by the end of the comic strip.

2 Calvin and Hobbes’ Friendship is So Special, It Brings Calvin to Tears

Calvin Feels Bad for Not Getting Hobbes a Christmas Present

One year during Christmas, Calvin forgets to get Hobbes a gift. When it becomes too late to get him something, Calvin walks up to Hobbes and its how bad he feels, calling himself a bad friend for forgetting to get Hobbes a Christmas present. However, as readers know from a previous Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, Hobbes doesn't want anything for Christmas, as he's happy just being best friends with Calvin - and Hobbes tells Calvin that again in this comic.

Hobbes' kindness and understanding literally brings Calvin to tears, who is both relieved that Hobbes isn't mad at him, and thankful for having such a good friend as Hobbes.

1 Calvin and Hobbes Being Mean to Each Other is Even Better Proof of Their Friendship

Calvin and Hobbes Know that Razzing is the Key to a Lasting Friendship

Calvin is recovering from a nose bleed one morning, but he's still really stopped-up. But, rather than being understanding of Calvin's situation, Hobbes threatens Calvin, saying that if his stuffy nose causes him to snore, he'll throw him out of their bed. Truth be told, this comic does a better job at highlighting Calvin and Hobbes' friendship than a comic where they're being sweet, since being a little mean to one's friends (especially childhood friends) is a true sign of friendship.

In other words, Calvin and Hobbes being a little mean to each other is even better proof of their friendship than anything else, as they know that razzing is the key to a lasting friendship. That's why this is one of the 10 best Calvin and Hobbes comic strips about their friendship.