Summary

• Snowball fights are a mainstay in Calvin and Hobbes, and there is no shortage of epic battles throughout the franchise.
• Calvin's greatest opponent has always been Hobbes, whether he always knows it or not, but Hobbes isn't the only one.
• A number of snowball fights in Calvin and Hobbes are between Calvin and Susie, contributing to the epic battles that take place in the series.

While a great many Calvin and Hobbes comic 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, Not a year goes by that Calvin and Hobbes aren’t able to have fun in 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 are 10 of the most epic snowball fights in Calvin and Hobbes!

10 Calvin 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 exactly what 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.

9 Hobbes 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 its 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.

8 Calvin'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 , 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.

7 Susie Epically Beats Calvin in a Snowball Fight by Flipping the Nature of the Game

Calvin and Hobbes, 1-5

This Calvin and Hobbes comic 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.

6 Susie 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.

5 1 Calvin and Hobbes Snowball Fight was So Epic, Susie & Calvin Became as Ferocious as Dinosaurs

Calvin and Hobbes, 11-17

Calvin and Hobbes is 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 in Calvin and Hobbes continuity, but only this one warranted the use of a dinosaur metaphor to show how epic it was, making this snowball fight a definite standout.

4 Susie 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, itting 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.

3 Calvin 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 epic Calvin and Hobbes snowball 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.

2 Calvin is No Match for Hobbes Going All-Out in a Snowball Fight

Calvin and Hobbes, 1-10

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-. 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 s, 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.

1 The 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 that Calvin 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 in Calvin and Hobbes history.