Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for October 12, 2024

Get clean, Calvin, and maybe that’ll change.

Or Mom’s principles are stronger.

When he is physically strong enough that she can’t force him into the tub, he’ll be interested in girls and will voluntarily bathe.

Well, in principle…

I never EVER disliked baths… well, I did in the sense that I wanted desperately to be big enough to take a shower. And I liked showers from when I could take ‘em… and still do. It’s been decades since I was in a tub.

I could get in a tub. Getting out on the other hand.

and Thereby eliminating the opportunity for others to accuse you of compromising your principles.

Today’s strip was included in The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book. Watterson explains there that it was inspired by his own principled stand against the syndicators of Calvin and Hobbes and his feeling that he was being forced to compromise to them.

Watterson firmly resisted pressure much more successfully than Calvin does here. He was able to get the Sunday strip format changed so that he could draw the strips as he wanted to and also resisted merchandising – which he felt would compromise the integrity of the strip – although he was unable to prevent bootleg merchandise.

Takes a bath steenky kid. It good for you. And it build character too.

He won’t compromise his principles, but he’ll no doubt confound his principals.

Just be lucky you don’t drown… this time…

“I stink, therefore I am!” – Calvin

aha maybe this is why some people prefer an evil leader.. because then they cannot be blamed for whatever the despot decides to do.

Well, here’s a counteroffer… GET YOUR BUTT IN THE TUB OR ELSE!!

Principles?….part of the bath water!!!!

For a related strip see Baby Blues today.

Mom’s powers can even override principles.

Welcome to reality…

A six-year-old’s principles are irrelevant.

Frame One… Calvin and The Count are simpatico. God Bless America.

We have a straight backed tub from the 70’s in the main bathroom. Uncomfortable to lay back and soak in but still great when the water is boiling hot and it’s got two cups of Epsom salts in it.

I remember my aunts telling me that, when I was really little, I avoided bathing … their “pet” name for me was Moonbeam McSwine.

Calvin’s observation applies to a lot more than baths.

The perfect strip for an election year.

Taking a bath is RIGHT. Nobody wants a stinky little boy around.

We have no principles. but principals get paid the big bucks

Welcome to the real world.

This should be labeled “The Sovereign Citizen Official Comic.”

It was funny watching a sovereign citizen in court recently. She claimed that the judge and the sheriff did not have the authority to hold her in contempt and put her in jail. You can believe whatever you want … but at the end of the day you will be in restraints and in custody.

I can’t get out of a bath tub any more-so “shower” it is!

Love the mom’s firm walk in the second panel.

Yeah, I hear ya.

“Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them…well I have others.”― Groucho Marx

Calvin, there is no need for you to take the term Little Stinker" quite so literally.

Calvin looks like “Kilroy was here” in the last frame

There’s no escaping the bathtub!