Calvin and Hobbes was easily one of the greatest comic strips ever created. It was somehow incredibly innocent and extremely philosophical at the same time. Kids could read it and relate to Calvin's non-problems, and adults could look back at their childhood and be nostalgic. It was one of the very few universally loved franchises, and it's just as great to go back and read now as it was when it was first printed.
Then again, for the characters in the strip, things weren't quite as simple. Calvin, to put it lightly, was an absolute terror, and while it was definitely exaggerated, everyone has come across a kid like that at least once. Calvin had a reputation for being a non-stop source of trouble, and it definitely caused some damage over the years. So, one has to wonder: just how much damage did Calvin cause?
One dedicated fan went back through every Calvin and Hobbes strip and created an entire report based on the damage Calvin caused. The grand total during the strip's ten-year run? $15,995. Not bad for a six-year-old.
The man behind the report, Matt J. Michel, is dedicated like few fans are. By going through the entire library of Calvin and Hobbes, Michel was able to calculate just how much damage Calvin caused over the years. In order to find the total cost of the damages, Michel used a number of tools: homewyse, a calculator for home renovation and repairs, Amazon for damages to household items and J-Crew for the cost of all damaged clothing. It's an extensively detailed report; Michel certainly did his homework.
When all of the information is on the table, two interesting trends appear. One, the very first year of the strip was easily the most destructive of the entire run. Calvin racked up nearly half of the total costs in just the first 12 months alone. Following the first year, the costs began to taper off. The longest period without any destruction whatsoever: 550 days, or just about a year and a half.
Two, the most effective means of destruction was water damage. Every single one of the most expensive moments in the strip were caused by water damage, though, when one builds a snowman indoors, some damage is to be expected. Surprisingly, what many believe to be the biggest accident in the series, in which Calvin pushes the family car out of the garage and into a ditch, was one of the least expensive incidents. The whole accident only cost $95 (to pay for the tow truck).
Potential parents, be warned: if you have a kid like Calvin, expect to pay a bit more out of pocket.
The report, in its entirety, can be seen here.
