Moppy hair, spiky hair

In the original version of Calvin and Hobbes that Bill Watterson submitted to syndicates back in 1984, Calvin had this wild mop of hair that completely covered his eyes, kind of like Beetle Bailey's cap. It’s pretty funny to imagine now, but Calvin’s signature spiky hair we all know and love wasn’t even a thing yet.

Watterson’s editor at Universal, the syndicate that picked up the strip, suggested giving Calvin a hairstyle that revealed his eyes. This was a brilliant move because Calvin’s expressive eyes became such a big part of his character. So, by the time Calvin and Hobbes officially launched in 1985, Calvin had evolved with that iconic spiky hair. This change made a huge difference and helped make Calvin such a memorable and relatable character.

What’s even more interesting is that Watterson was very particular about every detail in his strip. He famously resisted merchandising Calvin and Hobbes because he felt it would compromise the integrity of the characters. So, this little tweak to Calvin’s appearance was actually a pretty big deal in shaping the comic’s identity. It's cool to think how a small change suggested by an editor helped shape one of the most beloved comic strips of all time.

In this cartoon, Calvin was described by Watterson as "a rambunctious 6-year-old with a rampant imagination. The kind of kid who wants plutonium for his birthday. Calvin has a passion for excitement untampered by common sense. He's one tot nobody wants to see group up to be President." And Hobbes was "a tiger, Calvin's roommate and best friend. A stuffed toy to everyone but Calvin, Hobbes is a somewhat naive, but good natured, man-eating confidant."