4 out of 5

Well, you know the strip, so let’s examine this collection from the perspective of quality of what’s included plus the overall package.

First, the era covered: ’88.  The style is established by this point, and many of the recurring gags – Spaceman Spiff, Transmogrifier, Calvin’s imagination – are in place.  But it’s still early, we’re still at a point where Watterson holds our hands to a certain degree, reminding us in a panel that Calvin is just pretending, that it’s just a substitute for what’s really going on.  The really out there philosophizing is also on short notice in this collection.  That’s not to say it’s not short on chuckles, cuteness and quality – something that was striking about the entire run of C and H was the way it managed to build a universe in a loose and comedic newspaper strip (a definite rarity) and would also reward the reader with repeated tropes and jokes, and ‘Weridos’ definitely displays that.  It’s just to state that when some strips later in the book sit firmly in fantasy for all of their panels, it’s nice to recognize that Bill is, perhaps, more accepting of his readers “getting” it by then.

Second: quality of the publication.  It’s perhaps sacrilege, but I prefer these square bound books, even though it shrinks the art.  The longer books are gorgeous for the amount of space they allow, but they’re definitely not easy to handle.  They’re easier to read on a table, and I always like laying back in bed to read, which the quality paper and bendy cover of the square editions allows, versus the longer format, the weight of which lends itself to torn pages.  Personal preference.  The art looks quality either way, Watterson’s inks very clear and precise on the stark white paper.

Lastly: what’s included.  This is all black and white, so you could say it’s a “budget” collection, and there’s no editorial or notable extras except for some sketches that were used, maybe to balance out the pages.  Now, I love Watterson’s art, but these sketches/drawings (generally the size of one week’s strip, included at the bottom of the page) just sort of break the reading flow since they don’t tie into the strip before or after, and it’s sort of a cheap inclusion that, as mentioned, just seems like a placeholder.

Does any of this really diminish the reading experience at all?  Ha ha no.  But it demanded a review so.  I’m here.