Calvin holds up his copy of the book, making the cover art visible.
Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooie is a children's book and running gag in Calvin and Hobbes. It was first featured on 7/10/88.
Calvin loves the book, and almost invariably asks for it as a bedtime story. His father, however, hates having to read the book over and over again. Ironically, Calvin's father was the one to introduce the book to him, and Calvin originally did not want to hear it because it "hadn't been made into an animated TV show". Instead, Calvin heard the story "The Disembodied Hand That Strangled People".
In one strip, Calvin's mother mentioned that there was a "Happy Hamster Hop" that went along with the book, and that Calvin's dad looked so cute doing it.
It is strongly suggested that the author is Mabel Syrup, but this remains unproven as Calvin only directly stated that the sequel, Commander Coriander Salamander and 'Er Singlehander Bellylander, was written by Mabel Syrup.
In another, Calvin's father made up a new story with the same characters, in order to avoid having to read the same story again. However, this new adaption was not exactly appropriate for young children like Calvin.
Trivia[]
- In The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book, Bill Watterson stated in commentary that the plot of Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooie was deliberately kept a mystery, much like the Noodle Incident.