“Calvinball” Officially Enters the Lexicon as New Comic “The Ancients” Debuts
The imaginary game of “Calvinball,” born from the mind of cartoonist Bill Watterson in his beloved comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, has officially been recognized by the Oxford English Dictionary. Added in March 2025, the dictionary defines “Calvinball” as “Activity reminiscent of the imaginary game of Calvinball … in not following any discernible rules, or in which individuals act in a self-servingly inconsistent manner.” The inclusion signifies the cultural impact of Watterson’s work and the enduring resonance of the concept of arbitrary, ever-changing rules.
This recognition comes as the term finds its way into unexpected arenas, including legal discourse. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recently invoked “Calvinball jurisprudence” in a dissenting opinion in National Institutes of Health v. American Public Health Association,criticizing shifting legal standards. Simultaneously, a new comic strip, The Ancients by Joe Berger, has launched on GoComics, offering a fresh voice to the comics landscape.
The Ancients, which previously ran on Substack, originated from a moment of parental frustration in February 2023, according to Berger. The comic explores themes relatable to a broad audience, marking a notable addition to GoComics’ roster of strips.
