WEIRDOS FROM ANOTHER PLANET <i> by Bill Watterson (Andrews & McMeel: $7.95) </i>

The latest collection of “Calvin and Hobbes” proves that Bill Watterson is, simply, the best comic-strip artist working in America today. Eight-year-old Calvin’s imaginary adventures--including a visit to Mars, a series of in-flight maneuvers when he’s carried away by a balloon and the excavation of a dinosaur skeleton (which turns out to be an assemblage of old litter)--showcase the artist’s extraordinary ability to re-create a child’s perception of the world. Hobbes, the stuffed tiger, observes the excesses of Calvin’s runaway fantasy life with his customary mixture of common sense and sardonic wit.

At a time when draftsmanship on the comics page is approaching an all-time low, Watterson works in a vivid, expressive drawing style, comparable to the great strips of the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s.