New comics

Starting this week, “Calvin & Hobbes” ends its brief return to newspapers, a decision by its creator, Bill Watterson. Taking its spot Monday through Saturday will be “Pearls Before Swine,” Stephan Pastis’ comic-strip tale of two friends: a megalomaniacal Rat and a slow-witted Pig. For the first five weeks, The Times will run “Pearls Before Swine” comics selected by Pastis to introduce his characters. New to the Sunday paper will be manga-style comics from Tokyopop. Running for 20 weeks is “Peach Fuzz,” about a young girl who brings a prissy ferret home from the pet store. That will be followed by “Van Von Hunter,” in which the forces of evil have come back to rip peace from the twice-peaceful Kingdom of Dikay.