Tag: Peanuts

Scotland Bound, Charlie Brown

Scotland Bound, Charlie Brown by Jason Cooper; art by Robert Pope; colours by Hannah White (KaBOOM! 2021) A pleasant graphic novel that channels the spirit of the Charlie Brown television specials rather than the Peanuts comic strip. There are some nice character moments and shout-outs, and a few laughs. The gang’s new Scottish friend Nell proves a welcome addition.

Snoopy Treasury

Snoopy Treasury by Charles M. Schulz (Book Club Associates, 1981) A large-format book combining much of “Peanuts Treasury” (1960s dailies and Sundays, black and white) with the colour Sundays from “Sandlot Peanuts” (1960s-1970s baseball themed). The result is nearly 200 pages of wit and wisdom, somewhat lopsided in favour of Charlie Brown.    

The Peanuts Gang

The Peanuts Gang by Charles M. Schulz (Hodder & Stoughton, 1979) A slim volume showcasing one Sunday comic per A4 page. While Peanuts has more life in colour (the characters’ stock outfits evince a surprising number of variations!) the selection of strips is narrow and over-magnification leads to a dotty sort of pixilation.    

Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Me

Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Me by Charles M. Schulz (W.H. Allen 1981) A short, simply written autobiography that extends to Schulz’s inspirations, working process and general thoughts on cartooning, illustrated piecemeal (in black-and-white) with Peanuts strips and unremarkable family photographs. Schulz is justifiably proud of his achievements but comes across rather blandly alongside them.    

The Complete Peanuts: 1985-1986

The Complete Peanuts: 1985-1986 by Charles M. Schulz (Fantagraphics, 2012) Snoopy’s brother Spike remains a weak link and Tapioca Pudding is beyond doubt a character experiment gone badly wrong. Desert strips and pointless riffs notwithstanding, Schulz crosses the mid-80s with vigour, sharing his attention amongst old favourites and tapping rich new veins.    

Peanuts Revisited

Peanuts Revisited: Favorites Old and New by Charles M. Schulz (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1959) A compact collection of Peanuts comics from 1955-1959. Schulz’s drawing style isn’t yet fully developed, nor his humour, nor indeed the characters, yet several long-running Peanuts themes are on display here in their early form, and the choice of strips is astute.