Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • Old Mutants, New Ideas: Bill Sienkiewicz's New Mutants #24

      Francesca Lyn
      January 30, 2013
      Columns, The Full Run
    Recent
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • Comictober 2020: DRACULA MOTHERF**KER

      Daniel Gehen
      October 27, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Collecting Profile: Miles Morales

      Francesca Lyn
      December 28, 2019
      Big Two, Marvel Comics, Miscellaneous Comic Book Content
    Recent
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Stan Lee

      nguyen ly
      November 7, 2020
    • Collecting Profile: Jack O’ Lantern

      nguyen ly
      October 31, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • 2.5

      Review: Transformers reboot about the same as meets the eye

      Francesca Lyn
      March 13, 2019
      IDW, Reviews
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 4.5

      Story Arc Review: Thunderbolts #172-174: "Like Lightning"

      Francesca Lyn
      May 26, 2012
      Reviews
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • INTERVIEW: Zack and Nick Keller Serve Death Head on a Silver Platter

      Francesca Lyn
      May 12, 2015
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade: Valiant Masters: Rai

      Francesca Lyn
      May 15, 2015
      Classic Comics Cavalcade
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Titan to Release Phantom of the Opera GN

      Francesca Lyn
      October 1, 2019
      News, Press Release, Titan Comics
    Recent
    • 2020 Ringo Awards Winners Announced

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2020
    • BAD IDEA Announces 2021 Publishing Slate

      Daniel Gehen
      September 29, 2020
    • A Full Replay of NCSFest 2020 is now Available

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2020
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • "THE BEST OF WITZEND" is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Francesca Lyn
      September 15, 2018
      Books, Classic Comics, Fantagraphics, Reviews
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Collecting Profile: Batwoman
  • Collecting Profile: Daredevil
  • Collecting Profile: Floronic Man
  • Review of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist
  • Collecting Profile: Transformers
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Classic Comics
Classic Comics Cavalcade

The Complete Peanuts: 1950 – 1952 “In the beginning was Peanuts.”

Francesca Lyn
July 7, 2014
Classic Comics Cavalcade, Columns
The Complete Peanuts: 1950 – 1952 "In the beginning was Peanuts."
4.0Overall Score
Reader Rating: (4 Votes)

In the beginning was Peanuts. Peanuts is arguably the most popular and influential comic strip of all time.

When beginning my research on Charles M. Schulz and Peanuts to write this review, I carried around a few different books on the comic to various coffeehouses that I work at. At first I would sit down, eager to read more about Charlie Brown and his world. If I had any doubt in the universal appeal of Schulz’s work I didn’t after meeting so many others that loved Peanuts. I soon lost count of the number of people, strangers really, who came up and excitedly told me that Peanuts was their favorite comic strip. It seems like everyone has a soft spot for the little boy and his beagle. Charlie Brown and Snoopy are now iconic characters, recognized around the world. It is not hyperbole to refer to Peanuts as an institution.

Published by Fantagraphics, The Complete Peanuts: 1950 – 1952 collects Charles M. Schulz’s first two years on the iconic comic strip. Now available in paperback, this little volume is a perfect, compact summer vacation read. With an introduction written by Garrison Keillor and a biographical essay by David Michaelis, the book is beautifully designed.

Looking at some of Schultz’s earliest Peanuts strips was a thrilling experience. In the very beginning of this strip, Charlie Brown had not yet donned his trademark zigzag shirt. Those first few strips without him wearing the shirt were actually quite shocking; it almost seemed like Schulz did not get a handle on who Charlie Brown was until he had him put the shirt on. Before the zigzag shirt Charlie Brown was also easily confused with supporting character Shermy. After the shirt is added Charlie Brown and Shermy begin to diverge in general appearance and temperament.

Other elements that I had previously took for granted were conspicuously absent in these early strips. Snoopy is much more doglike, walking on four legs rather than two. Personas such as the Red Baron or Joe Cool occur much later. In these early strips Snoopy had not even began to perch on top of his doghouse. No mention was made of the Great Pumpkin. Lucy has not yet opened up a booth selling psychiatric help. These complications and embellishments occur later in the Peanuts oeuvre.

In these early strips Schulz was still refining and developing his cast of characters. Some personalities I was already pretty familiar with and it was delightful to be able to take a closer look at their initial introductions. Snoopy is already poised to steal the show; he is an adorable rascal and always getting into everything. Though neurotic, Charlie Brown is a loveable goof.

Other characters, such as the headstrong Patty (not to be confused with the similarly-named Peppermint Patty) and straight man Shermy, were less familiar. Both Patty and Shermy play prominent roles in these initial strips. Later additions include Charlie Brown’s crush Violet as well as the toddlers Schroeder and Lucy. Lucy’s younger brother Linus is also introduced in these early strips. I was surprised how this collection really showed me how Schulz established and built up the relationships between characters rather slowly. Schulz really took his time, allowing the reader to really get to know the cast of characters.

Schulz’s ability to create such a rich world with an economy of elements is impressive. Sweet without being overly saccharine, Peanuts is deceptively simple. The strips are genuinely funny, full of slapstick humor as well as clever wordplay. The artwork manages to be charming and spirited while using an economy of lines. Any aspiring cartoonist should have this volume on hand.

Schulz managed to tap into universal truths about childhood without sounding pedantic. Peanuts is imbued with so much grace and nuance while still remaining playful. Charlie Brown and his friends explore the tensions and challenges of people decades older than they are.

All of the characters are wonderfully complex. The loveable Charlie Brown craves acceptance from his peers but cannot resist making a good joke at their expense. Though often depicted playing with dolls, Patty asserts the value of women and refuses to accept any notion of male superiority. Schroeder’s passion for music, while played for laughs, also hints towards a respect for all-consuming artistic talents that cannot be ignored. Lucy delights in histrionic behavior with such self-awareness that you realize she is in on the joke.

Schulz knew how to juxtapose adult anxieties with children’s gameplay. Kids who talk about being depressed or hypocrites while engaged in high-energy play are not real kids. Instead, Schulz made the characters in Peanuts mirror adult concerns and responsibilities. When we laugh at Charlie Brown we are really laughing at ourselves.

Schulz emphasizes this metanarrative in several instances. Peanuts exploits this to great effect while also commenting on the medium of comics itself. The characters in Peanuts are seen reading comics, often remarking at how engrossing and wonderful the medium is. Less frequently, other moments directly address the characters living within the comics medium. In one strip, solitary genius Schroeder is frustrated with the lack of appreciation his music receives and reaches his boiling point when Charlie Brown does not understand the significance of possessing perfect pitch. Instead of simply stomping away, the last panel has Schroeder directly address the reader exclaiming, “Sometimes I think I should put in a transfer to a new comic strip!” By presenting them utterly devoid of irony, Schulz handles moments like these without making them cheesy or clichéd.

I found myself admiring Charlie Brown’s outlook on life. Charlie Brown is often thought of as a somber personality, prone to depression and existential angst. But Charlie Brown is earnest. Though often discouraged, he perseveres. Charlie Brown is frequently shown losing but he is not a loser. Charlie Brown is also easily cheered, possessing the admirable ability to laugh at himself and enjoy small victories. All things considered, exploring the beginnings of Charlie Brown’s comic strip life was a wonderful adventure.

Charles SchulzCharlie BrownFantagraphicsFrancesca LynPeanuts

Share On:
Tweet
Tag Team Review: ‘Mixtape’ #5 Gets Daniel and Jason Thinking About Mortality and Music
BTFT: Do New Comics Suck? Part 1

About The Author

<a href="http://comicsbulletin.com/byline/francesca-lyn/" rel="tag">Francesca Lyn</a>
Francesca Lyn

Francesca Lyn is a writer for Comics Bulletin

Related Posts

  • Fantagraphics To Publish Monsters by Legendary Cartoonist Barry Windsor-Smith

    Daniel Gehen
    May 29, 2020
  • Fantagraphics Announces Studio Editions for Daniel Clowes & Ed Piskor

    Daniel Gehen
    February 26, 2019
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders