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.: Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz Books
Charles M. Schulz was born November 25, 1922 in Minneapolis. His destiny was foreshadowed when an uncle gave him, at the age of two days, the nickname Sparky (after the racehorse Spark Plug in the newspaper strip Barney Google).
In his senior year in high school, his mother noticed an ad in a local newspaper for a correspondence school, Federal Schools (later called Art Instruction Schools). Schulz passed the talent test, completed the course and began trying, unsuccessfully, to sell gag cartoons to magazines. (His first published drawing was of his dog, Spike, and appeared in a 1937 Ripley's Believe It Or Not! installment.) Between 1948 and 1950, he succeeded in selling 17 cartoons to the Saturday Evening Post—as well as, to the local St. Paul Pioneer Press, a weekly comic feature called Li'l Folks. It was run in the women's section and paid $10 a week. After writing and drawing the feature for two years, Schulz asked for a better location in the paper or for daily exposure, as well as a raise. When he was turned down on all three counts, he quit.
He started submitting strips to the newspaper syndicates. In the spring of 1950, he received a letter from the United Feature Syndicate, announcing their interest in his submission, Li'l Folks. Schulz boarded a train in June for New York City; more interested in doing a strip than a panel, he also brought along the first installments of what would become Peanuts—and that was what sold. (The title, which Schulz loathed to his dying day, was imposed by the syndicate). The first Peanuts daily appeared October 2, 1950; the first Sunday, January 6, 1952.
Diagnosed with cancer, Schulz retired from Peanuts at the end of 1999. He died on February 13, 2000, the day before Valentine's Day—and the day before his last strip was published—having completed 17,897 daily and Sunday strips, each and every one fully written, drawn, and lettered entirely by his own hand—an unmatched achievement in comics.
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Descriptions and Testimonials |
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The Complete Peanuts 1950-1954 Boxed Set [BOX SET]
by Charles M. Schulz, Seth
Good grief! The Complete Peanuts is the most ambitious and most important project in the comics and cartooning genre: over a period of 12 years, Fantagraphics Books will release every daily and Sunday strip of Charles M. Schulz's "Peanuts," the best-known and best-loved series in the world.
1950-52
Most everyone with an interest in its history has seen the very first strip ("Good ol' Charlie Brown... How I hate him!"), but this first volume follows it up with 287 pages (three daily strips or one Sunday per page) of vintage material in chronological order. "Peanuts" was unique at the time for portraying kids who seemed like real kids, but they also had a wisdom beyond their years, embodied especially by the lovable loser, Charlie Brown, who even in these early years has lost 4000 checker games in a row. We see him don his familiar jagged-stripe shirt for the first time (December 1950) and, at the age of 4, at his peak as a babe magnet. Shermy is the other significant boy, and the girls in their lives are Patty (not to be confused with Peppermint Patty) and Violet. Schroeder is an infant who has learned to sit up in order to play Beethoven on his toy piano. Snoopy is an anthropomorphic dog who plays baseball (April 1952) and has his own thoughts (October 1952). In March 1952 we meet a bug-eyed Lucy, who by November has been designated "Miss Fuss-Budget of 1952" and is pulling the football away from Charlie Brown (Violet had done it a year earlier). Her baby brother Linus arrives in July 1952. The book itself is beautifully packaged, the strips printed large and clear on high-quality paper and accompanied by an in-depth essay by David Michaelis, a 1987 interview with Schulz, an introduction by Garrison Keillor, and even an index of characters and subjects.
1953-54
The second volume covers 1953-54, and the visual style and character development is closer to the kids we know and love, as they try to exist in a grown-up world. Charlie Brown is no longer the object of Patty and Violet's affection--derision, more like--and his pattern of losing continues. His misery at checkers hits 5000 (June 1953), 6000 (August), 7000 (November), 8000 (still November), and 10,000 (December) consecutive games, he gets shut out on Valentine's Day (February '53), he wears his first bad Halloween costume (October '54), and he gets a form rejection slip from Santa (December '54). On the baseball diamond, though, he actually has the lead in a game (April '53, but we don't see the final score) and briefly plays catcher. By now Lucy has become the main girl in the strip, and in addition to beating Charlie Brown at checkers, she begins her romantic pursuit of Schroeder (January '53), joins the baseball team (August '54), and wins her third consecutive Miss Fussbudget of the Year title (November '54). Her younger brother, Linus, starts what will become a longstanding feud with Snoopy in the first Sunday strip of '53, shows he's a prodigy in jump rope, blocks, houses of cards, and balloon blowing, and cuddles his security blanket (May '54). Schroeder continues his obsession with Beethoven and reveals the secret to playing great literature on a plastic piano with painted-on black keys (practice and "getting the breaks"). We meet two new characters, the perpetually dirty Pig-Pen (July '54) and the loudmouthed Charlotte Braun, whose funny name wasn't enough to keep her around for long. Charles M. Schulz, whose own insecurity manifested itself in Charlie Brown (who not coincidentally draws his own cartoons), came up with his first multiple-strip storyline (starting with a four-Sunday series of Lucy joining a golf tournament coached by Charlie Brown, May '54) in this period, and provides us with a glimpse of the 1950s--deco furniture ("What in the world is a 'rocking chair'? asks CB), 3-D movies, H-bomb testing, and even what in hindsight looks like a prediction of the troubles in Vietnam (May '54). The second volume maintains the high quality of the first volume; even if it doesn't have the same extent of extra materials, it has an introduction by Walter Cronkite, a note on one strip that had to be partially reconstructed, and that handy index of characters and topics.
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The Complete Peanuts 1955-1958 Boxed Set [BOX SET]
by Charles M. Schulz, Seth (Designer), Seth
A boxed set of the third and fourth volumes, just in time for the holidays, designed by the Award-winning graphic novelist, Seth! The collection of books identical to the individual volumes ships shrinkwrapped, with Vols. 1955-1956 and 1957-1958 packed in a sturdy custom box designed especially for this set. The perfect gift item.
The Complete Peanuts 1955-1956 takes us into the mid-1950s as Linus learns to talk, Snoopy begins to explore his eccentricities (including his hilarious first series of impressions), Lucy's unrequited crush on Schroeder takes final shape, and Charlie Brown becomes…well, even more Charlie Brown-ish! Over half of the strips in this volume have never been printed since their original appearance in newspapers a half-century ago! Even the most dedicated Peanuts collector/fan is sure to find many new treasures.
In The Complete Peanuts 1957-1958, Peanuts definitively enters its golden age. Linus, who had just learned to speak in the previous volume, becomes downright eloquent and even begins to fend off Lucy's bullying; even so, his security neurosis becomes more pronounced, including a harrowing two-week "Lost Weekend" sequence of blanketlessness. Charlie Brown cascades further down the hill to loserdom, with spectacularly lost kites, humiliating baseball losses (including one where he becomes "the Goat" and is driven from the field in a chorus of BAAAAHs); at least his newly acquired "pencil pal" affords him some comfort. Pig-Pen, Shermy, Violet, and Patty are also around, as is an increasingly Beethoven-fixated Schroeder. But the rising star is undoubtedly Snoopy. He's at the center of the most graphically dynamic and action-packed episodes (the ones in which he attempts to grab Linus's blanket at a dead run). He even tentatively tries to sleep on the crest of his doghouse roof once or twice, with mixed results. And his imitations continue apace, including penguins, anteaters, sea monsters, vultures and (much to her chagrin) Lucy. No wonder the beagle is the cover star not only of this volume but also of the beautiful collector's slipcase to this set!
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The Complete Peanuts 1959-1962 Box Set (Complete Peanuts) [BOX SET]
by Charles M. Schulz
Continuing the tradition of the previous two holiday seasons, Fantagraphics presents a deluxe boxed set of the fifth and sixth volumes of The Complete Peanuts, designed by the award-winning graphic novelist Seth. Shipping shrinkwrapped, with Volumes 1959-1960 and 1961-1962 packed in a sturdy custom box designed especially for this set, it's the perfect gift book item of the season.
This set collects almost 1500 daily and Sunday comic strips, the vast majority of which are not currently available in any in-print Peanuts collection, and many of which have never been reprinted since heir initial appearance in papers over 50 years ago. Using archival-quality syndicate proofs for virtually every strip in its history, the series boasts the best-looking, crispest reproduction for a classic comic strip ever achieved.
Peanuts is the most successful comic strip in the history of the medium. A United Media poll in 2002 found Peanuts to be the second most recognizable cartoon property in the world, known by 94 percent of the total U.S. consumer market and a close second only to Mickey Mouse (96 percent).
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"It Was a Dark and Stormy Night, Snoopy"
by Charles M. Schulz
The world’s most talented beagle has found a new career—as a writer, of course! The Literary Ace works feverishly on his typewriter, day and night, atop his doghouse. And while Snoopy is busy writing the next great American novel, you can be sure that the rest of the Peanuts gang will try to get in on the action—especially that “round-headed kid,†Charlie Brown. ’Cause it just wouldn’t be a story without some great characters—the ones right under our favorite doggy virtuoso’s nose!
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The Complete Peanuts, 1963-1964
by Charles M. Schulz, Seth (Designer), Charles Schulz
The Complete Peanuts will run 25 volumes, collecting two years chronologically at a rate of two a year for twelve years. Each volume is designed by the award-winning cartoonist Seth (It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken) and features impeccable production values; every single strip from Charles M. Schulz's 50-year American classic is reproduced better than ever before. This volume reprints all daily and Sunday strips from 1963 and 1964 and is tentatively scheduled to feature Linus on the cover.
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The Complete Peanuts, 1965-1966
by Charles M. Schulz, Seth (Designer), Charles Schulz
The Complete Peanuts will run 25 volumes, collecting two years chronologically at a rate of two a year for twelve years. Each volume is designed by the award-winning cartoonist Seth (It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken) and features impeccable production values; every single strip from Charles M. Schulz's 50-year American classic is reproduced better than ever before. This volume reprints all daily and Sunday strips from 1965 and 1966 and is tentatively scheduled to feature Charlie Brown on the cover.
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Woodstock A Bird's-Eye View
by Charles M. Schulz
For a small guy, Woodstock makes a big impression. True, he gets a tad jumpy around Thanksgiving and tends to have a bit of a temper, but Woodstock can type and take shorthand, and he’s a great friend and confidant to Snoopy–even though the little bird is often the butt of the beagle’s practical jokes. Whether flying erratically around the baseball field or embarking on adventures with his best pal, Woodstock is loved by one and all. So join this famous yellow bird and the rest of the Peanuts gang in a comic strip collection full of fun . . . and flight.
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It's Back to School, Charlie Brown! (Peanuts Classics)
by Charles M. Schulz
For Charlie Brown and friends it’s time to get on the bus and head back to school. Sure, teachers can be hard to understand . . . but don’t worry, you have the whole Peanuts gang to help you along. There’s Charlie Brown carrying his trusty apple, Sally volunteering to bang erasers (with Linus, of course), Peppermint Patty sleeping
in the back of the classroom, and Lucy, as usual, having all the answers. Maybe the most important lesson you’ll learn from this delightful new collection is the importance of good friends!
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The Complete Peanuts 1967-1968
by Charles M. Schulz
The Complete Peanuts will run 25 volumes, collecting two years chronologically at a rate of two a year for twelve years. Each volume is designed by the award-winning cartoonist Seth (It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken) and features impeccable production values; every single strip from Charles M. Schulz's 50-year American classic is reproduced better than ever before. This volume reprints all daily and Sunday strips from 1967 and 1968 and is tentatively scheduled to feature Violet on the cover.
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Good Grief, It's Your Birthday! (Peanuts)
by Charles M. Schulz
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Security is a Thumb and a Blanket (Peanuts)
by Charles M. Schulz
These collector’s editions perfectly recreate the original look and feel of the best-loved Peanuts books—their paper, their ink, even their lamination. And of course, the heartwarming content that charmed the world, sold millions, and launched the career of Charles M. Schulz remains untouched. On every spread there’s a tiny tidbit of wisdom from one of the gang, along with one of Schulz’s irresistible drawings.  It’s a trip down memory lane that every Peanuts fan will cherish.
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The Complete Peanuts 1969-1970
by Charles M. Schulz
The Complete Peanuts will run 25 volumes, collecting two years chronologically at a rate of two a year for twelve years. Each volume is designed by the award-winning cartoonist Seth (It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken) and features impeccable production values; every single strip from Charles M. Schulz's 50-year American classic is reproduced better than ever before. This volume reprints all daily and Sunday strips from 1969 and 1970 and is tentatively scheduled to feature Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace on the cover.
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It's Off to Camp, Charlie Brown
by Charles M. Schulz
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A Charlie Brown Christmas
by Charles M. Schulz (Illustrator), Justine Fontes (Adapter), Ron Fontes (Contributor)
Just like It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Valentine, this illustrated read-along seeks to re-create the popular Peanuts TV show of the same name. This edition also includes a four-song sampler CD from jazz-great Vince Guaraldi's brilliant soundtrack.
With illustrator Paige Braddock aping Charles Schulz's style, A Charlie Brown Christmas retells the Emmy Award-winning program blow-by-blow (with a few omissions), from the ice-skating opening scene to preparations for the school pageant to Charlie Brown's ill-fated Christmas tree rescue. Braddock almost perfectly mimics the show's cast and backdrops, but just as no one could be fooled by even expert impersonation of a loved one, Peanuts fans might find the niggling differences distracting (whether it's Schroeder's too-wavy hair or Pig Pen's just-too-small head).
A "novelization" like this probably can't ever hope to completely recapture the charm of the original, even if it had used Schulz's original art. Although the dialogue has been faithfully reproduced, much of the story's subtle appeal and cultural subtext gets lost in the book's simplified exposition--which is too bad, given that these are precisely the qualities which have made the show (and Schulz's timeless strip) so durable and well-loved in the first place.
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Trick or Treat: A Peanuts Halloween
by Charles M. Schulz
Give yourself a treat (no tricks attached!) with this hilarious collection of more than one hundred Halloween strips. Tag along as the Peanuts Gang rings doorbells for candy, bobs for apples, and scares their friends. Will Charlie Brown receive some chocolate this year or another sack of rocks? Which of Snoopy’s many daydreams will inspire a costume? Which witch is Lucy? And will Linus finally meet the Great Pumpkin? Interspersed throughout these delightful comic strips are cool Halloween tips, including costume ideas, party hints, and delicious snack recipes.
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It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (Peanuts)
by Charles M. Schulz
Every year, as the leaves start turning gold and the night air gets chilly, children all over the world begin dreaming of the Great Pumpkin... Well, at least one faithful child does. Poor Linus. While Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy, and the gang make preparations for trick-or-treating and Halloween parties, this stalwart believer risks their ridicule to write his annual letter to the mystical orange orb, in hopes that this year he'll be able to catch sight of his hero as he rises from the most sincere pumpkin patch around to fly through the air with his bag of toys for all the children.
For over 35 years, children have eagerly anticipated Halloween, not just for the tricks and treats, but because they know their favorite television special will be aired. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is based on this TV program, so now fans can enjoy the Halloween antics of the Peanuts gang any time.
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Who's on First, Charlie Brown
by Charles M. Schulz
The bases are loaded with potential runs, but Charlie Brown’s head is loaded with irksome questions: Will he throw the ball right? Is the little red-haired girl watching? Will Lucy call him Blockhead? It doesn’t help that the seasoned pro at the plate, Peppermint Patty, is staring him down. So Charlie Brown shuffles, winds up, and lets the pitch fly. . . .
Though we all know how the score will add up for Charlie Brown and his team (not quite as high as they expected), with the Peanuts gang, the fun is not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game!
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How to Draw Peanuts
by Charles M. Schulz
In the best-selling tradition of How To Draw Pokemon, this new title in one of Troll's most popular series teaches kids how to draw all their favorite Peanuts characters, including Charlie Brown, Snnopy, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Peppermint Patty, Sally, and more!
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