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A review by manwithanagenda
The Complete Peanuts 1953-1954: Vol. 2 Hardcover Edition by Charles M. Schulz
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
1953 & '54 treated 'Peanuts' very well. Schulz's characters become more definite and you begin to see real results from his experimenting with more complex visuals:
[Awesome Comic Strip]
The cartoonist Seth takes inspiration from strips like the above one for his rich designs for the jacket, cover, endpapers and interior illustrations for this series. These books are so beautifully done. Schulz in these two years begins to work on storytelling, riffing on a joke or setting up storylines that last not only days, but weeks.
[Awesome Comic Strip]
[Awesome Comic Strip]
The above was the tail-end of the quotation marked 'Pig-Pen''s introduction. He wasn't the only new addition though. Schulz was still developing his main cast. Lucy and Schroeder were still "catching up" in age to the other kids; Linus begins to speak and accomplish the impossible with cards blocks and balloons; and Shermy continues to fade into the background. Even with Shermy mostly mute, 'Pig-Pen' made the cast predominatly male. Schulz said in the 1987 interview included in 'Volume 1' that from the beginning he wanted more girls in the strip, which likely led to him rushing Charlotte Braun.
Wait, wait, wait...who?
[Awesome Comic Strip]
I felt a vague sadness about the disappearances of founding characters Shermy and Patty (as well as several other characters as the 1970s wore on), but at least they had spots in the holiday specials and the tv shows. The world had forgotten about Charlotte Braun<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Braun" rel="nofollow" target="_top"> until she showed up on the Antiques Roadshow as the subject of the best answer to a fan letter ever</a>, and even sentimental ol' me is perfectly fine with that. I read her 10 appearances (the last three are collected in 'Volume 3'), and since the last is her saying goodbye to Charlie Brown and heading home, I presume she met the ax before safely getting back. Let's have no more of her.
[Awesome Comic Strip]
[Awesome Comic Strip]
I feel just like Charlie Brown when I debate with certain Lucy-like individuals in my life about what really should be very simple ideas. But, that's a whole other matter. They probably feel the same way about me. What I really should say is that Schulz had a way of translating universal emotions and conflicts into the daily life of his characters. He's a genius. I know that that reads like a mouthful, but I mean it. I doubt there are many who can't relate to what Schulz is saying:
[Awesome Comic Strip]
[Awesome Comic Strip]
Also, it is so hard to pick only a handful of comics for these reviews. I'm well into 'Volume 3' and I already have more than a dozen mentally ear-marked for the review. I try to strike a balance between the funny, the poignant, the unusual, and the landmarks, but I know I can't capture it.* Hurray for Fantagraphic Books, who took on this massive job but also did it in such classy fashion.
[Awesome Comic Strip]
*There is a curious milestone that I haven't put in. In May 1954 Charlie Brown enters Lucy into an amateur golf competition. It's three Sundays and is not only one of the first actual "storylines" it has the only adults to bodily appear in the strip! <a href="http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1954/05/09" rel="nofollow" target="_top">Link.</a>
Complete Peanuts
Next: 'Volume Three: 1955-1956'
Previous: 'Volume One: 1950-1952'
[Awesome Comic Strip]
The cartoonist Seth takes inspiration from strips like the above one for his rich designs for the jacket, cover, endpapers and interior illustrations for this series. These books are so beautifully done. Schulz in these two years begins to work on storytelling, riffing on a joke or setting up storylines that last not only days, but weeks.
[Awesome Comic Strip]
[Awesome Comic Strip]
The above was the tail-end of the quotation marked 'Pig-Pen''s introduction. He wasn't the only new addition though. Schulz was still developing his main cast. Lucy and Schroeder were still "catching up" in age to the other kids; Linus begins to speak and accomplish the impossible with cards blocks and balloons; and Shermy continues to fade into the background. Even with Shermy mostly mute, 'Pig-Pen' made the cast predominatly male. Schulz said in the 1987 interview included in 'Volume 1' that from the beginning he wanted more girls in the strip, which likely led to him rushing Charlotte Braun.
Wait, wait, wait...who?
[Awesome Comic Strip]
I felt a vague sadness about the disappearances of founding characters Shermy and Patty (as well as several other characters as the 1970s wore on), but at least they had spots in the holiday specials and the tv shows. The world had forgotten about Charlotte Braun<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Braun" rel="nofollow" target="_top"> until she showed up on the Antiques Roadshow as the subject of the best answer to a fan letter ever</a>, and even sentimental ol' me is perfectly fine with that. I read her 10 appearances (the last three are collected in 'Volume 3'), and since the last is her saying goodbye to Charlie Brown and heading home, I presume she met the ax before safely getting back. Let's have no more of her.
[Awesome Comic Strip]
[Awesome Comic Strip]
I feel just like Charlie Brown when I debate with certain Lucy-like individuals in my life about what really should be very simple ideas. But, that's a whole other matter. They probably feel the same way about me. What I really should say is that Schulz had a way of translating universal emotions and conflicts into the daily life of his characters. He's a genius. I know that that reads like a mouthful, but I mean it. I doubt there are many who can't relate to what Schulz is saying:
[Awesome Comic Strip]
[Awesome Comic Strip]
Also, it is so hard to pick only a handful of comics for these reviews. I'm well into 'Volume 3' and I already have more than a dozen mentally ear-marked for the review. I try to strike a balance between the funny, the poignant, the unusual, and the landmarks, but I know I can't capture it.* Hurray for Fantagraphic Books, who took on this massive job but also did it in such classy fashion.
[Awesome Comic Strip]
*There is a curious milestone that I haven't put in. In May 1954 Charlie Brown enters Lucy into an amateur golf competition. It's three Sundays and is not only one of the first actual "storylines" it has the only adults to bodily appear in the strip! <a href="http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1954/05/09" rel="nofollow" target="_top">Link.</a>
Complete Peanuts
Next: 'Volume Three: 1955-1956'
Previous: 'Volume One: 1950-1952'