Review in The Times

The Sunday Times best books 2007: humour:

“Peanuts has been a little out of fashion recently, but even from the first two volumes of The Complete Peanuts (Canongate £15 each) you can see that its creator Charles Schulz was ahead of his time in the matter of sexual politics. In the 1960s and 1970s, Snoopy the dog was unaccountably the star. But in these first volumes (1950-54), we can already see what will appeal to 21st-century readers.

It is the emerging duel between the downtrodden male, Charlie Brown, and the dynamic, confident Lucy Van Pelt (who will later juggle a career as a street psychiatrist with her absorbing hobby as America’s leading bossy boots). The plan is to republish the whole lot, from 1950 to 2000.”

Review in The List

Charles M Schulz – Small world:

“It’s the little things that make the difference. In the case of the Charles M Schulz cartoon strips, that could mean the smallest of pen strokes for a raised eyebrow, an extra crease on a forehead, the downward bend on the ends of a mouth. Schulz created a world which was defined by crucially tight limitations, inhabited by kids who never grew up, living in a land without adults where pets could become World War II flying aces or orchestra conductors in the space of a couple of frames. Despite, or because of this, he managed to produce a strip every working day of his life for over 50 years, some 17,897 in total, which were published globally and remains the most successful endeavour of its kind. So, in a true feat of publishing cojones, Canongate celebrate his life and work by publishing every strip, two handsome hardback volumes a year from now until 2016.”

Other reviews

‘…as powerful a comic art-piece as anything out today…will delight Peanuts aficionados.’ Observer

‘…these timely re-issues illustrate not only the skill and subtle brilliance of his work but also the origins of the form beyond simple merriment.’ The List

‘Beautifully designed…One of the high-water marks of post-war popular culture.’ Daily Telegraph

‘Canongate has had the brilliant wheeze of reprinting Charles Schultz’s strip cartoon from the beginning in hardback volumes…’ Herald

‘The Complete Peanuts is beautifully bound, a comprehensive resource and, with an index and introduction, a useful contextualisation of a modern legend.’ The Skinny

‘…in these first volumes (1950-54), we can already see what will appeal to 21st century readers.’ Sunday Times