The Complete Peanuts 1955-1958 Box Set [Box set] [Hardcover]

Charles M. Schulz (Author), Seth (Designer)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2005

Collecting the third and fourth volumes of The Complete Peanuts (1955-1956 and 1957-1958) in one handsome collector's slipcase designed by the cartoonist Seth, this is the perfect gift book item.

In The Complete Peanuts 1955-1956: The third volume in our acclaimed series 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. 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 includes an introduction by Matt Groening (The Simpsons) as well as the popular Complete Peanuts index, a hit with librarians and collectors alike, and an epilogue by series editor Gary Groth.

In The Complete Peanuts 1957-1958: As the 1950s close down, 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 of the collector's slipcase. Introduction by Jonathan Franzen (The Corrections). 1461 black-and-white comic strips

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 720 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books (November 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156097687X
• ISBN-13: 978-1560976875
• Product Dimensions: 3 x 8.8 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,009 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete 2-book Set : Identical as the books sold separately only cheaper!, April 20, 2006

By 

Zaved Ahmed (Dhaka, Bangladesh) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Peanuts 1955-1958 Box Set (Hardcover)

The Complete Peanuts is definitely complete! It's a real collectors' item! Hats off to Fantagraphics Books for initiating such an ambitious project though their release schedule (releasing only two books every year - it will take twelve and a half years before the entire collection is published) leaves one frustrated.

Each book contains 2 complete years of Peanuts - the funniest comic strip of all time (IMHO). So this two-book set contains four complete years of Peanuts - all the strips that were published between 1955-1958.

Note that both books included in the boxed set are exactly the same ones that are sold separately. The books also contain full book jackets (i.e. if desired can be shelved separately). As of this review date it is cheaper to buy the two-book set than to buy them separately at Amazon and we get an added attractive slipcase with the two-book set.

Recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth every Peanut!, September 6, 2007

By 

Aaron Stack "Book Worm" (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Peanuts 1955-1958 Box Set (Hardcover)

I can't even begin to express how much I am enjoying Fantagraphics wonderful Peanuts boxed sets! The "look and feel" elements are both simplistic and elegant (especially the slip case covering). The archival quality paper is sturdy and clear; these books are designed to last! If you have even a vague interest in Peanuts, Schultz, or cartoonist in general these volumes ( at least multiple years) are must buys!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dream come true, February 6, 2010

By 

Dis Hammerhand - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Peanuts 1955-1958 Box Set (Hardcover)

When I was in school, They would hand out the Scholastic books catalog periodically. I would look at the page that featured the 'Charlie Brown' books with envy. My family's financial status permitted us few pleasures. I looked wistfully at my friends' books. One year I was allowed to get one. I treasured that book but wished for more.

A few years ago while I was in a bookstore, I happened across a bigger hardcover book! Those childhood gimmes came right back! It was rather spendy and I noticed that there were several books. Amazon to the rescue! They're MUCH less expensive and the best deal is to be had when you buy the boxed sets of two with free shipping.

Unlike other comics collections, these books are much more portable. They are sturdily made and printed on high quality paper.

Snoopy become more humanlike in this set. You see the first of his antics with Linus' blanket and his animal impressions. You also see his first attempts at sleeping on his doghouse roof.

You also see a clean pigpen!

I have all of the books currently out and I intend to get the rest of the collection. And Amazon with be there to make them affordable.