Customer Reviews

The Complete Peanuts 1971-1972

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I wouldn't go so far as to accuse Fantagraphics of misrepresentation, but... the heavy "Sally focus" promised on this volume's dust jacket (and teased by the preliminary interview with actress Kristin Chenoweth, who played Sally in the late-90s revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) can only be considered a minor theme in this latest collection. Sure, Sally is now a fully-paid-up cast member complete with enough hangups and neuroses to keep a platoon of shrinks occupied for weeks, but there are far deeper doings afoot than her struggles in school. Heck, she isn't even "Sweet Babboo"-ing Linus just yet. No, it's Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty who provide this volume's most memorable and poignant moments. Schulz may have made conscious efforts to be more "relevant" during this riotously incoherent cultural era, but the rock-solid virtues that had built PEANUTS' massive audience are still very much in evidence, above all Schulz' gift for characterization.

Peppermint Patty and her cast of friends -- Roy, Franklin, and, starting in the summer of 1971, Marcie -- are now established as regular players, albeit in a neighborhood that seems to be somewhat removed from the "classic" PEANUTS neighborhood. (Whenever Patty wants to get together with Charlie & co. for some reason, she still either has to meet him at camp or call him on the phone.) As pages flick by, however, Patty and Charlie begin to appear together more and more often, and their relationship begins to turn into something very unique and touching, reflecting the growing complexity in Patty's personality. Patty veers between exasperation at Charlie's inevitable gaffes, inadvertent disparagement (as during the classic game of "Ha Ha Herman!"), intrigue at the possibilities inherent in his presence ("you touched my hand, you sly dog!"), and, most painful of all, realization that she carries certain burdens that, while they are not as heavy as Charlie's, make the two of them kindred spirits of sorts. When Charlie tactlessly mentions the Little Red-Haired Girl during a trip to a carnival (a sequence that, while I don't believe it was ever reprinted in book form, did appear as part of the movie Snoopy Come Home), Patty stalks off in disgust. During a later trip to camp, though, Patty actually sees Charlie's would-be girlfriend and is overcome by sudden self-loathing. The long series of "treeside conversations" between Patty and Charlie commences, with each struggling to communicate deep feelings with decidedly mixed success. It is during this period, too, that Patty begins to clash with authority figures, including a run-in with the school administration over the dress code. The carefree, swaggering Patty of the late 60s is no more. Welcome to the psychological jungle, kid.

Speaking of well-developed characters, Snoopy continues to score plenty of memorable moments, though "Joe Cool" -- this era's attempt to hatch lightning from the same bottle from which Schulz had earlier decanted "The World War I Flying Ace" -- hasn't aged that well. Snoopy and Woodstock's quest to meet Miss Helen Sweetstory of "Six Bunny-Wunnies" fame (a fame that doesn't prevent one of her hippy-dippier, oh-so-early-70s tomes from being banned by the school board), Snoopy's attempt to read WAR AND PEACE one word at a time, and the migratory trip that leads ol' Snoop to the "six-story parking garage" that has displaced the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm are much more memorable. Linus rates a moment of triumph when, attempting to go "cold turkey" with his blanket once and for all by giving it to Snoopy for (chuckle) safekeeping, he actually succeeds -- until, alas, Charlie Brown takes pity on him and gets him "hooked again" with a new yard of outing flannel. Linus and Lucy's baby brother Rerun Van Pelt is, uh, sort of introduced herein -- he won't actually appear on panel for a while and won't become a major cast member until much later -- and, yes, even Sally does star in some of her most memorable gags (including the classic "I got a C in coat-hanger sculpture?" gag, which was probably clipped and saved by many, many art teachers back in the day). Take it from me, however, Charlie and Patty are the characters whose trials and tribulations will stick with you this time around.

This book features the debut of Marcie who'd become Peppermint Patty's buddy and Joe Cool, one of Snoopy's alter egos. Of course, Snoopy carries on with his World War I Flying Ace persona and his vulture imitations (but almost gets clobbered when Lucy hears about the vulture on her snowman). Sally makes the cover and looks as if she's panicking since summer is almost over- "Holler in the streets!" Back to Marcie- she was a shy but sincere girl with glasses, who has a crush on Charlie Brown (whom she also calls "Chuck"). She's a little more honest about it then Peppermint Patty (who tactlessly denies it, unknowing that Charlie Brown has heard all). This was a gag used in the TV special There's No Time For Love, Charlie Brown. Snoopy steals Linus' blanket but when he threatens to toss the beagle's supper dish, he quickly returns it ("I never dreamed he'd fight dirty!" he ponders). Lucy threatens to run away to join a skating rink, albeit with ice skates as Linus quickly points out. Linus tries giving up his blanket with some "help" from Snoopy (the beagle uses the blanket to make 2 sportcoats- one for him and one for Woodstock). Charlie Brown tries to intervene but his help also isn't appreciated (Lucy gives some very true advice- "More harm has been caused by people who thought they were doing the right thing!"). Lucy tries "breaking up" with Schroeder and Schroeder keeps reminding her they never got together in the 1st place! He also promises her a kiss if she hits a home run (thinking the odds of her scoring a point are against it!). This was used in the TV special It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown. Cartoons appeared in You've Come A Long Way Charlie Brown, Ha Ha Herman Charlie Brown and Thompson Is In Trouble Charlie Brown.

Another year of Peanuts has arrived, and with it, several hours of great joy.

How else can you read a full year of frustrations, celebrations, Red Baron adventures, and blanket seizures than with the esteemed world of Schultz. With every season from New Years to Christmas, he intermingles wisdom with humor, joy with sadness, and laugher, with pain. Inbetween, he even inserts some of his own life, as with the Gordie Howe/Snoopy strip seen below. Today, we could add any `star' to the list, yet for a 38 year old comic, it is timeless.

I am highly impressed with the quality of the book, strip reproduction, and intelligent forewords for any of these books. To say that I have disliked any Peanuts annual would be a lie, and if Charlie Brown can't lie, neither can i.

Tim Lasiuta

There's not much more to add to the previous ten reviews I've written about this wonderful series. Gradually, we are approaching having the entire collection of Peanuts comic strips collected in 25 volumes.

What is special about this volume? For me, it's the many appearances of "Joe Cool." Plus, Rerun Van Pelt is born, though we have yet to see him. That will have to wait for a future volume. I'm looking forward to it!

Another two years worth of this classic comic strip. Some of the highlights include: the introduction of Marcie, Snoopy becomes "Joe Cool", and Rerun is born (but not seen yet). Great stuff, highly recommended.

I am so glad to have this book. So many things happen in this book and I will tell you them all. First, Peppermint Patty becomes a main character and she falls asleep in class for the first time. Woodstock goes to worm school. Peppermint Patty thinks Charlie Brown is in love with him so she sends him a letter but he things it's from the Little Red-Haired girl.

Snoopy gets interested in the Bunny-wunnies books and Snoopy falls in love with the author Helen Sweetstory until he finds out that she has 24 pet cats. Sally goes on a field trip to an art museum and her favorite part was the girls got to wear slacks.

Peppermint Patty and Charlie Brown go to a carnival. Woodstock falls in love with a worm. Peppermint Patty meets Marcie at camp for the first time and she calls Peppermint Patty sir. Lucy and Schroeder break up but then get back together.
Charlie Brown and Snoopy go over to see Peppermint Patty and new girl Marcie to play a game of Ha Ha Herman. Behind Charlie Browns back Peppermint Patty says that Charlie Brown is dull and wishy-washy and no one can ever be in love with him. Charlie Brown hears what Peppermint Patty says and is hurt. Snoopy becomes Joe Cool.

Linus gives Snoopy his blanket and says not to give it back no matter what. A day or two later when Linus wants his blanket back Snoopy turns it into a sports coat. When Linus is finally free from the blanket Charlie Brown gets him another one and he is hooked again. Lucy and Snoopy enter the Christmas skating show but when the big day comes Snoopy gets scared and sends his understudy Woodstock.

Snoopy becomes an attorney. Snoopy visits Helen Sweetstory and writes a biography on her. Snoopy reads War and Peace but only reads one word at a time. Linus says the cat next door got Woodstock but it was only a yellow glove.

Lucy kicks Linus out of the house and while that happens their mother has a new baby. Linus and Lucy name their new baby brother Rerun. Peppermint Patty and Marcie meet at camp again and Peppermint Patty sees the Little Red-Haired Girl and she cries and Linus kisses her.

Charlie Brown kicks Lucy off the ball team. There is a strange creature in Woodstock's nest but it turns out to be an egg. Thompson is in trouble and Snoopy goes to find him but it's too late. One of Helen Sweetstory's books is banned from the library. Snoopy migrates with Woodstock and then Snoopy takes him to The Dairy Hill Puppy Farm but it gets turn into a six-story parking garage. Poochie comes to visit Snoopy but we won't see her until the next volume.

That's all you really have to know about this book. I hope you enjoy it. I know I did.

Item is just as described and my son loves it. Hardcover is great to withstand the many hours of reading enjoyment.

Introduced much earlier than this volume, Sally has now become a central figure in the Peanuts world. The years captured in this volume show Sally in her immediate rise in fame and sarcasm, and she's probably the most "adult" of all the Li'l Folks. Her naivete helps balance her otherwise rebelliousness, and she offers a good, strong presence in the Brown household.

Woodstock is also becoming more complete as a character, and quickly growing to be my favorite.

As a life-long Peanuts fan, I can say this series of books is a perfect gift for someone who is a devoted fan. The introduction by Kristen Chenoweth was the icing on the cake!

We have the whole set so far. every fall they come out with a new box set. and every year at Christmas my husband looks for his books. He is a huge Peanuts fan and loves the older cartoons. there is even an older one where an adult actually talks!