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The Complete Peanuts #10
The Complete Peanuts, 1969–1970
The New York Times best-selling series continues!
He turns up first as Snoopy’s secretary, then gradually becomes a good friend whom Snoopy helps to fly South... but it’s not until June 22, 1970 that the little bird gains a name, in a perfect salute to the decade that ends with this volume: Woodstock!
In other timely stories, Peppermint Patty runs afoul of her school’s dress code (those sandals!), Lucy declares herself a “New Feminist,” and Snoopy’s return to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm on a speaking engagement climaxes in a riot and a new love found amidst the teargas (“She had the softest paws...”).
Speaking of Snoopy, this volume falls under the sign of the Great Beagle, as three separate storylines focus on the mysterious sovereign of Beagledom. First Snoopy is summoned by a wrathful G.B. when Frieda submits a complaint about his (Snoopy’s) desultory rabbit-chasing efforts; then, back in the Great one’s good graces, Snoopy is sent on a secret mission; and finally he himself ascends (briefly!) to the mantle of Great Beagledom.
In other news, an exasperated Lucy throws Schroeder’s piano into the maw of the kite-eating tree, with gruesome results... Miss Othmar goes on strike and Linus gets involved... Charlie Brown’s baseball team has an actual (brief) winning streak... Snoopy’s quest to compete in the Oakland ice skating competition is thwarted by his inability to find a partner... Charlie Brown goes to a banquet to meet his hapless baseball hero Joe Shlabotnik... Snoopy is left in the Van Pelt family’s care as Charlie and Sally Brown head out of town for a vacation... and (alas) the Little Red-Haired Girl moves away...
This volume also features a new introduction by renowned illustrator Mo Willems and, as always, gorgeous design by award-winning cartoonist Seth.
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.
He turns up first as Snoopy’s secretary, then gradually becomes a good friend whom Snoopy helps to fly South... but it’s not until June 22, 1970 that the little bird gains a name, in a perfect salute to the decade that ends with this volume: Woodstock!
In other timely stories, Peppermint Patty runs afoul of her school’s dress code (those sandals!), Lucy declares herself a “New Feminist,” and Snoopy’s return to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm on a speaking engagement climaxes in a riot and a new love found amidst the teargas (“She had the softest paws...”).
Speaking of Snoopy, this volume falls under the sign of the Great Beagle, as three separate storylines focus on the mysterious sovereign of Beagledom. First Snoopy is summoned by a wrathful G.B. when Frieda submits a complaint about his (Snoopy’s) desultory rabbit-chasing efforts; then, back in the Great one’s good graces, Snoopy is sent on a secret mission; and finally he himself ascends (briefly!) to the mantle of Great Beagledom.
In other news, an exasperated Lucy throws Schroeder’s piano into the maw of the kite-eating tree, with gruesome results... Miss Othmar goes on strike and Linus gets involved... Charlie Brown’s baseball team has an actual (brief) winning streak... Snoopy’s quest to compete in the Oakland ice skating competition is thwarted by his inability to find a partner... Charlie Brown goes to a banquet to meet his hapless baseball hero Joe Shlabotnik... Snoopy is left in the Van Pelt family’s care as Charlie and Sally Brown head out of town for a vacation... and (alas) the Little Red-Haired Girl moves away...
This volume also features a new introduction by renowned illustrator Mo Willems and, as always, gorgeous design by award-winning cartoonist Seth.
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.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2008
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About the author
Charles M. Schulz
3,024 books1,636 followersCharles Monroe Schulz was an American cartoonist, whose comic strip Peanuts proved one of the most popular and influential in the history of the medium, and is still widely reprinted on a daily basis.
Schulz's first regular cartoons, Li'l Folks, were published from 1947 to 1950 by the St. Paul Pioneer Press; he first used the name Charlie Brown for a character there, although he applied the name in four gags to three different boys and one buried in sand. The series also had a dog that looked much like Snoopy. In 1948, Schulz sold a cartoon to The Saturday Evening Post; the first of 17 single-panel cartoons by Schulz that would be published there. In 1948, Schulz tried to have Li'l Folks syndicated through the Newspaper Enterprise Association. Schulz would have been an independent contractor for the syndicate, unheard of in the 1940s, but the deal fell through. Li'l Folks was dropped from the Pioneer Press in January, 1950.
Later that year, Schulz approached the United Feature Syndicate with his best strips from Li'l Folks, and Peanuts made its first appearance on October 2, 1950. The strip became one of the most popular comic strips of all time. He also had a short-lived sports-oriented comic strip called It's Only a Game (1957–1959), but he abandoned it due to the demands of the successful Peanuts. From 1956 to 1965 he contributed a single-panel strip ("Young Pillars") featuring teenagers to Youth, a publication associated with the Church of God.
Peanuts ran for nearly 50 years, almost without interruption; during the life of the strip, Schulz took only one vacation, a five-week break in late 1997. At its peak, Peanuts appeared in more than 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries. Schulz stated that his routine every morning consisted of eating a jelly donut and sitting down to write the day's strip. After coming up with an idea (which he said could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours), he began drawing it, which took about an hour for dailies and three hours for Sunday strips. He stubbornly refused to hire an inker or letterer, saying that "it would be equivalent to a golfer hiring a man to make his putts for him." In November 1999 Schulz suffered a stroke, and later it was discovered that he had colon cancer that had metastasized. Because of the chemotherapy and the fact he could not read or see clearly, he announced his retirement on December 14, 1999.
Schulz often touched on religious themes in his work, including the classic television cartoon, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), which features the character Linus van Pelt quoting the King James Version of the Bible Luke 2:8-14 to explain "what Christmas is all about." In personal interviews Schulz mentioned that Linus represented his spiritual side. Schulz, reared in the Lutheran faith, had been active in the Church of God as a young adult and then later taught Sunday school at a United Methodist Church. In the 1960s, Robert L. Short interpreted certain themes and conversations in Peanuts as being consistent with parts of Christian theology, and used them as illustrations during his lectures about the gospel, as he explained in his bestselling paperback book, The Gospel According to Peanuts, the first of several books he wrote on religion and Peanuts, and other popular culture items. From the late 1980s, however, Schulz described himself in interviews as a "secular humanist": “I do not go to church anymore... I guess you might say I've come around to secular humanism, an obligation I believe all humans have to others and the world we live in.”
Schulz's first regular cartoons, Li'l Folks, were published from 1947 to 1950 by the St. Paul Pioneer Press; he first used the name Charlie Brown for a character there, although he applied the name in four gags to three different boys and one buried in sand. The series also had a dog that looked much like Snoopy. In 1948, Schulz sold a cartoon to The Saturday Evening Post; the first of 17 single-panel cartoons by Schulz that would be published there. In 1948, Schulz tried to have Li'l Folks syndicated through the Newspaper Enterprise Association. Schulz would have been an independent contractor for the syndicate, unheard of in the 1940s, but the deal fell through. Li'l Folks was dropped from the Pioneer Press in January, 1950.
Later that year, Schulz approached the United Feature Syndicate with his best strips from Li'l Folks, and Peanuts made its first appearance on October 2, 1950. The strip became one of the most popular comic strips of all time. He also had a short-lived sports-oriented comic strip called It's Only a Game (1957–1959), but he abandoned it due to the demands of the successful Peanuts. From 1956 to 1965 he contributed a single-panel strip ("Young Pillars") featuring teenagers to Youth, a publication associated with the Church of God.
Peanuts ran for nearly 50 years, almost without interruption; during the life of the strip, Schulz took only one vacation, a five-week break in late 1997. At its peak, Peanuts appeared in more than 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries. Schulz stated that his routine every morning consisted of eating a jelly donut and sitting down to write the day's strip. After coming up with an idea (which he said could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours), he began drawing it, which took about an hour for dailies and three hours for Sunday strips. He stubbornly refused to hire an inker or letterer, saying that "it would be equivalent to a golfer hiring a man to make his putts for him." In November 1999 Schulz suffered a stroke, and later it was discovered that he had colon cancer that had metastasized. Because of the chemotherapy and the fact he could not read or see clearly, he announced his retirement on December 14, 1999.
Schulz often touched on religious themes in his work, including the classic television cartoon, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), which features the character Linus van Pelt quoting the King James Version of the Bible Luke 2:8-14 to explain "what Christmas is all about." In personal interviews Schulz mentioned that Linus represented his spiritual side. Schulz, reared in the Lutheran faith, had been active in the Church of God as a young adult and then later taught Sunday school at a United Methodist Church. In the 1960s, Robert L. Short interpreted certain themes and conversations in Peanuts as being consistent with parts of Christian theology, and used them as illustrations during his lectures about the gospel, as he explained in his bestselling paperback book, The Gospel According to Peanuts, the first of several books he wrote on religion and Peanuts, and other popular culture items. From the late 1980s, however, Schulz described himself in interviews as a "secular humanist": “I do not go to church anymore... I guess you might say I've come around to secular humanism, an obligation I believe all humans have to others and the world we live in.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
January 3, 2022
I always finish the year with a book from The Complete Peanuts collection, and it’s always fun.
1969-70 was very Lucy/Schroeder heavy and those were the best parts of the book. It’s also very Woodstock heavy, and 1970 was the year he got his name. (Schulz always said he was named Woodstock in honor of the festival, but reading it in context it seems to be a joke about how clumsy a bird he is. Basically it’s a pot joke?) There was probably a little too much Woodstock overall.
1969-70 was a tumultuous time in America and Peanuts didn’t shy away from it. Snoopy gets mixed up in a Vietnam war riot. It’s done in a subtle, funny way, but Schulz still manages to make a point about what was going on (specifically dogs being sent to war in harm’s way). Very cool.
One of the best storylines of the book was Snoopy being summoned by the Head Beagle. I also enjoyed Sally and Charlie Brown’s interactions ahead of going back to school, and Linus going out to do his part of the Christmas pageant and making a point to read from the Gospel of Matthew, after famously reading from Luke in a previous strip that was turned into the famous Christmas special.
This volume isn’t as great as some of the previous ones, but they are all great.
A couple of the Lucy/Schroeder strips - gocomics.com/peanuts/1969/02/20; gocomics.com/peanuts/1970/12/16
A great Charlie Brown strip - gocomics.com/peanuts/1970/01/16
1969-70 was very Lucy/Schroeder heavy and those were the best parts of the book. It’s also very Woodstock heavy, and 1970 was the year he got his name. (Schulz always said he was named Woodstock in honor of the festival, but reading it in context it seems to be a joke about how clumsy a bird he is. Basically it’s a pot joke?) There was probably a little too much Woodstock overall.
1969-70 was a tumultuous time in America and Peanuts didn’t shy away from it. Snoopy gets mixed up in a Vietnam war riot. It’s done in a subtle, funny way, but Schulz still manages to make a point about what was going on (specifically dogs being sent to war in harm’s way). Very cool.
One of the best storylines of the book was Snoopy being summoned by the Head Beagle. I also enjoyed Sally and Charlie Brown’s interactions ahead of going back to school, and Linus going out to do his part of the Christmas pageant and making a point to read from the Gospel of Matthew, after famously reading from Luke in a previous strip that was turned into the famous Christmas special.
This volume isn’t as great as some of the previous ones, but they are all great.
A couple of the Lucy/Schroeder strips - gocomics.com/peanuts/1969/02/20; gocomics.com/peanuts/1970/12/16
A great Charlie Brown strip - gocomics.com/peanuts/1970/01/16
December 28, 2021
Most of the introductory essays to this series are, with the exception of the touching one by Bill Melendez, forgettable. But Mo Willems' essay for this edition is worth noting:
Many have spent time arguing that comics in general and Sparky's strip in particular are works of Art. But to me, that misses the point. Peanuts isn't Art.Brilliant!
It's better.
Art is a single work, or maybe a collection of pieces, finite and quickly consumed. It hangs in a guarded room, existing only in one place. Any reproductions are inherently inferior to the real thing.
But Sparky's comic strip transcends those petty limitations. Charlie Brown's adventures continue for half a century, and you don't have to make a pilgrimage to experience them. The strip comes to you, in your home, with reproductions that aren't inferior to the work: they are the work.
May 4, 2025
snoopy's stealing the show, he's just so cute <3 i loved when he briefly became head beagle and had to quit a couple weeks later due to the enormous stress and workload
he also went to the moon! not only it was a panel i loved, but it also resulted in him becoming the official mascot of nasa in real life
he also went to the moon! not only it was a panel i loved, but it also resulted in him becoming the official mascot of nasa in real life
June 21, 2021
Lucy: "Life is a mystery, Charlie Brown... Do you know the answer?"
Charlie Brown: "Be kind, don't smoke, be prompt, smile a lot, eat sensibly, avoid cavities and mark your ballot carefully, avoid too much sun, send overseas packages early, love all creatures above and below, insure you belongings and try to keep the ball low..."
Lucy: "Hold real still because I'm going to hit you a very sharp blow on the nose!"
Charlie Brown: "Be kind, don't smoke, be prompt, smile a lot, eat sensibly, avoid cavities and mark your ballot carefully, avoid too much sun, send overseas packages early, love all creatures above and below, insure you belongings and try to keep the ball low..."
Lucy: "Hold real still because I'm going to hit you a very sharp blow on the nose!"
July 6, 2021
We are in the era where Snoopy was, albeit briefly, head beagle ably assisted by his new secretary, Woodstock. He also survives the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm riot. Sally is not enjoying the thought of yet another year at school. Charlie Brown is the same old Charlie Brown. You will have guessed from my reviews of the earlier volumes in this series I am very much a fan of Peanuts and always will be.
September 26, 2025
Moving into its third decade, Peanuts could have easily been in steep decline; instead, it's not terribly far from peak value in this collection. 1969 launches with a strip on January 1 featuring Lucy vowing that this will be her year to shine. She resents Charlie Brown's overture to claim part of the year for himself, as we all sometimes unreasonably do when others encroach on our grand plans. February 13 (page twenty) is a familiar gag from the 1975 Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown animated special, though here it's Charlie Brown and not Linus pounding the chalkboard erasers. February 16 (page twenty-one) is also in the animated special: Charlie Brown desperately wants to check his mailbox for a valentine from the Little Red-Haired Girl, but what if the box is empty? His indecision is something we've all endured. February 21 (page twenty-three), Sally confides in Charlie Brown that each year she worries Christmas might come and go without her noticing. That seems impossible, but all of us fret about our big moment passing us by without our realizing what we missed.
We see a humorous moment between Lucy and Schroeder on March 20 (page thirty-five). Lucy wants to know the meaning of life, and Schroeder insists it is Beethoven's music. When you're passionate, it's easy to become a hammer in search of a nail. Sunday, April 13 (page forty-five), Snoopy lazes around waiting for supper. He gobbles it with gusto, but feels disappointed in himself that a meal is the highlight of his day. How often is the same true of us? A funny exchange between Linus and Charlie Brown on April 21 (page forty-nine) has Linus over-explaining what pencils are made of; Charlie Brown's muted retort is perfect. July 21 (page eighty-eight), Charlie Brown stands alone at night regretting missed chances now that the Little Red-Haired Girl has moved away. His anger at his own demure nature resonates deeply.
"Unfortunately, in the game of life, I'm always hitting from the back tees!"
—Charlie Brown, P. 91
July 30 (page ninety-one) is a terrific quip bemoaning life's unfairness. Charlie Brown is the crown prince of wry one-liners. Fast-forward to February 13, 1970 (page one hundred seventy-six) for the next great strip, in which Charlie Brown wonders what it's like to receive a valentine from someone you love. Will his day ever arrive? May 4 (page two hundred eleven), Charlie Brown asks Snoopy to stand guard outside the house because of a recent spike in home invasions. Snoopy's interpretation of looking "real mean" is worth a laugh. An important moment in Peanuts history comes June 22 (page two hundred thirty-two). After four years, Snoopy reveals the name of his bird companion: Woodstock, who would remain a staple of the comic strip to its end.
"No matter what anyone says, it's much worse to be unloved than it is to be lost in the woods."
—Charlie Brown, P. 237
I love the July 5 Sunday strip (page two hundred thirty-seven), Lucy trying to convince Charlie Brown there are worse things than feeling unloved. His line in the penultimate panel carries more than just comedic weight. July 21 (page two hundred forty-four), Snoopy makes a simple, relevant observation: time of day and our own emotions dramatically shape our thoughts at any given moment. During a baseball game (August 2, page two hundred forty-nine), Charlie Brown is still torturing himself over the Little Red-Haired Girl's moving away. It pulls him out of the game experience as he suffers wave upon wave of regret. I've certainly been there. Linus returns from vacation August 11 (page two hundred fifty-three). Charlie Brown asks how it went, and Linus observes that all towns are essentially the same. Do we ever truly vacation, or just change location?
Lucy and Schroeder were a superstar duo by this juncture in Peanuts, and August 29 (page two hundred sixty) is a hilarious Lucy comeback to a typical sardonic Schroeder statement. October 12 (page two hundred eighty), Sally comes through with a sparkling moment of humor as she writes her "Columbus Day" report. No one is funnier than Sally Brown! December 6 (page three hundred three) is a revealing commentary as Peppermint Patty laments her lack of academic success. What she blames it on is obviously untrue, but it's always easier to externalize one's own failures. The last great strip in this book is December 28 (page three hundred thirteen), Charlie Brown at Lucy's Psychiatric Help booth confessing he fears life will only get harder as he grows up. Charlie Brown never ducked unsettling truths; perhaps it's easier for us to explore them via his fictional life.
Charles Schulz was unique as a children's author, and I like the two years of strips in this book, but The Complete Peanuts, 1969–1970 is among the weaker collections so far in the series. There are fewer laugh-out-loud moments, not as much insightful or emotional commentary, and at times the characters feel contrived. I still rate the book two and a half stars though, and look forward to 1971-72. Charlie Brown and company serve a vital function in my life and always will.
We see a humorous moment between Lucy and Schroeder on March 20 (page thirty-five). Lucy wants to know the meaning of life, and Schroeder insists it is Beethoven's music. When you're passionate, it's easy to become a hammer in search of a nail. Sunday, April 13 (page forty-five), Snoopy lazes around waiting for supper. He gobbles it with gusto, but feels disappointed in himself that a meal is the highlight of his day. How often is the same true of us? A funny exchange between Linus and Charlie Brown on April 21 (page forty-nine) has Linus over-explaining what pencils are made of; Charlie Brown's muted retort is perfect. July 21 (page eighty-eight), Charlie Brown stands alone at night regretting missed chances now that the Little Red-Haired Girl has moved away. His anger at his own demure nature resonates deeply.
"Unfortunately, in the game of life, I'm always hitting from the back tees!"
—Charlie Brown, P. 91
July 30 (page ninety-one) is a terrific quip bemoaning life's unfairness. Charlie Brown is the crown prince of wry one-liners. Fast-forward to February 13, 1970 (page one hundred seventy-six) for the next great strip, in which Charlie Brown wonders what it's like to receive a valentine from someone you love. Will his day ever arrive? May 4 (page two hundred eleven), Charlie Brown asks Snoopy to stand guard outside the house because of a recent spike in home invasions. Snoopy's interpretation of looking "real mean" is worth a laugh. An important moment in Peanuts history comes June 22 (page two hundred thirty-two). After four years, Snoopy reveals the name of his bird companion: Woodstock, who would remain a staple of the comic strip to its end.
"No matter what anyone says, it's much worse to be unloved than it is to be lost in the woods."
—Charlie Brown, P. 237
I love the July 5 Sunday strip (page two hundred thirty-seven), Lucy trying to convince Charlie Brown there are worse things than feeling unloved. His line in the penultimate panel carries more than just comedic weight. July 21 (page two hundred forty-four), Snoopy makes a simple, relevant observation: time of day and our own emotions dramatically shape our thoughts at any given moment. During a baseball game (August 2, page two hundred forty-nine), Charlie Brown is still torturing himself over the Little Red-Haired Girl's moving away. It pulls him out of the game experience as he suffers wave upon wave of regret. I've certainly been there. Linus returns from vacation August 11 (page two hundred fifty-three). Charlie Brown asks how it went, and Linus observes that all towns are essentially the same. Do we ever truly vacation, or just change location?
Lucy and Schroeder were a superstar duo by this juncture in Peanuts, and August 29 (page two hundred sixty) is a hilarious Lucy comeback to a typical sardonic Schroeder statement. October 12 (page two hundred eighty), Sally comes through with a sparkling moment of humor as she writes her "Columbus Day" report. No one is funnier than Sally Brown! December 6 (page three hundred three) is a revealing commentary as Peppermint Patty laments her lack of academic success. What she blames it on is obviously untrue, but it's always easier to externalize one's own failures. The last great strip in this book is December 28 (page three hundred thirteen), Charlie Brown at Lucy's Psychiatric Help booth confessing he fears life will only get harder as he grows up. Charlie Brown never ducked unsettling truths; perhaps it's easier for us to explore them via his fictional life.
Charles Schulz was unique as a children's author, and I like the two years of strips in this book, but The Complete Peanuts, 1969–1970 is among the weaker collections so far in the series. There are fewer laugh-out-loud moments, not as much insightful or emotional commentary, and at times the characters feel contrived. I still rate the book two and a half stars though, and look forward to 1971-72. Charlie Brown and company serve a vital function in my life and always will.
September 8, 2020
This is the second volume of the Complete Peanuts I've read. (The first was 1959-1960.) My appreciation of the characters is growing. I really enjoy the character of Sally. She is probably my favorite Peanuts character so far.
Things that I'm not into: the hockey strips, the baseball strips, the football strips. Lucy making zero progress with Schroeder ever.
Things that made me laugh: Sally's outbursts when confronted with the harsh realities of life, Sally's freak outs about the first day of school, Linus' goodhearted naivety/wisdom, Peppermint Patty (and her cohort) assuming Snoopy is just a "funny looking kid with a big nose" and the rest of the crew somehow never correcting her. Favorites:
1969, March 1
1969, May 26
1969, October 26
1970, July 18
1970, November 2
Things that I'm not into: the hockey strips, the baseball strips, the football strips. Lucy making zero progress with Schroeder ever.
Things that made me laugh: Sally's outbursts when confronted with the harsh realities of life, Sally's freak outs about the first day of school, Linus' goodhearted naivety/wisdom, Peppermint Patty (and her cohort) assuming Snoopy is just a "funny looking kid with a big nose" and the rest of the crew somehow never correcting her. Favorites:
1969, March 1
1969, May 26
1969, October 26
1970, July 18
1970, November 2
September 22, 2021
Peanuts is an unsettling cartoon strip. While light and nonsensical at times, it contains an underlying darkness -- a brooding depression. The characters are not just quirky -- they are all struggling mightily to understand the world and their place in it. Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Pigpen, Peppermint Patty -- they are all suffering and struggling. Even Snoopy, who appears the most well-adjusted, has grandiose delusions about himself.
I identified with this in my pre-teen years. I commiserated with Charlie Brown, I hoped to be as confident as Snoopy. The strip reflected the fears, anxieties and struggle that I was feeling myself. The depression. The darkness. I found a partner in Peanuts.
Let's be clear. This is not Beetle Bailey or Dagwood or Broom Hilda. There are deeper notes struck in Peanuts.
Peanuts lost that darkness and that edge as it moved into the 1970s, so this is one of the last great years before the strip became just Dagwood with kids. That's okay. Schulz was walking a fine line and the alternate would have been more unfortunate. There is a lot of great, classic humor in this set. And there is the same searching feeling of the lost.
I identified with this in my pre-teen years. I commiserated with Charlie Brown, I hoped to be as confident as Snoopy. The strip reflected the fears, anxieties and struggle that I was feeling myself. The depression. The darkness. I found a partner in Peanuts.
Let's be clear. This is not Beetle Bailey or Dagwood or Broom Hilda. There are deeper notes struck in Peanuts.
Peanuts lost that darkness and that edge as it moved into the 1970s, so this is one of the last great years before the strip became just Dagwood with kids. That's okay. Schulz was walking a fine line and the alternate would have been more unfortunate. There is a lot of great, classic humor in this set. And there is the same searching feeling of the lost.
April 16, 2022
At the end of the 1960s Schulz apparently lost some of his inspiration. The comic strips of 1969-1970 just don't feel as original, as fresh or as funny as earlier work. It doesn't help that by now Snoopy has pressed Charlie Brown to the background. Schulz's artwork is still top-notch, but his comics focus less on Charlie Brown's relatable frustrations, and devotes more time to Snoopy's surreal antics: writing novels, meeting the 'head beagle', playing a world famous grocery clerk, etc. More exciting are several other events: Lucy destroying Schroeder's piano, Mrs. Othmar getting fired, the little red haired girl moving to another city, and Peppermint Patty being forced to ditch her trademark sandals at school. This is also the volume in which Woodstock finally gets his name (June 22, 1970).
December 30, 2025
I wish I had snoopy's resume, loved his stint as head beagle and also the moon landing, and that's just two out of a million. give me those qualifications.
and for the first time ever I did read the foreword and the guy is right, there's a charlie brown in all of us. although i like to think a part of every character as if schulz was able to somehow in his wide array of characters perfectly capture childhood and the nostalgia that comes with it.
Special mention to woodstock though because yes I would also like to fly upside down and always hit the same places and fall down, make klunk sounds, and keep playing football even though it pushes me into the ground. just need to find the snoopy to my woodstock.
and for the first time ever I did read the foreword and the guy is right, there's a charlie brown in all of us. although i like to think a part of every character as if schulz was able to somehow in his wide array of characters perfectly capture childhood and the nostalgia that comes with it.
Special mention to woodstock though because yes I would also like to fly upside down and always hit the same places and fall down, make klunk sounds, and keep playing football even though it pushes me into the ground. just need to find the snoopy to my woodstock.
March 25, 2019
Peanuts, continuing. The red-haired girl moves away without Charlie Brown having the gumption to say Good-bye. Snoopy is a hockey player and a checkout worker -- hangs out with a bird who is finally named Woodstock -- is reported by Frieda to the Head Beagle for not chasing rabbits and has a stint AS the Head Beagle -- and we have the return of "A dark and stormy night" as Snoopy takes up writing entirely. Lucy pursues Schroeder and sees Charlie Brown -- and Snoopy, and Woodstock -- at her booth. And more.
April 1, 2020
Some of the best years.
March 21, 2019
I simply love these books. They make me smile and laugh, something I do too infrequently these days.
June 3, 2025
Actual rating: 4.5
I don't often feel bad for Peppermint Patty, but her crying because the school dress code forced her to wear shoes instead of the sandals her dad bought her GOT me
I don't often feel bad for Peppermint Patty, but her crying because the school dress code forced her to wear shoes instead of the sandals her dad bought her GOT me
March 21, 2017
More classic Peanuts. In this volume, Woodstock gets name -- and the red-haired girl moves away.
February 19, 2020
Well, the 1960s have come to an end in this volume.
I actually picked up this series - primarily, the collections from the '50s and '60s - due to a rather negative article titled "How Snoopy Killed the Peanuts." While I wouldn't entirely agree that the character "killed" the series, he does seem to have a bit of an increasing spotlight (alongside Woodstock) in this era; along with the jokes becoming more repetitive. I couldn't entirely enjoy this, mainly due to the fact that I had to read it all on mobile (my least favorite reading experience). I can't dislike this volume, though, because Peanuts remains so charming to me and many other readers!
I actually picked up this series - primarily, the collections from the '50s and '60s - due to a rather negative article titled "How Snoopy Killed the Peanuts." While I wouldn't entirely agree that the character "killed" the series, he does seem to have a bit of an increasing spotlight (alongside Woodstock) in this era; along with the jokes becoming more repetitive. I couldn't entirely enjoy this, mainly due to the fact that I had to read it all on mobile (my least favorite reading experience). I can't dislike this volume, though, because Peanuts remains so charming to me and many other readers!
July 25, 2016
In my journey of reading 50 years of PEANUTS, I took a 6-month break between this volume and the previous one, so it is understandable that I devoured it in one sitting.
The PEANUTS gang is strong in this one, moving into the close of their second decade and into the '70s. Snoopy goes to the moon, becomes Head Beagle, and finally takes up writing again so he can complete his novel. Linus is faced with his first look at injustice in the world when his favorite teacher, Miss Othmar, is fired. Peppermint Patty, surprisingly, has all the tender moments in this volume, from receiving roses from her father, wondering if she can be beautiful, and going to the school dance with Snoopy (or "that funny-looking kid with the big nose"). And Charlie Brown ... Charlie Brown witnesses the love of his life, the Little Red-haired Girl, actually moving away and out of his life forever, or so it seems.
Perhaps the most notable moment of the '69–'70 PEANUTS is that Snoopy's little bird friend that had been showing up since early '67 has finally been accepted as one of the gang. He's given a name—Woodstock!—and even begins interacting with the rest of the gang. Our favorite little bird is finally home!
It's also worth mentioning that the introduction to this volume, written by Mo Willems, is perhaps the most insightful look into just why PEANUTS has captured so many generations' hearts that I have read. Definitely worth the read.
While reading this volume I also watched the 1969 TV special "It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown." I will also be watching tonight the first PEANUTS feature film, 1969's "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," and the 1969 CBS documentary (if I can find it) "Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz."
The PEANUTS gang is strong in this one, moving into the close of their second decade and into the '70s. Snoopy goes to the moon, becomes Head Beagle, and finally takes up writing again so he can complete his novel. Linus is faced with his first look at injustice in the world when his favorite teacher, Miss Othmar, is fired. Peppermint Patty, surprisingly, has all the tender moments in this volume, from receiving roses from her father, wondering if she can be beautiful, and going to the school dance with Snoopy (or "that funny-looking kid with the big nose"). And Charlie Brown ... Charlie Brown witnesses the love of his life, the Little Red-haired Girl, actually moving away and out of his life forever, or so it seems.
Perhaps the most notable moment of the '69–'70 PEANUTS is that Snoopy's little bird friend that had been showing up since early '67 has finally been accepted as one of the gang. He's given a name—Woodstock!—and even begins interacting with the rest of the gang. Our favorite little bird is finally home!
It's also worth mentioning that the introduction to this volume, written by Mo Willems, is perhaps the most insightful look into just why PEANUTS has captured so many generations' hearts that I have read. Definitely worth the read.
While reading this volume I also watched the 1969 TV special "It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown." I will also be watching tonight the first PEANUTS feature film, 1969's "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," and the 1969 CBS documentary (if I can find it) "Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz."
January 7, 2017
In my own humble opinion, I think it is around this time that Peanuts really peaked. This book has some of my most favorite story arcs. It has where Freida reports Snoopy to the Head Beagle; and then another story that I was unaware of, where Snoopy becomes the Head Beagle. It also has the fullest version of "It was a dark and stormy night."
Other entertaining stories include Lucy feeding Schroeder's piano to the kite eating tree, Snoopy going back to Daisy Hill and finding the love of his life, and Woodstock's name is revealed for the first time. Schultz also has a series of different strips with a running gag about the city of Petaluma.
Other entertaining stories include Lucy feeding Schroeder's piano to the kite eating tree, Snoopy going back to Daisy Hill and finding the love of his life, and Woodstock's name is revealed for the first time. Schultz also has a series of different strips with a running gag about the city of Petaluma.
January 4, 2021
I'm loving these hardback collected volumes of the Peanuts cartoons. This time I welcomed the arrival of ditzy and dizzy Woodstock and Snoopy's term in power as Head Beagle.
Brilliant cartoons as fresh and relevant today as they were when they were first published in 1970.
Brilliant cartoons as fresh and relevant today as they were when they were first published in 1970.
April 25, 2021
Moments of deep profundity and humour. Just great.
December 19, 2023
It was cute
April 22, 2021
This collection is Peanuts at its best. The plots are more developed and interesting. The jokes are fresher. And the cast is balanced just right.
One big milestone in this volume is the naming of Woodstock. Apparently the beloved little bird was nameless up until June 22, 1970, when Snoop proclaims "I finally found out what that stupid bird's name is..." I feel like that line is Schulz himself speaking through Snoopy.
Another big event is the little red-haired girl moves away! Charlie Brown agonizes in the moment and has a few heartfelt callbacks to his unrequited longing. It's a little odd to say the removal of a non-existent character is momentous, but the little red-haired girl is an integral part of Charlie Brown's psyche. Just look at the character change of Niles on the show Frasier after he leaves his never-seen wife.
Speaking of unrequited love, Miss Othmar retires from teaching, much to Linus' dismay.
The ending month features some fantastic Peppermint Patty strips. This appears to be before her sidekick, Marcy, was introduced since she isn't present at all. One touching strip has Patty receiving roses from her father, which is a trick I'll have to pull with my own daughter as she gets older. Patty really questions the concepts of beauty and femininity. It's touching, if perhaps a bit outdated, that Snoopy usually comes swooping with a kiss on the nose to cheer her up and make her feel validated. But it's cool to see Schulz do stuff like this with a character like Peppermint Patty.
Some of Snoopy's shenanigans still fall flat. His series of "world famous checkout clerk" strips just aren't funny. His brief role as Head Beagle didn't amount to much. Overall, it's the Snoopy jokes that feel the stalest in this volume. But, I've never been a huge fan of Snoopy in my adult life (I loved him as a kid).
When people think of quality Peanuts, it's volumes like this one that come to mind.
One big milestone in this volume is the naming of Woodstock. Apparently the beloved little bird was nameless up until June 22, 1970, when Snoop proclaims "I finally found out what that stupid bird's name is..." I feel like that line is Schulz himself speaking through Snoopy.
Another big event is the little red-haired girl moves away! Charlie Brown agonizes in the moment and has a few heartfelt callbacks to his unrequited longing. It's a little odd to say the removal of a non-existent character is momentous, but the little red-haired girl is an integral part of Charlie Brown's psyche. Just look at the character change of Niles on the show Frasier after he leaves his never-seen wife.
Speaking of unrequited love, Miss Othmar retires from teaching, much to Linus' dismay.
The ending month features some fantastic Peppermint Patty strips. This appears to be before her sidekick, Marcy, was introduced since she isn't present at all. One touching strip has Patty receiving roses from her father, which is a trick I'll have to pull with my own daughter as she gets older. Patty really questions the concepts of beauty and femininity. It's touching, if perhaps a bit outdated, that Snoopy usually comes swooping with a kiss on the nose to cheer her up and make her feel validated. But it's cool to see Schulz do stuff like this with a character like Peppermint Patty.
Some of Snoopy's shenanigans still fall flat. His series of "world famous checkout clerk" strips just aren't funny. His brief role as Head Beagle didn't amount to much. Overall, it's the Snoopy jokes that feel the stalest in this volume. But, I've never been a huge fan of Snoopy in my adult life (I loved him as a kid).
When people think of quality Peanuts, it's volumes like this one that come to mind.
September 3, 2022
En esta época destacamos el protagonismo de Snoopy, nombrado jefe de todos los beagles y como tal tiene que tomar una serie de decisiones. Destacaría una desternillante historia, donde viste una pulsera de las que se publicitaban en los años setenta para el reuma, y los veterinarios lo dejan ingresado en la clínica veterinaria y le administran una inyección de corticoides, mientras el perro juega a ser prisionero de los alemanes que han derribado su Sopwich Camel. Destacar también un banquete en el que Snoopy, Charlie y Linus con una estrella del baseball. Aumenta el protagonismo de Pecas Patty, que tiene problemas con las sandalias en el colegio y asiste a una cita con Snoopy de acompañante. Obra maestra indiscutible.
August 2, 2024
Another fine Fantagraphics reissue, from the strip's long-lasting peak. Some interesting developments include more depth to Peppermint Patty's character, more Snoopy/bird interactions, including the introduction of Woodstock, lots of birdie "head trauma" gags, the "Head Beagle" (something I'd never encountered before), Snoopy getting away with a lot of kisses, some Joe Shlabotnik-related stories, and an obnoxious kid named Thibault (he seems very true to kid life). A lot of the Charlie Brown-centered strips seemed grim indeed, so I checked and the period of this book coincides with the long-coming collapse of Schulz's marriage to his first wife, Joyce. Lucy is often thought to be a stand-in for Joyce, and Lucy is fussy and violent as ever, for what it's worth.
July 5, 2020
A second collection, this time from the year I was born.
Yes; it's simple, cute, consoling and all the characters are self absorbed. All struggle with their small world... except for Snoopy.
I have a love hat relationship with Peanuts. Reading large chunks doesn't work. But as a daily strip I Image it is perfect. Like a little sermon; consoling your own life and giving pause for reflection.
Yes; it's simple, cute, consoling and all the characters are self absorbed. All struggle with their small world... except for Snoopy.
I have a love hat relationship with Peanuts. Reading large chunks doesn't work. But as a daily strip I Image it is perfect. Like a little sermon; consoling your own life and giving pause for reflection.
May 18, 2021
So I forgot this series was something I was marking on goodreads. So hi. This book was cool.
I liked, but I forgot what happened XD it’s been like a month since I actually read it LOL so yeah. The “read date” is also probably incorrect so don’t mind that.
All I remember is that it was funny, like all of this series.
I’m sorry this wasn’t a great review....
But I don’t remember what happens
Lol 😅
I liked, but I forgot what happened XD it’s been like a month since I actually read it LOL so yeah. The “read date” is also probably incorrect so don’t mind that.
All I remember is that it was funny, like all of this series.
I’m sorry this wasn’t a great review....
But I don’t remember what happens
Lol 😅
July 18, 2023
From the G.O.A.T. of newspaper comics, this is a collection of Peanuts strips from 1969-1970s. Perhaps some will view this as the beginning of the transition where the strip becomes a bit too commercial and loses the cutting edge it once held. It is also when Snoopy continues to overtake Charlie Brown as the real leading figure. This strips are still amusing and the characters are what you expect. Worth the read for fans of all ages.
May 9, 2024
Schulz by second decade’s turn has mastered his craft, both from a technical viewpoint (those facial expressions!) and as an observer of life. The strips here contain a little too much Snoopy and Woodstock, but it’s a good period for Charlie Brown.
August 19, 2025
Sally takes a more prominent role, Snoopy becomes head beagle and takes on the alter ego of the “worlds greatest grocery clerk” . Woodstock is finally named and Peppermint Patty and Franklin take over for Patty and Violet.
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