More badly-framed strips from that odd place in the internet Peanuts archives, probably caused by an oversight when these were scanned in from print compilations.
March 22, 1954:
At this point in the strip, examples like yesterday notwithstanding, Patty is kind of like the female Charlie Brown. Not in the sense of being defeated by the world, but in the sense of being an every-person suitable for use in general. She is rather more competent than Charlie Brown though, and clearer-headed.
Again, the difference between Peanuts and other strips? Poorer strips would probably end with a sarcastic comment from Patty and make that the punchline. Competent strips would end with Charlie Brown pointing at Snoopy, and letting the reader laugh at that dumb kid himself. Peanuts gives us that last panel, which sympathizes with Charlie Brown. It recognizes that, hey, we're all stupid like this sometime, and when we realize that we are we should be embarrassed about it. But we should also get out of the weather.
March 23, 1954:
MUDPIEZZZZZ
Violet's fixation on the preparation of mud pies is one of the earliest recognizable traits exhibited by a specific Peanuts character. We haven't seen it for a while though. As I've said previously, when you're sentenced to come up with a joke a day for the rest of your life, you use what you think of. Schulz attacked this somewhat dismal craft without complaint, and frequently with genius.
March 24, 1954:
Charlie Brown's insecure personality is developing clearly now, but Schulz still gives him an out sometimes, with the kids calling for him.
