April 17, 1952: His head does make a perfect target

Here you see the only right and proper response to anyone who claims perfection for themselves. To throw a bucket at their head.

CB's personality has been progressing towards his wishy-washy destination, but there is still some of the old smart-aleck there.

April 16, 1952: Poor Lucy

The second time Lucy has referred to herself in third-person. She is largely depicted as sympathetic in these early strips, it'll be interesting to see the point where she transforms into her demonic guise.

April 14, 1952: Schroeder's Adventures in the White Void

Wait, is he inside or outside? The lack of any background makes it difficult to tell.

There's another musical staff in this picture, I notice. No, I have no idea what song it is, although I have no doubt that it must be some song.

EXTRA: From Metafilter Music, it's Linus and Lucifer!

Metafilter user doubtfulpalace contributed this excellent version of the classic Peanuts cartoon tune Linus and Lucy last year for a Christmas music competition. It is quite an awesome little remix! Despite the name, the song really doesn't have anything to do with Satan... unless you consider Lucy herself to be allied with the forces of darkness, which doesn't seem too implausible really.

Linus and Lucifer

Sunday, April 13, 1952: Gangway!

Another first! Here we have the beginning of Charlie Brown's long and troubled career as a kite flyer.

What, precisely, is the context behind "gangway?" I've heard it before, but what is its origins?

April 12, 1952: Ball One

Poor Charlie Brown would never really get much better than this. This is the first strip that puts both Charlie Brown and Schroeder into their respective baseball positions as pitcher and catcher.

Of special note: Charlie Brown's pitcher's mound is a lot more subtle in this strip than it would be later on.

May 7, 1952: Schroeder is speechless

Schroeder does very little talking in these early strips. Here Schulz puts the setup that would make more sense coming out of Schroeder's mouth in CB's, and doesn't even give him a reaction comment at the end. Although he is slowly approaching the other characters in size, it seems like he is still being purposely represented as pre-verbal, even though Lucy, who is apparently even younger, talks (and refers to herself in third person) frequently.

April 11, 1952: Humph!

Snoopy looks quite a bit larger here than before. Compare to his first appearance on October 4, 1950:

April 10, 1952: Stacking blocks

This strip is here mostly because it seems a lot like something Linus would do.

Also, while there might be an earlier example, this is definitely one of the first times Schulz uses a bent-over, upside-down, floating in mid-air character as a way of representing them tumbling through the air as they fall. This gets used most often when a character is shouting at another one or, of course, then Lucy pulls away the football as Charlie Brown tries to kick it.

April 9, 1952: Someone get the kid some rubber bands

Just a funny strip. The third panel seems to be a little closer to the familiar Peanuts style than before. The thing that sticks out about it, to me, is the mouth, that little line denoting how the skin of the cheek draws back as the mouth grimaces with the effort of the throw. I haven't pinned it down to anything yet, though. It just surprised me a little.