September 11, 1953: Turn your head, Ludwig

I'm rather fond of this one. It's a good example of an idea you simply don't see in other comic strips. What is it about it that makes it possible for Peanuts, but not other comics?

This expression is similar to a chagrimace, but it's subtly different. Charlie Brown's emotion is of amusement, not dismay.

September 10, 1953: SUPPER'S READY!!

Thanks, Lucy.

She takes another step along the path from sweet-natured little girl to pint-sized Dracula.

September 9, 1953: Hearing marshmallows

Part of the fun of the character is that Snoopy is both a person and not, and Schulz can decide for himself which he is more like. When one is expected and the other provided, there is humor in that moment.

This is a weird place in the development of Snoopy's visual development. He's thicker here than in the years to come. He gets longer and leaner for a while, but afterwards seems to pull back a bit into the "balloon animal" shape of the later years of the strip.

I might have missed one or two, but this is the first time I can recall seeing a single, serif Z representing sleep. Such Zs become an important part of the strip's comic language.

September 8, 1953: Two bears fighting

Here, Charlie Brown and Lucy's roles are neatly reversed from their later personalities. That look in Lucy's face in particular is one she never seems to adopt later. It's an expression that only rarely shows up in Peanuts, but it does happen once in a while.

Sunday, September 6, 1953: MAYBE

This one's awesome for that last panel, and that note of concern you can hear in Charlie Brown's voice. Yes I said hear. I know they're just words on the page, that doesn't mean I can't hear it.

This does put the uncertainty back into just who is Snoopy's owner. It still has not been conclusively said at any point, it's just been implied from time to time.

September 5, 1953: More on Lucy's picnic school career

Previously.

I still don't know what the heck picnic school is. Nice fence, though.

September 4, 1953: Wash your mouth out with soap young man

Sacrilege!

September 2, 1953: Why, I never!

Never trust a girl who speaks in serif lettering.

September 1, 1953: BIRD

I've seen this happen to cats. Probably on YouTube. It's really kind of a plain strip though. The premise is really just "Birds can dive on things that annoy them."

It is another step along the road to Woodstock, though.

August 31, 1953: Teaming up

Violet can be something of a copycat, can't she?

Complaining that CB is crazy or talks too much I guess I could possibly understand, but how could the kid do anything about his face?