October 28, 1953: Creeping up on Halloween

I had no idea that Peanuts merchandising got started so early.

Surprised that Snoopy can say "Boo?" You shouldn't be. It's about the only English word he can say though.

Scribble of ire!

October 27, 1953: Addressed to Abu Dhabi

The stamp pressed directly upon Lucy's head like that reminds me of the old Garfield strips where he'd attempt to ship someone he didn't like (usually Nermal) to Abu Dhabi.

This is another of the sequence of strips where Lucy demands something of Charlie Brown, but goes too far in her demands resulting in some act of sudden rebellion. Interestingly, the act is never depicted itself; you only ever see its results. I would term these strips turnabout strips; it doesn't necessarily mean a chase is involved.

This kind of understatement is everywhere in Peanuts, once you start looking for it. It's not that Schulz doesn't or can't show the violent act, just that A. as with the chase strips, it's often more effective/less upsetting if the result is left unshown, and B. it makes those moments where the violence is shown (Lucy pulling away the football, Snoopy grabbing the blanket, Lucy slugging someone, Charlie Brown hit by a line drive) more effective.

October 26, 1953: The mystery of Snoopy's snout

Snoopy's head is one of the most problematic entities, artistically, in Peanuts. From the side it's great, but from a three-quarters perspective it is weird. His cheeks round out a bit, to give his mouth more room for expression.

It's still less of a cheat, in my opinion, than late-era Snoopy, which rounded out his head in profile but is more problematic in terms of eye and mouth placement. (Of course, there's no law against cheating, especially if most people never notice the cheat!)

Sunday, October 25, 1953: A caper like this needs a good cart-man

Schulz is still learning to write effectively. Panels six and seven are kind of drawn out, with the characters merely intensifying how much they need Charlie Brown. This is a good strip though. My favorite part is the first panel, which is almost like a model sheet for Charlie Brown. His first expression there, by the way, is the only time I can remember the kid looking that happy. I'm pretty sure I've never seen him with exactly that kind of smile anywhere else.

October 24,1953: Dottie

"Dottie" could be taken for either "daddy" or "doggie," right? I don't get the cookie angle, though.

EXTRA: Early Peanuts newspaper ads

Found skimming through Reddit's Comics discussion, Comics Alliance found some early newspaper ads used to popularize Peanuts in the early days.

Some basic character illustrations.  That goofy grin on Shermy's face might be the most personality that character ever displayed.

This one uses the earliest style of character art.  I like how the "PEANUTS" logo is largely the same as it was used even towards the later years of the strip.  Have any of you been captured by their cuteness and amazed by their antics yet?  Remember to WATCH FOR THEM beginning (date)!

There's more at the original page:  I might inline them later, but until them I encourage you to check the out at the original site.


Well, go on!  Encourage, encourage!

October 22, 1953: Linus nearly kills himself three times

Stylistically this is interesting for being composed of eight panels. It also ends with that frequent (although at this point still rarely-seen) concluding word "*sigh*".

Linus is physically uncoordinated enough that he can't safely step on or off a curb, but he's psychologically adept enough to feel despair for his inability.

October 21, 1953: More mystifying Snoopy attributes

We know that his ears are made of imitation leather. Now it seems that the contents of his head are an excellent sound transmission medium.

Later on we have the "Cheshire Beagle" trick and, of course, the Whirlidog. It'd be fun to work up a cross-section diagram, Baxter Building or MST3K Gamera style, showing where all the devices and mechanisms reside that give Snoopy his powers.

Unless he's actually an amorphous, magical, Shmoo-like creature. He's almost the right color for that!

October 20, 1953: What were they doing in there?

Is this the site of the meetings of their "Doing Things Without Charlie Brown" club? Because that's about the most charitable explanation possible for what these four kids and Snoopy were doing in that pile of leaves before CB jumped in.

October 19, 1953: Withers under questioning

When Charlie Brown begs for a piece of candy, he hints and is often disappointed.

When Lucy wants a cookie, she interrogates and demands.

It has to be noted, Lucy probably has a higher success rate.