The Wrap on Peanuts at 75
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There were so many celebratory articles about the 75th anniversary of Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts we couldn’t possibly report on all of them, I mean even Jeopardy had a Peanuts category on October 2!
And to prove the comic strip’s popularity every answer was questioned correctly.
Here are some more write-ups about Charlie Brown and company received around the jubilee.
Though it surprised me the comic itself didn’t run the first strip on Saturday October 2, 2025 or the Sunday following. As Joseph Nebus points out even the 99 year old Skippy by Percy Crosby celebrated.
Comics historian and Schulz’s editor at United Feature Syndicate for a while Rick Marschall did remember:
Charles M Schulz’s characters are the most recognizable figures in the world, excepting perhaps Mickey Mouse, Taylor Swift, and Donald Trump. Not a new image of the Peanuts gang has been drawn for 25 years, however, but like the Sphinx or the Book of Kells, nothing should change.
It is tempting to praise the strip in terms of longevity, numbers of client newspapers and book sales, and merchandising data. Those are relevant measures, but in truth, the Peanuts phenomenon is best judged by saturation. Snoopy went to the moon, but more dispositive is the fact that he was part of everyone’s DNA on earth. We all had favorite gags, favorite characters, favorite permutations.
The occasion made all the major newspapers and magazines. USA Today, People, The Bergen Record, Minnesota Public Radio, NBC’s Today, The Houston Chronicle (or here), CBS News, Parade, the BBC, Comics Beat, Collater.al magazine, The Times of London, even Major League Baseball, and more.
The big Peanuts celebration was The Essential Peanuts book the 75th year collection for $75.
Author Mark Evanier gave interviews about the book: Comic Book Live, GVN, and AIPT.
Many websites had exclusive excerpts from the book including The Daily Cartoonist, Geek Vibe Nation, Animation World Network, Comic Book Resources, AIPT, People, Dread Central, Coming Soon, and Polygon.
While the previews give us an idea of the book’s contents they can’t compare with the “spectacular deluxe edition.” Trust me the book is worth the price – though with a Barnes and Noble discount and a gift card I got it for $42.
Don’t believe me? Then ask Ruben Bolling:
Abrams ComicArts has just released a huge new prestige book celebrating the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. The Essential Peanuts is 336 pages, and filled with comics, but also packed with commentary from author Mark Evanier; essays, introductions, and quotes from cartoonists, experts, celebrities, and people from the Peanuts orbit; and photos of Schulz and the Peanuts world. It also comes with a sleeve filled with tons of bonus materials, such as a Peanuts comic book reproduction, prints, stickers, postcards, and even an iron-on patch.
This book is a beautiful and fitting commemoration of a profound and hugely important part of American art. It’s great fun to read, and it’s a wonderful memento for the bookshelf or coffee table of any Peanuts fan.
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