Resenhas - The Complete Peanuts 1967 - 1968

Toni 09/03/2012

Subtlety and expressiveness are two key words to describe Charles M. Schulz’ art. I cannot seriously think of another cartoonist whose drawings were so stunning as well as iconic. The swift changes in character’s countenances from one panel to another, as in Lucy’s shout of “Police brutality” when crossing-guard Charlie Brown urges her to hurry up, or Sally’s “I hate your generation” statement, are incomparable. This is something I particularly look for in almost every strip, that amazing change from an almost stoic visage to that of outraged, perplex or self-assured conviction. The strips from 1967 to 1968 bring Snoopy’s faithful bird companion, yet to be called Woodstock, and two more new characters (minorities’ representatives), Franklin and José Peterson. Some of the remarkable moments are Peppermint patty’s first student panels, from which we can figure her disastrous schooling hold ups that are to come; a long sequence of Snoopy’s sleeping-troubles that lead him to a doubtful psychiatric help booth; a great series of Snoopy’s failed attempt to get into school and the end of his dreams of ever getting a master; Linus’ “patting birds on the head” routine and his deal of dropping his blanket if his grandma quit smoking. Snoopy’s impression of the Cheshire cat is another blast. Plus, in this collection one is to find some scenes that will take part of the movie pictures of the gang, such as the story from “Snoopy, come home”, in which the beagle sets off to comfort his former owner Lila who finds herself sick in a hospital, and Linus’ unforgettable remark after seeing Charlie Brown throw a pebble back into the ocean: “Nice going… it took that stone four thousand years to get to shore, and now you’ve thrown it back!” A new punchline, “How gauche!”, is incorporated by the whole gang. This book provides an unique opportunity to witness the gang from the point of view of an outsider: when Franklin decides to visit Charlie Brown and encounters Lucy, Linus and Snoopy before meeting his friend, he reckons he had it all: “I’m going home, Charlie Brown… this neighborhood has me shook. I didn’t mind the girl in the booth or the beagle with the goggles, but that business about the “Great Pumpkin”… no, sir!” That alone would be enough, but genius Schulz had a last panel in which Schroeder comes and say “Hi! Did you guys know there are only sixty more days until Beethoven’s birthday?” That was superb! What is normal, after all? Finally, most incredible of all in this volume is to hear Charlie Brown’s self-acknowledgement conclusions arrive to “My anxiety has anxieties”. How thorough can you get?