The Essential Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz: The Greatest Comic Strip of All Time - Hardcover

by Mark Evanier (Author), Charles M. Schulz (Illustrator), Patrick McDonnell (Introduction by)

This spectacular deluxe edition celebrates the 75th anniversary of Peanuts and the life, art, and legacy of Charles M. Schulz, and comes packaged with unique bonus materials.

Extras include: 8 ready-to-frame prints, 5 vinyl window decals, 8 postcards, an iron-on patch, a full-color comic book, and more!

Beautifully designed in a deluxe gift-ready slipcase, this one-of-a-kind 336-page full-color hardcover collects more than 700 images, including Schulz's most iconic comic strips and related ephemera.

Award-winning author Mark Evanier provides insightful and entertaining Peanuts cultural and historical context. An introduction from Patrick McDonnell, a foreword by Jean Schulz, and appreciations and remembrances from key figures in the world of Peanuts make this book a unique milestone in Peanuts publishing.

Seventy-five years since the first Peanuts strip made its debut on October 2, 1950, the beloved comic and its iconic characters remain a touchstone for generations around the world.

From cultural milestones such as NASA's Apollo 10 lunar and command modules being named after Charlie Brown and Snoopy to the classic holiday specials that continue to draw millions of viewers, Peanuts has a lasting influence that few works of art or literature can claim. The power of these iconic characters is also evident from the popularity of modern-day animated movies and iPhone shorts, and even the Gen Z phenomenon of so-called "Snoopy Girls."

This official book celebration of the 75th anniversary of Peanuts is produced in collaboration with Peanuts Worldwide and the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California.

"Not many cartoons live into the next generation, and that probably is the best definition of art, isn't it? Does it speak to succeeding generations? Real art, real music, real literature, speaks to succeeding generations." -Charles M. Schulz

The book includes original contributions by Robb Armstrong (Franklin), Derrick Bang (Vince Guaraldi and A Charlie Brown Christmas), Rob Boutilier (The Snoopy Show), Paige Braddock (Schulz's pen line), Alberto Brambilla (Peanuts in Italy), Benjamin L. Clark (Peanuts paperbacks), Alexis E. Fajardo (selecting the essential Peanuts), Ben Folds (the sound of Peanuts), Sarah Gillespie (editing Schulz), Chip Kidd (design of Peanuts), Amy Lago (editing Schulz), Mike Massimino (Snoopy and Apollo 10), Akio Matsunaga (Peanuts in Japan), Jeff Morrow (scoring Peanuts), Hilary B. Price (Peppermint Patty and Marcie), and Shuntarō Tanikawa (Poet laureate and translator of Peanuts in Japan).

Author Biography

Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000) was the legendary cartoonist and creator of the iconic comic strip Peanuts. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) are two of the most successful animated television specials of all time, winning multiple Emmy and Peabody Awards. His archives are located at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California. Mark Evanier is an award-winning writer and historian who has written more than 500 comics for Gold Key, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse, and other major publishers (including Groo the Wanderer with Sergio Aragonés); several hundred hours of television (including Welcome Back, Kotter and The Garfield Show); and multiple books including MAD Art, Kirby: King of Comics, and Walt Kelly's Pogo: The Complete Syndicated Comic Strips. Evanier has three Emmy Award nominations, multiple Eisner and Harvey Awards, and in 2003 received the Lifetime Achievement Award for animation from the Writers Guild of America. He lives in Los Angeles.