The Complete Peanuts 1965-1966: Vol. 8 Paperback Edition

Charles Schulz is very much in stride during 1965-1966. Characters are still developed intelligently. Their dialogues and discussions often pertain to mature things. Some of the dark places Charlie Brown goes because of the cruelty of his peers are on full display. The Sunday Strip where he finally earns a trophy (from bowling a high score), and Lucy points out that his name had been misspelled on the plaque, leading her to taunt him and totally diminish his joy from earning an award, is just black. Snoopy was still a fun and light-hearted supplementary character. True Peanuts diehards almost unanimously agree that his increased role and presence in the strip during the 1980's really led to the strips downfall. We are still years away from that happening in this volume. His role-playing is always entertaining, especially when he plays the WW1 Flying Ace, talking to the French girl who doesn't "speak the English." This is Charles Schulz near his highest of heights. This is wildly entertaining, and has content that both children and mature adults will enjoy. High marks!

I gave this as a gift to my mother who is an avid Peanuts fan. I will say that it seemed a bit smudged and dirty when I received it and I didn’t want to give it away at first. I took a chance on it and decided to just clean it the best I could and it worked, but I would have still liked to receive a clean copy. For this reason, it receives 4 stars.

If you are a fan of Peanuts, then you'll love this collection of the early strips. Featuring such storylines as Snoopy's failed romance with his beagle skating partner, Lucy's troubled relationship with Linus's blanket (who hates her, not without reason), Charlie Brown's multiple existential crises, and Linus's trip to camp, this is a really fun book to have around. The book is a nice hardcover with dust jacket and the size makes it easy to hold and convenient for keeping near your favorite living room chair. I've really enjoyed taking reading several strips each night as a pleasant little break from my research.

Even my great love for the Peanuts comic strips cannot hide the fact that there are gaps in my experience. In this volume, I came across some of those gaps and I expect to come across more in the next few volumes. We are reaching the years before my birth that are not covered by my grandmother's Peanuts collections I read when I was growing up. In this volume there were exciting revelations for me. First, there was the fact that Snoopy was once on the verge of marriage but was rejected! Second, there was Snoopy's first adventures against the Red Baron! Third, there was the devastating fire in Snoopy's doghouse that destroyed his Van Gogh! Fourth, there was the first appearance of Peppermint Patty! All events that I had never come across before which added a special joy to reading this volume. I have been reading this wonderful series as each new volume comes out. Each one has been excellent. The six-month wait for the next two years of strips seems intolerable sometimes but I look forward to the day when all 25 volumes will be on my shelf.

Something monumental occurs in this eighth volume of one of history's longest running comic strips. On October 10th, 1965, Snoopy walks towards his dog house with antiquated pilot's goggles on his head. Laying a paw on its side he says "Here's the World War I Flying Ace posing beside his 'Sopwith Camel.'" So began one of Charles Schulz's most enduring icons. Theories abound as to why Schulz put his warm, fuzzy, and surreal dog in a figurative warplane to fight "The Red Baron." The real "Red Baron" was of course Manfred von Richthofen who was shot down in 1918, during WWI, pursuing Sopwith Camels in northern France. Given the historicity, some scholars have even examined the comics for clues. One claims that Snoopy's battles with the off-frame Red Baron correspond to U.S. troop escalations and withdrawals from Vietnam. Others say that Schulz, a WWII veteran, was trying to uphold the "honor" of war by making reference to a "less controversial" war (though WWI was anything but uncontroversial). Whatever the origin of the "Flying Ace," likely the debate will continue, the image of Snoopy doing battle atop his 2D doghouse has become a solid part of Americana, inspiring hit songs (The Royal Guardsman's 1967 "Snoopy vs the Red Baron"), video games (Atari, Playstation, and others), and a 2001 US postage stamp. Snoopy's "Flying Ace" remained synonymous with Peanuts for the remainder of its run. This incorporated terrestrial war into the strip's existing motifs of psychological war. The rest of the strip carried on as usual. Though some of its 1950s edge had blunted, and some see rampant commercialism taking over at this point, it remained a comic strip masterpiece. By 1966 some of its themes became as regular as the tides. Charlie Brown's baseball team continues its losing streak, the "Great Pumpkin" continues to disappoint Linus, Lucy continues to woo Schroeder to no avail, Beethoven's birthday receives apt attention every December 16th, and Lucy continues to yank the football from Charlie Brown, dashing his hopes for yet another year in an eternal recurrence of defeat. Of course the other major event of this volume occurs on August 22, 1966 when Peppermint Patty asks her friend, Roy, "Who you writin' to?" She, unlike Roy, would remain in the lineup until the strip's end. Although her ubiquitous shadow Marcie has not yet appeared with her constant barrage of "sirs." She even tries to help out "Chuck's" baseball team to no avail and confuses Snoopy for a bizarre kid (most memorably in the October 22nd, 1966 strip where Snoopy, with his WWI goggles, noisily slurps a cup of milk). Other highlights include: Linus' blanket attacks Lucy (March 11 - 26, 1965); Lucy cursing the darkness ("You stupid darkness!" September 9, 1965); Snoopy's success and failure with "It was a Dark and Stormy Night" (July 12 - July 17, 1965); Snoopy declares "I'm outrageously happy in my stupidity" (September 21, 1965); Linus teaches Sally the (old) "new math" (October 5 - 9, 1965); Snoopy ponders the meaninglessness of life and concludes "what am I doing right?" (January 10, 1966); Charlie Brown incorrectly spell "Maze" (February 9, 1966); Sally wears an eyepatch for amblyopia; Linus pats birds on the head again (March 20, 1966); Sally relives "Beau" Snoopy's thirst ("What fun is that?" April 16, 1966); The WWI Flying Ace gets taken to the vet (August 17 - 19, 1966); Snoopy's doghouse burns down and he loses everything, even his Van Gogh (September 19 - October 5, 1966); Linus sculpts more snowmen (December 26 - 30, 1966) One curious series of strips in 1965 (January 22nd - February 12, August 5 - August 13, December 21) depicts an amorous late night tryst between Snoopy and an unseen female Beagle. They meet while skating. Though Snoopy ultimately gets rejected, he sees her again on the beach ("A beagle in a bikini!") but the love affair goes nowhere (a golden retriever interferes). The author of the upcoming book,

I don't know what else to say then what has already been stated by such wonderful reviewers. This, the 65-66, edition of the Complete Peanuts series is yet another taste of perfection. Yes, that statement is acknowledged to be the product of misty reflections of a simpler time. This is the period that I became a committed reader of the daily adventures and troubles of this famous group of children. I was in middle school and started reading them in part because of an English assignment. I wish I could recall the teacher's name but that, like so much, is lost to time. Snoopy's adventures fighting the Red Baron in his Sopwith Camel might have been corny at the time (at least I thought it was at the time), but I'm a devotee of those strips now. I have mentioned in reviews of earlier volumes the magic of re-reading these dailies in their proper order and remembering what I was doing just about then. I'm glad to see that other reviewers experience the same thing. I also continue to be amazed at Charles Schulz's ability to include the mention of some current events and his ability to ignore others. He allows us to ignore the really painful stuff but provides us markers by including others. I have found this series to be intensely personal. I hope you experience the same. Wonderful stuff.

With this volume of The Complete Peanuts we see Charles M. Schulz's world in full flower. The main characters are in their prime, particularly Snoopy, who at long last climbs into his Sopwith Camel and takes off after the Red Baron. We also see the introduction of Peppermint Patty, an inspired addition to the neighborhood. She's wise and clueless at the same time, rendering her a fit companion for "Chuck", "Lucille" and "the Funny Looking Kid with the Big Nose." In this volume we also see the first appearances of some favorite neuroses, especially queen snakes and kite eating trees. As always, some of the best strips include references to current events in the news and entertainment during 1965 and 1966, such as Schroeder's groaning "don't tell me "I've grown accustomed to THAT face!" after realizing he misses Lucy during her family's brief move away from town. (Funny to think that Schroeder took time to see "My Fair Lady" in between practicing Beethoven on his toy piano.) But its also nice that we see little or no hint of the truly disturbing assassinations, wars, riots, and other traumas which raged during those two years: Schulz realized his readers needed a little escapism every now and then. This volume is a particular favorite of mine since it includes the strips that I first remember reading on my own at the age of 8 and 9 in the daily paper. Having the date of each strip clearly established helps me recreate my own early years and also leads to some intriguing discoveries, including that Sally Brown and I had amblyopia at precisely the same time! (She got away with wearing an eye patch, but I had to have surgery!) This volume also includes all of the original Snoopy vs Red Baron strips that eventually were dramatized in "Its The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!", first shown in October 1966. Schulz must have drawn them at about the same time the dramatization was being created, meaning that the collaboration which makes both the strips and the TV specials immortal was even closer than I realized. I hope to see the 1967-1968 volume soon!

got this today,arrived without undue delay, great book. make up your own memories. you know you want this book. personally speaking, i read these books when i was about 13 but they are still relavent . if you got this far i'm thinking that your going to buy it. i did. xoxo.. i'm collecting all the old books that i had as a child. Wonderful.

Some of my most treasured memories in my younger years were reading Peanuts collections. In this book I enjoy reading again the first time the World War I flying ace who’s up. Worth reading and rereading.

Slowly collecting all in this fantastic collection! Amazon has great prices on this Peanuts lovers must-have!

Charles Schulz is very much in stride during 1965-1966. Characters are still developed intelligently. Their dialogues and discussions often pertain to mature things. Some of the dark places Charlie Brown goes because of the cruelty of his peers are on full display. The Sunday Strip where he finally earns a trophy (from bowling a high score), and Lucy points out that his name had been misspelled on the plaque, leading her to taunt him and totally diminish his joy from earning an award, is just black. Snoopy was still a fun and light-hearted supplementary character. True Peanuts diehards almost unanimously agree that his increased role and presence in the strip during the 1980's really led to the strips downfall. We are still years away from that happening in this volume. His role-playing is always entertaining, especially when he plays the WW1 Flying Ace, talking to the French girl who doesn't "speak the English." This is Charles Schulz near his highest of heights. This is wildly entertaining, and has content that both children and mature adults will enjoy. High marks!

I gave this as a gift to my mother who is an avid Peanuts fan. I will say that it seemed a bit smudged and dirty when I received it and I didn’t want to give it away at first. I took a chance on it and decided to just clean it the best I could and it worked, but I would have still liked to receive a clean copy. For this reason, it receives 4 stars.

If you are a fan of Peanuts, then you'll love this collection of the early strips. Featuring such storylines as Snoopy's failed romance with his beagle skating partner, Lucy's troubled relationship with Linus's blanket (who hates her, not without reason), Charlie Brown's multiple existential crises, and Linus's trip to camp, this is a really fun book to have around. The book is a nice hardcover with dust jacket and the size makes it easy to hold and convenient for keeping near your favorite living room chair. I've really enjoyed taking reading several strips each night as a pleasant little break from my research.

Even my great love for the Peanuts comic strips cannot hide the fact that there are gaps in my experience. In this volume, I came across some of those gaps and I expect to come across more in the next few volumes. We are reaching the years before my birth that are not covered by my grandmother's Peanuts collections I read when I was growing up. In this volume there were exciting revelations for me. First, there was the fact that Snoopy was once on the verge of marriage but was rejected! Second, there was Snoopy's first adventures against the Red Baron! Third, there was the devastating fire in Snoopy's doghouse that destroyed his Van Gogh! Fourth, there was the first appearance of Peppermint Patty! All events that I had never come across before which added a special joy to reading this volume. I have been reading this wonderful series as each new volume comes out. Each one has been excellent. The six-month wait for the next two years of strips seems intolerable sometimes but I look forward to the day when all 25 volumes will be on my shelf.

Something monumental occurs in this eighth volume of one of history's longest running comic strips. On October 10th, 1965, Snoopy walks towards his dog house with antiquated pilot's goggles on his head. Laying a paw on its side he says "Here's the World War I Flying Ace posing beside his 'Sopwith Camel.'" So began one of Charles Schulz's most enduring icons. Theories abound as to why Schulz put his warm, fuzzy, and surreal dog in a figurative warplane to fight "The Red Baron." The real "Red Baron" was of course Manfred von Richthofen who was shot down in 1918, during WWI, pursuing Sopwith Camels in northern France. Given the historicity, some scholars have even examined the comics for clues. One claims that Snoopy's battles with the off-frame Red Baron correspond to U.S. troop escalations and withdrawals from Vietnam. Others say that Schulz, a WWII veteran, was trying to uphold the "honor" of war by making reference to a "less controversial" war (though WWI was anything but uncontroversial). Whatever the origin of the "Flying Ace," likely the debate will continue, the image of Snoopy doing battle atop his 2D doghouse has become a solid part of Americana, inspiring hit songs (The Royal Guardsman's 1967 "Snoopy vs the Red Baron"), video games (Atari, Playstation, and others), and a 2001 US postage stamp. Snoopy's "Flying Ace" remained synonymous with Peanuts for the remainder of its run. This incorporated terrestrial war into the strip's existing motifs of psychological war. The rest of the strip carried on as usual. Though some of its 1950s edge had blunted, and some see rampant commercialism taking over at this point, it remained a comic strip masterpiece. By 1966 some of its themes became as regular as the tides. Charlie Brown's baseball team continues its losing streak, the "Great Pumpkin" continues to disappoint Linus, Lucy continues to woo Schroeder to no avail, Beethoven's birthday receives apt attention every December 16th, and Lucy continues to yank the football from Charlie Brown, dashing his hopes for yet another year in an eternal recurrence of defeat. Of course the other major event of this volume occurs on August 22, 1966 when Peppermint Patty asks her friend, Roy, "Who you writin' to?" She, unlike Roy, would remain in the lineup until the strip's end. Although her ubiquitous shadow Marcie has not yet appeared with her constant barrage of "sirs." She even tries to help out "Chuck's" baseball team to no avail and confuses Snoopy for a bizarre kid (most memorably in the October 22nd, 1966 strip where Snoopy, with his WWI goggles, noisily slurps a cup of milk). Other highlights include: Linus' blanket attacks Lucy (March 11 - 26, 1965); Lucy cursing the darkness ("You stupid darkness!" September 9, 1965); Snoopy's success and failure with "It was a Dark and Stormy Night" (July 12 - July 17, 1965); Snoopy declares "I'm outrageously happy in my stupidity" (September 21, 1965); Linus teaches Sally the (old) "new math" (October 5 - 9, 1965); Snoopy ponders the meaninglessness of life and concludes "what am I doing right?" (January 10, 1966); Charlie Brown incorrectly spell "Maze" (February 9, 1966); Sally wears an eyepatch for amblyopia; Linus pats birds on the head again (March 20, 1966); Sally relives "Beau" Snoopy's thirst ("What fun is that?" April 16, 1966); The WWI Flying Ace gets taken to the vet (August 17 - 19, 1966); Snoopy's doghouse burns down and he loses everything, even his Van Gogh (September 19 - October 5, 1966); Linus sculpts more snowmen (December 26 - 30, 1966) One curious series of strips in 1965 (January 22nd - February 12, August 5 - August 13, December 21) depicts an amorous late night tryst between Snoopy and an unseen female Beagle. They meet while skating. Though Snoopy ultimately gets rejected, he sees her again on the beach ("A beagle in a bikini!") but the love affair goes nowhere (a golden retriever interferes). The author of the upcoming book,

I don't know what else to say then what has already been stated by such wonderful reviewers. This, the 65-66, edition of the Complete Peanuts series is yet another taste of perfection. Yes, that statement is acknowledged to be the product of misty reflections of a simpler time. This is the period that I became a committed reader of the daily adventures and troubles of this famous group of children. I was in middle school and started reading them in part because of an English assignment. I wish I could recall the teacher's name but that, like so much, is lost to time. Snoopy's adventures fighting the Red Baron in his Sopwith Camel might have been corny at the time (at least I thought it was at the time), but I'm a devotee of those strips now. I have mentioned in reviews of earlier volumes the magic of re-reading these dailies in their proper order and remembering what I was doing just about then. I'm glad to see that other reviewers experience the same thing. I also continue to be amazed at Charles Schulz's ability to include the mention of some current events and his ability to ignore others. He allows us to ignore the really painful stuff but provides us markers by including others. I have found this series to be intensely personal. I hope you experience the same. Wonderful stuff.

With this volume of The Complete Peanuts we see Charles M. Schulz's world in full flower. The main characters are in their prime, particularly Snoopy, who at long last climbs into his Sopwith Camel and takes off after the Red Baron. We also see the introduction of Peppermint Patty, an inspired addition to the neighborhood. She's wise and clueless at the same time, rendering her a fit companion for "Chuck", "Lucille" and "the Funny Looking Kid with the Big Nose." In this volume we also see the first appearances of some favorite neuroses, especially queen snakes and kite eating trees. As always, some of the best strips include references to current events in the news and entertainment during 1965 and 1966, such as Schroeder's groaning "don't tell me "I've grown accustomed to THAT face!" after realizing he misses Lucy during her family's brief move away from town. (Funny to think that Schroeder took time to see "My Fair Lady" in between practicing Beethoven on his toy piano.) But its also nice that we see little or no hint of the truly disturbing assassinations, wars, riots, and other traumas which raged during those two years: Schulz realized his readers needed a little escapism every now and then. This volume is a particular favorite of mine since it includes the strips that I first remember reading on my own at the age of 8 and 9 in the daily paper. Having the date of each strip clearly established helps me recreate my own early years and also leads to some intriguing discoveries, including that Sally Brown and I had amblyopia at precisely the same time! (She got away with wearing an eye patch, but I had to have surgery!) This volume also includes all of the original Snoopy vs Red Baron strips that eventually were dramatized in "Its The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!", first shown in October 1966. Schulz must have drawn them at about the same time the dramatization was being created, meaning that the collaboration which makes both the strips and the TV specials immortal was even closer than I realized. I hope to see the 1967-1968 volume soon!

got this today,arrived without undue delay, great book. make up your own memories. you know you want this book. personally speaking, i read these books when i was about 13 but they are still relavent . if you got this far i'm thinking that your going to buy it. i did. xoxo.. i'm collecting all the old books that i had as a child. Wonderful.

Some of my most treasured memories in my younger years were reading Peanuts collections. In this book I enjoy reading again the first time the World War I flying ace who’s up. Worth reading and rereading.

Slowly collecting all in this fantastic collection! Amazon has great prices on this Peanuts lovers must-have!

I gave this collection 5 stars because the strip was still at its peak; but, ominously, this is where Peanuts starts to go down hill. The introduction of the Peppermint Patty character is the turning point, where the peak of Peanuts ends and the long decline from greatness begins. Not that there was anything wrong with the Peppermint Patty character to begin with. The character was amusing as an occasional intruder into the Peanuts World; but, eventually, Peppermint Patty and the other characters introduced over the coming years came to take over the strip. This new concept of the strip was not as good as the original, and it got worse as years went by. This corruption of the "pure" original concept of Peanuts, combined with the shocking deterioration of Schulz's drawing ability in later years, clearly marks the end of Peanuts as the greatest of comic strips. Greatness is not the permanent condition of anybody or anything, and no peak lasts forever. Schulz had as long a peak period as any other comic strip artist (George Herriman being a possible exception), and I highly reccomend this volume because it was in that peak period, though towards the end of it. Peanuts was a great strip from the beginning, and it was on a continuous upward arc from there. By the early 60s, the cast of characters was as complete as it had to be, the addition of Charlie Brown's nasty little sister Sally being the last necessary addition. Schulz possibly started running out of ideas for this cast and felt, to keep fresh, he had to bring in new faces. Unfortunately, the new faces weren't as good, or funny, as the originals. Peppermint Patty was the first of these newer characters. Peanuts was still pretty darned good for ten or so years after this, up to the mid-to-late 70s, but here is where Schulz started abandoning the original Peanuts characters and the newer cast was distinctly less inspired than was the original. The newer characters reflected a creeping mellowness in his outlook, which is common for an artist growing older. (Some, like Mark Twain, get nastier and bitterer as they grow older, but, as in the case of Twain, this doesn't necessarily make them better either.) The newer characters were too "nice". Peanuts, for all the (mistaken) talk of its "heartwarming" humor, was not sweetness and light on the comics page. It was a tale of rotten little kids being rotten to each other. This was the source of its greatness. That was the originality and innovation behind the strip. Once it became "mellow" and "nice", it lost its originality and cutting edge. However, though this volume represents the downward turn, it is still great stuff. Rereading it all these years later, I found it better than I remembered. When I was younger, I didn't really care for the Red Baron & Snoopy strips, thinking them too far away from the true gist of the strip. Now I found them very funny. Schulz started to play heavily on the "Bleah" vs. "Nyahh" arguments between Lucy, Violet and Snoopy, which were peaks in silly (but accurate and on-the-mark) humor. The "grit your teeth" baseball sequence, and Sally and her troubles with the "New Math" were other very inspired highlights. Though there were bad signs of the decline to come towards the end of this volume, that decline hadn't set in yet. Peanuts had at least 2 more peak years to come, then 5 or 6 more very good years. Buy this, because it is one of the best volumes in the set, but mourn also, because here is where it starts to go down, down, down.

This series continues to be outstanding. I love being able to read every last Peanuts strip in order. This has been my favorite comic strip ever since I can remember, and I'm glad to have it collected. I will certainly continue to buy the rest of the volumes in the series.

This was a gift to my husband since he loves reading Charles M. Schulz peanuts collection. Per my husband, he said that anyone who reads this collection will love reading it. Thank you Amazon and to your Third party seller for selling these books that are not in your local book stores.

How can you review Charles Schulz? You're kidding right? He's an icon! As far as the collection, it's a must have if you're a Peanuts fan. My husband and I have all the collection books up to this point and they are wonderful. There are drawings from the minute you open the cover and that's even before you get to the comics. For a long time fan like me (Ok my first stuffed animal was a Snoopy) to see the development of the characters from their creation to when Mr. Schulz finished is delightful. As for the book, the quality of the paper is superb and the comics-priceless.

My wife and I started reading Peanuts soon after we were married in South Africa in1967 and we still get enormous pleasure from this cartoon carton strip. Charles Schultz gave us a lifetime of enjoyment and pleasure. We miss you Charlie! (Both the Schultz one and the Brown one.)

What can I say, it's Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy and company you can't go wrong with that. This was my first book of the collection and I found it here used at an amazing price so I bought it. It's one hell of a comic strip!

The Complete Peanuts is simply the non plus ultra of comics. Humor, heartbreak, adolescence, love, rejection, sports, politics, sibling rivalry. Everything you need to know about growing up is depicted in these wonderful strips.

Working my way though all of the Peanuts comics.

Yep, although the spine was broken, it certainly wasn't in bad shape for a library discard-- and it was the perfect way to enjoy an otherwise-pricey volume, and add it to the ol' collection.

Is Charlie Brown the "All-American boy"?

Great book that I bought as a present - it brought back memories for the recipient so it served a happy purpose.

item as described. Loved it, and reached within time

Looking forward to the Peanuts movie coming out..:)

I grew up reading Peanuts in paperback book compilations, so many of the strips are familiar, but reading them in order adds so much more to the experience. Charles Schultz was a genius. This particular volume has some great Snoopy strips, particularly the World War I flying ace vs. the Red Baron.

You can't go wrong with a peanuts comic book!

I am so excited that The Complete Peanuts is being made available. I started with the first volume and have gotten each new volume. Charles Schulz was a master of understatement and pathos. HIs view of the world through the characters--Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus, Snoopy and the rest--is honest and real: skeptical, funny, pitiful and hopeful and very humanistic.

I've been a "Peanuts" fan for over 40 years. I'm very happy that all the strips have been released in book form and look forward to continue to read them again.

Sweet, innocent, and funny. Perfect for kids and adults too. Very refreshing.

These books are just wonderful for any fan of the strip, and who is isn't?

Excellent book and my son has read it many times already. Hardcover will last a long time.

Peanuts doesn't need any comments. Wonderfull!

Great. Bring back good memories.

If your like me, a huge Peanuts fan, you probably have been collecting these since they started to be released as Box Sets. Now a Kindle Version has been released which would have been my first choice if it was available back in 2004 when these started to be released. But sadly I just found out from Amazon, even though The Box Set books are the "EXACT" same books as these Kindle Edition books only in bundles of 2 Volumes, They don't qualify for the 2.99 Kindle Match Price. So Everybody like me who started collecting these Box Sets, if they want the Kindle Edition they have to buy the entire book twice at full price. I don't know how many people bought the single volumes VS the Collector Box Sets, but Im betting more of us bought the Box Sets, like digital Music and digital Video, here we go again buying the same book "twice" when the format changes to digital. If your a kindle reader you may as well save your money and "ONLY" buy the Kindle version. I guess I won't be buying any more hard covers, I hope at least the publisher has the ethics and decency to get the kindle version caught up to the current hardcover version if they are going to force all its loyal customers to buy it twice.

Very well designed book and great collection of a golden age of Peanuts. The three stars are because there are no color plates of the Sunday strips. It was something we looked forward to when reading Peanuts in the papers so why deprive today's readers of the same pleasures unless it is only to save on printing costs? In that case, this series should be less expensive.

Some of my fondest memories of Charlie Brown in the Peanuts gang are going to the local shopping mall with my mom almost every Saturday. She'd be off shopping and I'd be looking at the books...that's when it was safe to leave a kid alone in a store...my how times have changed! She'd buy me a new book almost every week until I had just about every Peanuts, B.C., or Family Circus paperback there was, but, of course, the Charlie Brown books were always my favorites. The latest edition from Fantagraphics covers 1965 - 1966, which I consider to be the real golden age of Peanuts. It is from the mid 1960's where much of the material seen in the Peanuts animated specials is culled. By now, the characters and the personalities are fully developed. This volume would introduce one of the last major characters to the series, Peppermint Patty. Patty was the friend of a boy whom Charlie met while away at Summer Camp. She shows up one day to help her new friend "Chuck" and his baseball team. Despite hitting five home runs and pitching a no-hitter, they lose 37 - 5. Patty also gets convinced by Linus to spend the night in the pumpkin patch for his annual wait on the Great Pumpkin. Another development this issue is Snoopy's first tour of duty as the World War I flying ace who relentlessly battles the evil Red Baron in dog fights over France. In fact, Schulz seemed to be so enamored of this fantasy plot that there are dozens of strips over this two year period dedicated so Snoopy flying his British Sopwith Camel into battle against the Red Baron. Snoopy also continues his long-running feud with Lucy, tormenting her and licking her face at every opportunity, sending her screaming for disinfectant! But Lucy shows she isn't all heartless and mean...as Linus sits in the pumpkin patch, she dutifully asks for an extra piece of candy for him while she is out trick-or-treating. See! Lucy is just an old softie! Other developments in this volume include Snoopy's dog house burning down...he doesn't have insurance, Snoopy also attends a family reunion, Charlie Brown loses in the first round of a spelling bee (he spells maze, "MAYS), and Lucy battles Linus' blanket! Perhaps my favorite volume yet. REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

The previous book covered a period of development and refinement, where Schulz chose to sharpen what he had. This book focuses on what becomes an explosion of creativity, where new scenes, riffs and characters come in and become a part of the strip. Here we see the start of three different motifs and a new character that would become important in the Peanuts World: The aforementioned "Snoopy vs The Red Baron," the Camping episodes, the Debates on the Pitching Mound and Peppermint Patty (First Truely successful character since Pig-Pen, although Frieda had some staying power). Probably most amazing here is how much Schulz trusted his instincts here. While the Red-Haired Girl motif took over a year to go from first appearance to second appearance (and a few years before it became a reocurring motif), "Snoopy vs the Red Baron" became a staple almost immediately, and Peppermint Patty had her first solo strip (a strip where only she appears) within months of her first appearance. And while the Camping and Mound debates had limited (and competing) spaces to appear, they would reappear annually with strong results).

This is another transitional 2 years in Peanuts (with cartoons that appeared in You Need Help, Charlie Brown, The Unsinkable Charlie Brown and You'll Flip, Charlie Brown). Sally has lazy eye and has to wear an eye patch (which Snoopy often steals to play pirates, until he gets "scuttled" by Captain Sally). A bird who has trouble flying (he still has yet to make his formal debut, but he still looks like Woodstock) flies on Snoopy's nose ("Good grief, the return of the native!"). Snoopy debuts 2 of his alter ego's- a novel writer ("It was a dark and stormy night...") and the World War I Flying Ace ("Curse you, Red Baron and this stupid war!"). Charlie Brown watches in bemusement and thinks "Some people have dogs who chase cars, some people have dogs who bite the mailman... I think MY dog has finally flipped!" Lucy is the arm-wrestling champion on her block (later used in It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown), but can she withstand the paw of the Masked Marvel? Charlie Brown tries his hand (or foot) again with the football with a new twist up his own sleeve. Also, he has to endure dandelions on his pitcher's mound is covered with dandelions, which Frieda and Lucy beg him not to cut because he looks so cute up there with them (even Schroeder agrees). Snoopy falls in love with a dog on the beach and tries to impress her with his surfing skills. The next winter, he's still not over her and tries to forget through... eating, what else? Also Snoopy's doghouse gets burned down (Schulz got a lot of sympathy cards in real life on behalf of the beagle!). Also, Linus and Lucy move away (later used in Is This Goodbye, CB?) and Schroeder reluctantly admits he misses her (he sees her face by the piano long after her demise and thinks "Don't tell me I've grown accustomed to THAT face!"). Charlie Brown deals with the loss of his buddy Linus by taking up blanket-toting and of course, gets clobbered by Snoopy, who thinks he's still playing games with Linus! Needless to say, the Van Pelts move back (Sparky got a lot of letters requesting their reinstatement, which he had planned all along!). Charlie Brown finds something he's good at- spelling, though he gets maze confused with Willy Mays' last name (later used in the bigscreen debut of A Boy Named Charlie Brown). In the fall of 1966, Charlie Brown is promoted to traffic director and takes his new job a little too seriously. 2 new characters make their debut- a kid named Roy (who looks a little like Shermy with wavy hair) whom we see in the camp episodes of 1965 and 1966 and Peppermint Patty, a tomboy who has a lot of athletic ability but not much on brains. Roy is introduced as a shy, lonely kid and Charlie Brown feels honored to have finally made a friend (after his cabin mates ridicule him and criticize his lack of baseball skills; doesn't he get enough of that at home?). Linus meets Roy the next year, whom he asks "Say, aren't you that weird kid who totes a blanket with him everywhere he goes?". Linus also gets a box of jelly-bread sandwhiches from his otherwise crabby sister. Beyond that, Roy is also responsible for bringing Peppermint Patty to the neighborhood, who clobbers Charlie, or in her case, Chuck Brown at baseball (Charlie Brown gets a new nickname as does "Lucille" VanPelt). Linus fills Peppermint Patty's ears with stories of the Great Pumpkin. Later, at the end of 1966, the Sunday cartoons have the following caption: "Peanuts Featuring Good Ol' Charlie Brown." As if that's not enough, the Peanuts gang makes its television debut in 1965.

others, I remember from collections like this! In all, I remember a high amount because they are all memorable. I believe "Peanuts" is a comic by which all others, past and future, will be measured. Bare witness to the strips of the world all paying tribute to Charlie Brown, the day "Sparky" died. Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Party, Sally and her brother, Good ol' Charlie Brown are all here. 5 Stars is modest. Enjoy!

Cool book. Buy it. Read it. And tell others to read it. Cool book. You should read it. Cool book.😎😎😎

I was born in 1948, so Peanuts is my childhood and young adult comic strip par excellent. Looking back from my current age, I've discovered that I still like Charlie Brown and company as much now as I did then. Even if you're a millennium, give Peanuts a try, you'll like it. It's observations are as accurate and funny today as ever.

This book contains all the Peanuts comic strips from 1965 and 1966. The most significant events from this time period were Snoopy's first imaginary battles with The Red Baron and the first appearance of Peppermint Patty. Charles Schulz was so good for so long, it's hard to choose a "peak" period of the strip, but the strips here are definitely great. Highly recommended.

This book is full of new characters, such as Roy, peppermint Patty, and goes more into depth about Charlie Brown and the little red haired girl, peanuts is full of fun story's.

All the Fantagraphics Peanuts volumes are top notch, but this is my fave so far because it is at the beginning of my favorite Peanuts era. I love Peanuts, but the 60's strips will always be the ones I love the most. The great thing about this series is that it reprints everything in chronological order. Previous Peanuts collections have either omitted strips or printed them out of order. The reproduction quality is also outstanding. I'm looking forward to the Pogo series!

Each year for Christmas I give my husband a new set of these He loves them and looks forward to getting the each year

I have actually sat with my younger brother, to whom this book was purchased for, as he read this book to me and i have LOVED this book, as much as he has...I love that this comic strip "flows" unlike others i have read...I'm interested in buying more because Ezekiel has asked me for them in the very near future!

A great collection of a classic strip. This era of Peanuts was brilliant. If your only knowledge of the strip is the later years, check this out. Genius.

I am a huge fan of Peanuts! I was so excited to find the collection in digital form. Now I can read them to my hearts content.

Thanks to the previous reviewer's description of key milestones, this is where I stop buying these collections. At some point in Schulz's creativity, he succumbed to commercialism. All you need to do is read current newspaper re-prints, entitled "Classic Peanuts", and compare them to the first seven volumes of Complete Peanuts to see how he lost his muse. Peanuts was one of the most brilliant comic strips ever, but with the TV specials, the strip eventually came across as an ad for Snoopy paraphernalia (Snoopy vs. The Red Baron). I know this might be blasphemous, but hey, it's my review. Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) and Gary Larson (Far Side) recognized when it was too hard to be fresh and funny, and had the integrity to retire at their height. And strips like Beetle Bailey, Blondie, etc. go on and on. The first 7 volumes are must buys, and I'm sure there's still some good stuff in this one, but Peppermint Patty, Woodstock, and Snoopy the WW I pilot/Met insurance agent all signify the demise of greatness.

How could any PEANUTS fan not want to own these excellent volumes? In my teens I collected the PEANUTS paperbacks which presented reprints out of order and mixing up very early with later versions of the same characters. (I still have all of these!) But for the real collector, to have every strip in sequence from the earliest to the last is an absolute treasure. I fully intend to collect the set and keep them in the family for future generations to enjoy!

I read a week each morning from this series, and I always get a laugh or an insight into life.

My 14 year old loves these books. It is part of a series that presents the whole of peanuts. They have interesting introductions and are beautifully bound and presented.

Great books for the Peanuts fans!

Love it, brilliant, brings back loads of memories, presentation, quality, wonderful, looking forwad to the next one, can't wait..........want more

All the classics, i want them all. My son reads them again and again and again and again and again

I am slowly building up a collection of this excellent edition of the Complete Peanuts., one volume from each decade. I wish I could afford to buy them all ! The evolution of the characters is remarkable, the depiction of everyday life is most enjoyable, and the overarching wisdom is comforting.

La migliore pubblicazione delle opere di schultz che abbia incontrato fino ad oggi: completa, in ordine cronologico, molto curata. Anche il prezzo è buono rapportato alla consistenza del volume (oltre 300 pagine). Attenzione in inglese

Na metade dos 60, as crianças continuam cada vez mais angustiadas com a vida e só Snoopy parece levar a vida com leveza em seu mundo particular. O período entre 65 e 70 é a melhor fase de Peanuts. Esperando pelos próximos.

La colección trae historietas en blanco y negro en idioma inglés. Es un libro perfecto para coleccionistas, la calidad de la impresión es láser y las hojas están muy gruesas.

ein wunderschönes Buch für Liebhaber von Peanuts .

Perfetti da collezionare per un appassionato dei Peanuts. I libri sono bellissimi, con la copertina rigida e un ottimo formato. Mille volte meglio in lingua originale rispetto alle versioni tradotte, per ovvi motivi. Spedizione di amazon nei tempi prestabiliti.

CHOREI , SORRI E PENSEI LENDO PEANUJTS. VOLTEI A MNHA INFÂNCIA E ADOLESCENCIA. É UMA LEITURA DELICIOSA . PAULO CESAR LOBIANCO.