Peanuts

Peanuts is such a classic. How can anyone not love these comics? A bunch of funny looking kids getting into all their shenanigans. It’s no wonder I like Peanuts. This strip is a lot like Calvin and Hobbes. Or I should say Calvin and Hobbes is a lot like Peanuts. Calvin and Hobbes author, Bill Watterson, was very much inspired by the Peanuts adventures and it’s not hard to see why. This is another story about children with big imaginations. Maybe they’re not as crazy as Calvin, but they sure do some funny stuff. Charlie Brown, probably the most recognizable Peanuts character, is always slacking on homework and falling for Sally’s tricks. In one strip, Charlie Brown is watching the clock in class and thinking to himself, “Come on bell! Ring, ring, ring! Please don’t call on me!” The bell rings and he’s able to wait another day before he has to give his book report. Linus says to Charlie, “Well, now you can do your report, “ and Charlie says, “No, I’m going outside to play.” It’s simple, yet so true of adolescent behavior that I’m sure all of us can relate to it. Peanuts is a very children friendly comic, yet still contains plenty of mature humor for the older generations to enjoy. For example, the psychiatrist stands Sally sets up. Or the kid that’s constantly playing Beethoven. Snoopy is a fun character as well. He’s always lying on top of his doghouse on his back and for some reason I always think, “Doesn’t that hurt his back?” Anyways, when I was reading the Peanuts collection in the library I noticed how, unlike Hobbes, Snoopy talks in thought bubbles. It seems at times that Charlie Brown can talk to Snoopy, but I’m confused as to if he really is talking to him or just pretending he is. I usually like comics that are short and concise. Peanuts is one those comics. One strip doesn’t last more than a few frames but still packs a powerful punch of humor in one little comic. They’re never too long, or too wordy, and are overall just easy and enjoyable to read.