Complete Peanuts, Volume 4: 1957-1958 Book

Spending time in the company of Charles Schulz and his Peanuts gang is a treat, and this book provides another three hundred thirteen pages to do so, as the strip moves out of its formative years and establishes a firm identity. 1957 starts well with a philosophical episode on January 2 (page one), Charlie Brown admitting to Patty that "I'd like to be able to feel that I'm needed." People who are truly needed bear a heavy social burden, she reminds him, so Charlie Brown amends his stance: "Well, I'd like to feel needed, and yet not have to do anything." Most of us crave the feeling of being indispensable, but we don't consider the responsibility it entails. Charlie Brown's words reflect our own human flaws. Winter of '57-58 sees Charlie Brown spend a lot of time flat on his back on the ice, unable to get back up because of his bulky winter coat. January 22 (page ten) is the best of these strips, Charlie Brown and Lucy comically commiserating about the inconveniences of dying; freezing to death or drowning can be irritating. January 27 (page twelve), Charlie Brown watches Lucy carefully build mini snowmen and then violently massacre them. "I feel torn between the desire to create and the desire to destroy", she says. Many of us struggle with those competing impulses, with no less absurd results than Lucy's.

March 15 (page thirty-two) is one of many storylines in which Snoopy reacts to Charlie Brown calling him "Fuzzy-face." We feel for Snoopy in his hurt, but this particular day is humorous. What kind of face does one expect from a dog? Linus delves into the subtext of Goldilocks and the Three Bears on May 18 (page fifty-nine), getting more out of the story than most kids. It's funny, but he has a point; there is nuance to the old fairy tales if one takes the time to look for it. Patty pleads with Lucy not to get upset and cry on July 10 (page eighty-two), and Lucy suspends her tears long enough for an interesting response. "Why should I deprive myself of an emotional outlet?" Fear of upset and turmoil spurs us to stop ourselves or others from expressing angst, but a good cry is emotionally and physically beneficial. Sometimes we need it to wash away the residue of bad things that happen so we can start fresh once our tears have dried. A classic Linus gag highlights July 16 (page eighty-five), as he blows a balloon up "half-way"...in his own unique style. How does one not love Linus van Pelt? A classic bit recreated in the Peanuts television specials appears August 4 (page ninety-three), Lucy questioning Beethoven's greatness because "he didn't get to be king, did he?" Schroeder's patience is sorely tried by that girl. Weathering a period of recent depression, Charlie Brown remarks to Lucy on September 2 (page one hundred six) that he isn't sure why he's a naturally downbeat person. "Sometimes I think my soul is full of weeds!" Every jaded optimist will deeply feel Charlie Brown's declaration, lamenting their own weeds that sprout where others seem to have no problem cultivating colorful, fragrant flowers. It's just part of being a Charlie Brown in a disappointing world.

The philosophy continues on October 8 (page one hundred twenty-one), Schroeder telling Charlie Brown that "early defeats help to build character for later on in life." For what, Charlie Brown asks? "For more defeats!" We don't often think through our platitudes to their logical conclusions, but Schroeder is right. At least our experiences of defeat help dull the sting of subsequent failures. November 15 (page one hundred thirty-seven) is a Peanuts classic, worded almost exactly the same as a gag from the 1966 It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown television special. "Never jump into a pile of leaves holding a wet sucker!" We learn on November 17 (page one hundred thirty-eight) that Charlie Brown is six years old; he was four when the strip started in 1950. January 7, 1958 (page one hundred sixty) is an amusing jab at the evolution of Snoopy's design; the dog behaves more like a human than he did in the early days, and when Charlie Brown's teacher assigns the students to draw a dog they know, he dismisses the thought of rendering Snoopy. "I'll just have to tell her I don't know any real dogs." Ha! Good one, Mr. Schulz. January 23 (page one hundred sixty-seven) is one of the funnier strips in this book; if you've never seen a dog scream, here's your chance. January 25 offers a feel-good rebuttal, courtesy of Violet, to Charlie Brown frequently calling Snoopy "Fuzzy-face." February 23 (page one hundred eighty) exposes the foolishness of adults who assume children live in a wonderland of fun and good humor; kids can be cruel, and no one knows that better than Charlie Brown. This brand of astute observation is what made Charles Schulz a comic legend.

Snoopy wrestles with his aggressive side on March 22 (page one hundred ninety-one). Sanguine as he usually is, Snoopy is in a sour mood here and feels like biting someone, but knows the backlash would be traumatic for him. "I guess I'd be better off just learning to live with my inner tensions", he thinks. We all have to curb our worst impulses in order to avoid life-changing consequences. Human and canine nature have their dark sides, and indulging them carries a steep cost. Swallowing these impulses feels wrong, but is ultimately good for us. May 2 (page two hundred nine) offers a sharp bit of timeless social commentary, Linus playing a game with friends where they pretend to fire guns at each other. Is this "cowboys and Indians"? Nope...it's "liberals and conservatives!!" The truth in this strip is uncomfortable; when politics degenerates to the point of violence or even violent rhetoric, it isn't lost on kids. If society wants healthy discourse, adults need to adjust their behavior before it poisons the next generation. June 23 (page two hundred thirty-two) is the genesis of a famous joke from the 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas television special, Lucy challenging Linus on what he'll do with his security blanket when he grows up. "Maybe I'll have it made into a sport-coat!" is a quintessential Linus response. His banter with Lucy was always a fun part of Peanuts.

Charles Schulz doesn't rely predominantly on sight gags, but July 11 (page two hundred thirty-nine) is a good one. It's among the funniest moments in this collection, Linus finding an unlikely hiding spot for his blanket so Snoopy can't swipe it. September 1 (page two hundred sixty-two) we find out that Charlie Brown's father is a barber, as Schulz's was, and September 7 (page two hundred sixty-four) is a strip that helped inspire a memorable scene in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. All I need to say is, "My lips touched dog lips!" September 17 (page two hundred sixty-eight) revisits Linus's "sport coat" quip, and November 27 (page two hundred ninety-nine) is an introspective piece where Snoopy reflects on his days as a callow youth. He was a wild pup, mostly ignorant of the world, but enjoyed himself to the utmost. "Now I don't have any fun and I'm still ignorant!" he thinks, wistfully. Experience may lead to wisdom, but the progress is hard to measure. Often you'll feel as though you've lost the fun without gaining maturity, but hang in there, Snoopy; we love you even in your melancholy moments.

Peanuts had an exemplary beginning in the early and mid-1950s. The comedy is fresh, the philosophy substantial, and Charlie Brown's innate sadness is poignant for anyone who has grown up questioning whether people beyond their own family care about them. Volume 4 of The Complete Peanuts is less potent than the three that preceded it, however; laugh-out-loud strips are fewer, topical humor plays an outsized role, and the wisdom isn't as pervasive. Peanuts isn't considered to have reached its peak until the late 1960s, though, so I'm sure this is a blip in the timeline. The quality of material in this book is still better than most comic strips, and tagging along with Charlie Brown and company is fun. I'd rate this volume of The Complete Peanuts two and a half stars, and I'm eager to resume the story with the next book, which covers 1959 and '60.