This first volume, covering the first two and a quarter years of the strip, will be of particular fascination toPeanuts aficionados worldwide: Although there have been literally hundreds of Peanuts books published, many of the strips from the series' first two or three years have never been collected before―in large part because they showed a young Schulz working out the kinks in his new strip and include some characterizations and designs that are quite different from the cast we're all familiar with. (Among other things, three major cast members―Schroeder, Lucy, and Linus―initially show up as infants and only "grow" into their final "mature" selves as the months go by. Even Snoopy debuts as a puppy!) Thus The Complete Peanuts offers a unique chance to see a master of the art form refine his skills and solidify his universe, day by day, week by week, month by month.

Peanuts is the most popular comic strip in the history of the world. Its characters -- Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, and so many more -- have become dearly loved icons for generation after generation. Now Charles Schulz's classic, Peanuts, will be reprinted in its entirety for the first time. In these beautifully produced editions, the strip will be presented in full in chronological order. They will be the ultimate books for Peanuts' fans the world over. These first volumes will be of particular fascination to Peanuts aficionados. Many of the strips from the series' first two or three years have never been collected before, in large part because they showed a young Schulz working out the kinks in his new strip. They include some characterizations and designs that are quite different from the cast we all know. And Snoopy debuts as a puppy!

The third volume in our acclaimed series takes us into the mid-1950s as Linus learns to talk, Snoopy begins to explore his eccentricities (including his hilarious first series of impressions), Lucy's unrequited crush on Schroeder takes final shape, and Charlie Brown becomes...well, even more Charlie Brown-ish! Over half of the strips in this volume have never been printed since their original appearance in newspapers a half-century ago! Even the most dedicated Peanuts collector/fan is sure to find many new treasures. The Complete Peanuts will run 25 volumes, collecting two years chronologically at a rate of two a year for twelve years. Each volume is designed by the award-winning cartoonist Seth (It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken) and features impeccable production values; every single strip from Charles M. Schulz's 50-year American classic is reproduced better than ever before. This volume includes an introduction by Matt Groening (The Simpsons) as well as the popular Complete Peanuts index, a hit with librarians and collectors alike, and an epilogue by series editor Gary Groth. 2005 Eisner Award winner, Best Archival Collection/Project.

Launching into the 1960s, Schulz adds another new cast member. Two, in fact: The obnoxious Frieda of "naturally curly hair" fame, and her inert, seemingly boneless cat Faron. The rapidly maturing Sally, who was after all just born in the previous volume, is ready to start kindergarten and not at all happy about it. Lucy and Linus' war over the security blanket escalates, with Lucy burying it, cutting it apart, and, in the longest sequence of the book, turning it into a kite and allowing it to fly away. Aauugh! In fact, Linus' life is particularly turbulent in this volume, as he is forced to wear glasses, sees the unexpected return of his favorite teacher, Miss Othmar, and coaxes Sally into the cult of the Great Pumpkin (with regrettable results).

Charlie Brown may not be the best pitcher, batter, or team manager, but his love for the game is boundless, no matter how many home runs he gives up, how many games he loses, how many errors his team makes, or how many times the game is rained out. This delightful collection of newspaper comic strips ―Batter Up, Charlie Brown! ― features three complete baseball stories starring good ol’ Charlie Brown and his frustrating (and frustrated) teammates Lucy, Linus, Pigpen, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang.

In Snoopy-family news, Spike is drafted into the Infantry (don't worry, it's only Snoopy's imaginary World War I army), and a brand new brother, "Marbles" (with the spotty ears) takes his bow. We also see two major baseball-oriented stories, one in which Charlie Brown joins Peppermint Patty's team, and another in which Charlie Brown and his team lose their baseball field.

While the 50-year run of the Peanuts newspaper strip is obviously the heart and soul of Charles Schulz's career, he also created a large amount of Peanuts material that didn't run in the strip. This bonus 26th volume of The Complete Peanuts collects all of Schulz's non-strip related Peanuts art: storybooks, comic book stories, single-panel gags, advertising art, book illustrations, photographs and even a recipe. With close to 1,000 Peanuts images included, all created by Schulz himself, no true Peanuts library would be complete without this final, celebratory volume of The Complete Peanuts. As a fitting end to the volume - and the series - Schulz's widow, Jeannie Schulz, provides an emotional afterword to the volume, as well.

As the 1950s close down, Peanuts definitively enters its golden age. Linus, who had just learned to speak in the previous volume, becomes downright eloquent and even begins to fend off Lucy's bullying; even so, his security neurosis becomes more pronounced, including a harrowing two-week "Lost Weekend" sequence of blanketlessness. Charlie Brown cascades further down the hill to loserdom, with spectacularly lost kites, humiliating baseball losses (including one where he becomes "the Goat" and is driven from the field in a chorus of BAAAAHs); at least his newly acquired "pencil pal" affords him some comfort. Pig-Pen, Shermy, Violet, and Patty are also around, as is an increasingly Beethoven-fixated Schroeder. But the rising star is undoubtedly Snoopy. He's at the center of the most graphically dynamic and action-packed episodes (the ones in which he attempts to grab Linus's blanket at a dead run). He even tentatively tries to sleep on the crest of his doghouse roof once or twice, with mixed results. And his imitations continue apace, including penguins, anteaters, sea monsters, vultures and (much to her chagrin) Lucy. No wonder the beagle is the cover star of this volume.

"The world of Peanuts is a microcosm, a little human comedy for the innocent reader and for the sophisticated."Umberto EcoAs Peanuts concludes its first decade, a new character makes her appearance: Charlie Brown's little sister Sally. This volume covers her earliest days, from her proud brother's announcement of her birth to her first words (and crush on Linus)!Also: the initial "Great Pumpkin" sequence; Lucy's first appearance as a nickel psychiatrist; Linus's one-sided romance with his beloved teacher Miss Othmar; and Snoopy's battle with the doghouse-destroying freeway bypass. All this, plus two of the most famous Peanuts strips of all time: the "clouds" Sunday that Schulz cites as his personal favourite and "Happiness is a warm puppy."

Collects the 11th and 12th volumes of The Complete Peanuts in ahandsome slipcase, with intros by television, Broadway and film star Kristin(Pushing Daisies, Wicked) Chenoweth and all-star tennis champion BillieJean King! Schulz is at the peak of his powers and influence in TheComplete Peanuts 1971-1972 and The Complete Peanuts1973-1974. In Vol. 11, Sally Brown - school phobia, malapropisms, unrequitedlove for Linus and all - elbows her way to center stage, at least among thehumans, and is thus the logical choice for cover girl... And Vol. 12 takes abike ride with Rerun (his first!) and Charlie Brown is finally well-liked andsuccessful ... as long as he maintains his alter ego "Mister Sack,"i.e., keeps a bag over his head. For fans of the character, both books areWoodstock-heavy!