Summary & Review of Snoopy: A Peanuts Collection

 

This collection of Peanuts comics focuses on Snoopy and his relationships with the other characters in the strip by Schultz. Snoopy is ever getting himself into situations with the others in different ways. He is often seen in his own imagination, and everyone can find themselves in him. This collection is wonderfully illustrated by Charles Schultz and other authors. It offers readers a familiar look at old friends (including some often unseen Beagle siblings).

The strips themselves show the love and care that Schultz took in each character, they have personalities. The stories in this collection show a range of emotions from excitement to disappointment. Each tale invokes a new emotion for the reader through text and image. The Peanuts gang and their triumphs, failures, and sweet moments are familiar friends to many people.

My Favorites in this Collection

I enjoyed the book as a whole but had favorite stories as anyone would. Particularly after the crazy few weeks I've had. Snoopy provides a familiar friend with some relatable situations and silly antics.

Lucy Yells at Snoopy

The first tale I enjoyed was about the Daisy Hill Puppy of the Year Contest. In this tale Charlie Brown has Snoopy enter a contest to make him Puppy of the Year, however they need to find five references to say how great Snoopy is. Of course Charlie Brown writes one but who will do the others? This leads the characters on a journey including blanket snatching blackmail, puppy dog eyes, and even Schroeder playing a dinner concert for Snoopy all for letters. The one who refuses to write a letter to no ones surprise is Lucy, as she simply doesn't want to and at one point even says “Some people think HAPPINESS IS A WARM KITTEN!” (Schultz, 2017, unpaged), a reference to one of Schultz other works Happiness is a Warm Puppy.
Though in the end we see a rare shared moment between Lucy and Snoopy as she explains why she wouldn't write a letter. This tale shows just because someone may not always be kind or their for you, you do have an impact on their lives. Snoopy and Lucy may not always see eye to eye but they like each other, at least sometimes.

The second story I liked was all about World Famous Authors, and how of course Snoopy is one of them. It features Snoopy and Woodstock (as the assistant). Snoopy is once again writing a master piece,

Snoopy upset at Woodstock

using the typewriter on his dog house, and dictating to Woodstock, who is once again late. As they try to figure out the best starting line Woodstock attempts to suggest lines that do not revolve around a hero dog. finally leaving. In the next panel Snoopy hears something, when he investigates he finds that Woodstock is writing his own tale. When shown the work Snoopy hates each idea...well, that is until Woodstock starts writing about dogs and not birds...This story shows an interesting aspect of the twos friendship which while not always great is typically seen in good light. Woodstock tries to show what he can do and Snoopy is upset by this. How often do we get jealous of our friend. Relatable right!

My collection of Flying Ace Items

My favorite “character” in Peanuts is actually all in Snoopy's imagination, the WWI Flying Ace
, is also featured. However, unlike other versions where he fights imaginary foes, particularly the Red Baron, he must face the neighborhood children! Of course the Flying Ace must have his Root Beer served by none other than a French waitress (Marcie) and then things just get worse from there. Eventually he just decides to quit and hide in his dog house! A twist of this strip is that instead of remaining in Snoopy's imagined world we see the havoc wreaked by Flying Ace in the other characters real lives as he attempts to sneak back from behind enemy lines to his Sopwith Camel (dog house). The story is well executed and demonstrates the vast stylings of the various artists/writers of this little volume. The unique view offered provides a fun back drop to the character of the Flying Ace instead of seeing him as he typically is accomplishing his many feats.

I still find the fact that Peppermint Patty and her friend, Marcie, believe Snoopy is a kid funny. In the previous tale Snoopy is said to be “handsome” and then in the next Peppermint Patty seems to think he can enter a wrist wrestling tournament. However, there is only one problem...dogs don't have wrists!

Peppermint Patty Registers Snoopy

However, Peppermint Patty is looking for a champion and who else would she chose but Snoopy, though she first mentioned that maybe Charlie Brown should enter. This leads to him training and winning but only by a sneaky kiss to the unbeatable champion. This silly trope is one seen throughout Peanuts history, one other one I remember is “Joe Cool” an alter ego of Snoopy's in various comics and cartoons. This delightful story about Wrist Wrestling also shows Lucy once again as the antagonist who is outwitted by Snoopy and a YUCK DOG GERMS! moment with Lucy.

Memories Last Forever

The final tale I'll mention is all about loss and moving on from the past. In this story Woodstock needs to migrate as it's winter and that's what birds do...but he doesn't want to go alone. Snoopy decides to go with him, at least at first. After a bit they stop and decide it's far enough to turn back home....but not before Snoopy realizes they are near where he was born, the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm. This story shares how different people process loss and the past. Each one of Snoopy's siblings is shown as having a
different reaction from him. The story ends with the realization that while places may be gone we never lose the memories, thanks to Charlie Brown! What an important reminder in changing times, as many have lost something or someone.

Conclusion

In the end this is a great collection of memories and nostalgia that will be appreciated by old and new fans of Peanuts. Charles Schultz was a great cartoonist and the artists who helped create this collection did a wonderful tribute. Remember each of us will have different reactions to events and can all make a mess of things, just ask “Good Ole Charlie Brown” and the Peanuts Gang.

References

Schultz, C. (2017). Snoopy: A Peanuts collection. Kaboom.

Images taken of the book by April Martin. Photos of above book published by Kaboom!