Book Review: Charles Schulz, "The Complete Peanuts: 1973 to 1974"

I am a bald, neurotic person with poor social skills and an equally dismal amount of self-esteem. It is only logical that I see so much of myself in the character of Charlie Brown. Im in good company as report after report, after bio after expose, has confirmed Peanuts creator Charles Schulz used his famous loser as an outlet for his own emotional shortcomings. Beyond Schulzs passing it is hard to imagine such an iconic and influential figure having such a poor self-image. I suppose that is what made his creations so identifiable theres an innate authenticity and an emotional archetype for everyone, often many of them at the same time. Who hasnt felt totally dumped on or like Linus, a precocious, somewhat worldly personality still clutching to things that offer security; or like Lucy, whose ambitions and forthrightness often causes more harm than good?

The real magic was what Schulz was able to get away with, available to those who chose to catch it but almost invisible to those who read the comic strip for its simplistic trappings: Snoopys eternally aborted mystery novel, Pigpens hygiene issues, Schroeders constant blocking of Lucys advances and all rendered in Schulz uncluttered, perfectly framed panels. These were offered up in front while quotes from philosophers, historical figures and Biblical passages were smuggled in through the back door. Freud and Jung received as much time at Lucys psychiatric booth as one-two punchlines and putdowns. You didnt have to be super smart to appreciate Peanuts, but if you were, you probably were already a convert.