joemcduck's review against another edition
4.0
It's pretty difficult for me to judge a particular period of Peanuts on its own merits. The context of its entire 50-year-run is always over my shoulder. The 1980s is where it's definitely the most difficult for me.
By this time, Peanuts had definitely declined from its peak. The strip doesn't seem as socially relevant, and had I think lost some of its wit. But somehow I still find the strips from the '80s a lot of fun. There's a gentleness and droll quality that seems to have its own value to me.
A lot of the characters (Sally, Peppermint Patty, Marcie) are still strong. The interplay between the characters is still amusing.
Peppermint Patty seems to be the real emotional driver in this volume. A lot of the storylines center around efforts to figure out her troubles in school. The crushes she and Marcie sometimes seem to have on Charlie Brown are at play here and there. I've always liked the subtlety that dynamic had. Schulz handles a lot of this material with as much purpose and depth as the strip ever had. But I'll admit it does make me aware of a time when every storyline and character was that strong.
Of course Peppermint Patty and Marcie are also good for the "individual joke" format. There's also a lot of Snoopy's brother Spike. And there are plenty of good standbys: Sally working on homework, Charlie Brown feeding Snoopy...
Spoiler Alert? It was interesting to me that 1984 didn't have a Sunday strip with Lucy holding the football. Instead, Schulz used that setup in a kind of self-aware way in a daily strip. I liked it a lot, but it was an interesting break with tradition.
By this time, Peanuts had definitely declined from its peak. The strip doesn't seem as socially relevant, and had I think lost some of its wit. But somehow I still find the strips from the '80s a lot of fun. There's a gentleness and droll quality that seems to have its own value to me.
A lot of the characters (Sally, Peppermint Patty, Marcie) are still strong. The interplay between the characters is still amusing.
Peppermint Patty seems to be the real emotional driver in this volume. A lot of the storylines center around efforts to figure out her troubles in school. The crushes she and Marcie sometimes seem to have on Charlie Brown are at play here and there. I've always liked the subtlety that dynamic had. Schulz handles a lot of this material with as much purpose and depth as the strip ever had. But I'll admit it does make me aware of a time when every storyline and character was that strong.
Of course Peppermint Patty and Marcie are also good for the "individual joke" format. There's also a lot of Snoopy's brother Spike. And there are plenty of good standbys: Sally working on homework, Charlie Brown feeding Snoopy...
Spoiler Alert? It was interesting to me that 1984 didn't have a Sunday strip with Lucy holding the football. Instead, Schulz used that setup in a kind of self-aware way in a daily strip. I liked it a lot, but it was an interesting break with tradition.
erinbanham's review
5.0
I was so excited to find that Peppermint Patty was featured on my birthday in 83 and 84! She is definitely one of my favorites in the gang.
bookishheather's review
5.0
The first appearance of Flashbeagle! George Orwell! A punchline that references a popular Cindy Lauper tune! An introduction by the beloved (by me) film critic Leonard Maltin! A great volume. After nearly two years, I'm finally caught up with the series until the next release this November. According to the endnotes, Molly Volley will be back—hurrah!
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