Just the FAQs, Ma'am

Call this page Peanuts Information Central: Here you'll find all sorts of documents -- starting with the ever-popular Peanuts FAQ File -- that will address issues and answer questions about Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown and the gang, and all sorts of other Peanuts-themed topics that you may not even have thought about ... until investigating all this fascinating stuff!

If you're a Japanese fan, check out the Japanese translation maintained by the Peanuts FAQ Japanese Workshop.

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Meet the Gang

Sure, everybody can identify the most famous members of the Peanuts gang, from Linus and Lucy to Schroeder, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy and good ol' Charlie Brown. But do you remember Maynard? Or Naomi? Eudora? Harold Angel? Or how about some of the characters who once were an important part of the neighborhood, but who got phased out over time, such as Violet, Shermy and Frieda? Before you decide to participate in a quiz devoted to the entire Peanuts gang, check out our complete cast list of every named character Charles Schulz introduced.

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News clippings

Even all these years after Charles Schulz died, the empire he left behind continues to generate headlines and fascinating feature stories. And no wonder: Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest remain very important to all of us. Find out for yourself, by visiting our newspaper article archive.

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Scott's Peanuts Animation & Reprints Page Scott maintains impressive lists of books and all the Peanuts animated specials, and films, and notes their availability on video. He's an active newsgroup correspondent, frequently helps folks with questions, and updates his site all the time. What more could you want?

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Schulz artwork: Let the buyer beware!

Are you thinking of purchasing some orginal Charles M. Schulz artwork? A sketch of Snoopy, or perhaps an animated cel from A Charlie Brown Christmas? Have you stumbled across an eBay auction that nobody else has found yet, which features a Schulz original that you'd love to own? Sadly, the majority of items offered as "authentic" examples of Schulz artwork ... aren't. Forewarned is forearmed, and we've discussed this subject at length. The Internet is filled with scammers: Learn how to recognize and avoid them!

Back in the days before Fantagraphics began its Complete Peanuts reprint series, it wasn't easy for fans to assemble as complete a collection of Peanuts books as possible. Where to begin? With all the different titles on the market, how did one differentiate between "canonical" collections, such as The Beagle Has Landed, and strictly "gift books," such as Dogs Are From Jupiter? This brief essay and list -- complete with cover illustrations -- helped folds get started on the right foot.

Is Charlie Brown bald? Have you seen that Snoopy IRS strip? Are you tired of correcting friends who seem to have these crazy -- and mistaken -- notions? Check out this article, and you'll be armed with all you need to win that next argument!

We've all heard from Charles Schulz that he never let anybody else do any of the work on his daily Peanuts comic strip...and that was true, at least insofar as the newspaper strip was concerned. But other hands did touch Charlie Brown and his friends in a different comics medium: that of comic books. Curious? Check out this article by FAQ-meister Derrick Bang.

And while we're on the subject of other artists handling the illustration chores on Charlie Brown and the gang, here's a lengthy article/interview with Jim Sasseville, who helped Schulz with both Peanuts work and Sparky's other briefly syndicated strip, It's Only a Game.

And, speaking of comic books, check out this feature to see examples of the lettering that Schulz did for the Catholic comic book publication Topix, along with the feature -- "Just Keep Laughing..." -- that even predated Li'l Folks, which came before Peanuts!

You're paging through one or more Peanuts reprint books, and suddenly you pause on a strip which seems awfully familiar. Is it merely an identical strip also published in another book...or have you actually stumbled upon a repeated joke? You'll find the answer here!

Magazine news:

The October 2008 issue of Racer X Illustrated has a great article by Craig Schulz, on "How the Peanuts Gang Went Racing." Aside from a cute full-color cover, the article inside, with plenty of photos and artwork, runs from pages 172 through 180.

The May 2008 issue of The Comics Journal has a lengthy section responding to and rebutting David Michaelis' biography of Charles M. Schulz. The coverage runs from page 26 through 111, and opens with a lengthy essay by Monte Schulz. You'll also find plenty of photos and line art.

The October 29th 2007 issue of Sports Illustrated has a short but very enthusiastic tribute to Peanuts and the new Schulz biography, complete with a few illustrations, on pages 36-37.

The October 2007 issue of Vanity Fair has a lengthy excerpt from David Michaelis' upcoming biography of Charles M. Schulz. The story begins on Page 230 and continues for quite a number of pages. Interesting, the strips and Peanuts "spot art" that accompany this article are different than what is used in the actual book.

The September 2007 issue of GQ (Gentlemen's Quarterly) lists David Michaelis' upcoming biography of Charles M. Schulz as one of fall 2007's "15 books you need to know about." You'll find the half-page plug on page 291.

The July 30 2007 issue (vol. 39, issue #1987) of Antique Week Newspaper has a big cover story devoted to collecting Peanuts items, with a discussion of PCC prexie Andrea Podley's collection and plenty of color photos. The lengthy article jumps to an inside page; it's very nice!

The June 18 2007 issue of Publishers Weekly has a cover story on the return of classic comics via handsomely produced books; the cover illo includes an image of a Fantagraphics Complete Peanuts book. Alas, the two-page article inside (pp 25-26) isn't really worth the purchase, as it just mentions the Peanuts books in passing.

The May 2006 issue of The Quilter Magazine has a lovely four-page article (pp 92-95) titled "Peanuts in Stitches," which discusses -- and shows many examples of (in full color!) -- the recent exhibit of Japanese Peanuts quilts that were shown at the Charles Schulz Museum. (Rather odd, though, that this article would run months after the exhibit closed...)

The September 2004 issue of Comic Book Marketplace (#115) features an extensive discussion of Charles Schulz and Peanuts in R.C. Harvey's column (pp 65-69), along with several strips.

The Spring 2004 issue of Comic Art (Issue #6, a specialty publication probably available only at comic book stores) has a neat six-page article titled "Two Boys from the Twin Cities," on pages 64-69, by M. Thomas Inge (Charles M. Schulz: Conversations), which compares Jay Gatsby and Charlie Brown, and includes some wonderful early photos of Charles Schulz. The same issue has a lengthy 22-page article on Seth, which includes some cover glimpses of upcoming volumes from his Complete Peanuts series.

The January/February 2004 issue of the British magazine Philosophy Now has a fascinating two-page article titled "Sartre & Peanuts" on pages 26 and 27. (One wonders what Schulz would have thought about it!)

The Fall 2003 issue of Comic Art (Issue #4, a specialty publication probably available only at comic book stores) has a marvelous nine-page article titled "I Hold a Grudge, Boy: Charles Schulz in Postwar America, 1946-1950," on pages 4 through 12. It includes a couple black-and-white photographs of Schulz and his father, two Li'l Folks cartoons and the first Just Keep Laughing page (in color!). This one's another must-have.

The October 17, 2003, issue of Comics Buyer's Guide has a cover story (jumping inside to a great two-page article on pages 28 and 29) about Fantagraphics' announcement of the new Complete Peanuts library. The front page has color photos of both the pending first volume and Holt, Rinehart & Winston's first book, Peanuts.

The summer 2003 issue (#29) of Giant Robot Magazine, a Canadian publication devoted to Asian pop culture, features a gorgeous Schulz illustration of Snoopy on the cover, and a fascinating 9-page article (pp. 32-39 and 84) about the Charles M. Schulz Museum and various aspects of Peanuts licensing in Asia. The article is loaded with color photos ... this one's a must-have!

Issue #11 (volume 3, number 3; spring 2003) of Hogan's Alley features a six-page article, with plenty of black-and-white pictures, on some of the more unusual Peanuts books published over the years. A sidebar article (in the same six pages) also takes readers on a short tour of the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

The March 2003 issue of Comic Book Marketplace (#100) has an excellent 16-page interview with Charles Schulz (pp. 29-32 and 56-67), conducted by Shel Dorf, that includes plenty of black-and-white photos.

The February 2003 issue of The Comics Journal (#250) has a three-page article -- with plenty of Peanuts illustrations -- on developing a comic strip, written by Charles Schulz, which originally was written in 1959 for Art Instruction Inc.

The November/December 2002 issue of Rubber Stamp Madness magazine has a cute illustrated section (pp 86-89) that shows how to make a Flying Ace pop-up Christmas card, with Peanuts stampers (and a lot of patience, if you ask me!).

The September/October 2002 issue of VIA Magazine has a short editorial (page 6) and four-page article (pages 40-43) about the new Charles M. Schulz Museum, with plenty of color photos. A don't miss!

The September 2002 issue of Ladies' Home Journal has a cute little one-page feature on "top dogs" (p. 176, the back page). Snoopy is, of course, one of the "top dogs" so noted; he's pictured in Bill Melendez's TV style, wearing top hat and tie.

Uber-collector Kelly Tarigo and her Peanuts collection are profiled on pp 18-19 of the August 2002 issue of AntiqueWest, in an article that has lots of pictures, including some of the extremely scarce Determined 3D Christmas ornaments.

The August 3-9, 2002, issue of TV Guide has Charlie Brown on one of its cover variants, failing to kick a football snapped out of his range by Angelican Pickles, of Rugrats. Inside, you'll discover that Charlie Brown and Snoopy are rated the 8th "greatest cartoon characters of all time" by the TV Guide editors, trailing behind (not in this order) Bugs Bunny, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Fred Flintstone & Barney Rubble, The Grinch, Homer Simpson, Angelica herself and (this one hurts) Beavis & Butt-head. As if TV Guide's editors know anything...

The Summer 2002 issue of Route 66 Magazine has a short blurb, with photo (p. 42), about Snoopy's recent visit to the magazine's editorial office, to promote the new Charles M. Schulz Museum. Page 44 also has a single cartoon that references Spike, and the fact that he lives in Needles, California.

The July 2002 issue of Cinescape features a two-page story, with color photos (pp. 88-89) of the new Playing Mantis Peanuts action figures.

The June 2002 issue of Ocala Style boasts a full-color cover of Snoopy and Woodstock, and has a five page article (pp. 38-42), with lots of illustrations, about the "Speaking Softly and Carry a Beagle" exhibit appearing at the Appleton Museum of Art June 14-September 15.

The April 2002 issue of The Comics Journal has an 8-page analysis (pp. 50-57) of Peanuts' final year and the book Peanuts 2000, which includes plenty of illustrations.

The February 2002 issue of Animation Magazine has a great cover photo of Bill Melendez, surrounded by the Peanuts gang. Inside you'll find a two-page article (pp15-16) that discusses Melendez's efforts on A Charlie Brown Valentine.

The February 8, 2002, issue of the Comics Buyer's Guide (Charlie Brown's in the upper right corner of the cover!) has a comprehensive five-page story (pp. 36-40), with plenty of line art, about "ghost" Peanuts artist Jim Sasseville, and his work in the Dell comic books with Peanuts content, along with his contributions to It's Only a Game, the other newspaper strip that Charles Schulz was involved with.

The December 2001 issue of Biography Magazine has a one-page story and photo (page 112) of Charles Schulz, presented in a "fun facts" format. The same issue also has a Peanuts-themed crossword puzzle on Page 104.

The October 8, 2001, issue of People Magazine has a nice one-page story and photo (page 108) of the "Charles Schulz wall" that was moved from Colorado to Santa Rosa, for placement in the new Charles Schulz Museum.

The March 2001 issue (number 1/01) of the Swedish magazine Bild & Bubbla has a massive, beautifully researched 13-page article (pp. 50-62) devoted to Peanuts, by Hakan Bostrom, complete with all sorts of strip examples. Alas, you'll need to read Swedish (although the strip art is all in English).

The February 12, 2001 issue of People Magazine has a marvelously poignant four-page story (pp. 136-139) about Jeannie Schulz, with several lovely color photographs.

The January 5, 2001, issue of Entertainment Weekly features Charlie Brown and Snoopy on a cover devoted to "The Late Greats," but be warned: The brief paragraph and truly terrible artistic caricature (pp. 28-29) hardly do justice to Charles Schulz.

The January 2001 issue of Biography has a nice little one-page tribute (p. 59) to Charles Schulz, with a great color photo taken at Snoopy's Gift Shop & Gallery.

The winter 2000/2001 issue of Life Magazine has a one-page tribute (p. 82) to Charles Schulz, framed against a shot of him at Snoopy's Gift Shop & Gallery.

The Dec. 25, 2000/Jan. 1 2001 issue of People magazine has a one-page tribute (p. 170) to Charles Schulz, with a truly lovely photo of Sparky working at his drafting table.

The Fall 2000 issue of Hogan's Alley (#8) is chock-full of articles and artwork by and about Charles Schulz and Peanuts...pages and pages and pages...a real item to read and save forever!

The September 28, 2000, issue of Northern California's Davis Enterprise Weekend tabloid supplement -- produced by your very own Web-meister -- devoted numerous pages to the 50th anniversary, with some supplemental factoids that didn't make it into his tribute book. Follow the homepage link to the 50th anniversary tribute book section, to find out how you can -- merely for the price of postage, and while supplies last -- obtain a copy of this publication.

The August 14, 2000, issue of People Magazine has a delightful (if short) one-page story (page 137) about Trent Mayberry, who acts as "beagle inspector" for the St. Paul Snoopy statues, along with a great photo of the mirrored statue.

The July/August 2000 issue of Women's Sports Fitness has a sweet three-page story about Schulz's involvement with women's sports (pp. 61-63), with two 1960s-era photos and family memories shared by all five of his children.

The June 2000 issue of Reader's Digest has a five-page excerpt (pp. 96-100) from the 1980 book Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Me. The article includes several illustrations, and one more illo can be found in the Table of Contents (p. 4).

The June 2000 issue of ebay Magazine has a two-page article (pp. 86-87) about Beaglefest VI, with lots of nice color pictures, including one of Beaglefest head pooh-bah Kelly Tarigo.

The June 2000 issue of Collector's Mart magazine features a Charlie Brown figurine on the cover. Inside you'll find a four-page story (pp. 66-69) on collecting Peanuts goodies, with lots of color pictures and a sidebar about what it was like for one interviewer to meet with Charles Schulz.

The May 19, 2000, issue of Toy Shop has a one-page story (p. 74) about Beaglefest VI, with a couple of cute pictures, including one of Beaglefest head pooh-bah Kelly Tarigo.

The March 2000 issue of The Comics Journal (#221) features considerable coverage about Charles Schulz's death, starting with a short editorial on Page 13. This is followed by a lovely obit (pp. 14-17), a lengthy discussion of Peanuts (pp. 17-19), excerpts from a previous Comics Journal interview with Schulz (pp.20-22) and an extensive discussion of why strips should not be taken over by other artists, once their creators pass on (pp.99-103).

The Sunday, March 26, issue of The Chicago Tribune has a gorgeous 12-page special insert called The Peanuts Gallery, devoted to a history of All Things Peanuts. Seek it out!

The March 11-17 issue of TV Guide, pages 42-48, includes a lovely tribute to Charles Schulz and the animated Peanuts specials, with several photos and even Lucy's comic strip debut.

The March 10, 2000, issue of Comics Buyer's Guide, with Sparky's picture on the lower right corner of the cover, include numerous columns, letters and editorials that praise the creator of Peanuts.

Countless newspapers produced loving tributes and editorials on Charles Schulz's death and the conclusion of Peanuts, but two are worth special mention: the February 14, 2000, issue of The New York Times, which has a simply stunning obituary and Peanuts timeline/character list; and the Sunday comics section of the February 13, 2000, issue of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which is simply amazing. You should try hard to find both.

The February 28, 2000, issue of People features Charles Schulz on the cover, along with the entire Peanuts gang. Inside you'll find a fabulous story -- pages 52-59 -- with plenty of pictures, along with another photo on the table of contents (page 2).

The February 25, 2000, issue of Toy Shop features a Charlie Brown Lego "nodder" on the cover and includes a profile of collector Freddi Margolin (pages 63-65), with pictures from her collection, and a few sidebar articles on Peanuts.

The February 25, 2000, issue of Entertainment Weekly includes a three-page tribute -- pages 28-30 -- to the legacy of Charles Schulz. You'll also find a sad-eyed Snoopy on the cover, and a classic animation still on the table of contents (page 9).

The February 14, 2000, issue of The New Yorker includes a nifty tribute to Charles Schulz and Peanuts -- pages 61-63 -- by Art Spiegelman, of Maus fame.

The February 2000 issue of Antique Toy World has a sensational four-page article on our very own Kelly Tarigo -- pages 22-25 -- with lots of color pictures of her collection..

The January 28, 2000, issue of Goldmine includes an article on Peanuts music -- page 40 -- which quotes extensively from this Web site and ye humble Web-meister.

The January 1, 2000, issue of People includes a farewell to the Peanuts gang -- pages 130-132 (and an illustration in the table of contents, on page 2) -- with tributes by a variety of artists.

The January 1, 2000, issue of Newsweek features a woebegone Charlie Brown on the cover. Inside you'll find a lengthy tribute to Charles Schulz -- pages 18-24 -- and news about Peanuts coming to a conclusion, along with a brief (page 25) question-and-answer session with Schulz..

The December 27, 1999, issue of Time includes a one-page salute (page 146) to the announced retirement of Charles Schulz and Peanuts.

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News related to the retirement and passing of our hero...

The world press reacted with a virtual flood of ink, in the wake of Sparky's retirement. We gathering some of the best and most informative articles; just click here to see them.

Words could not fully express our sorrow when Charles M. Schulz died, but a great many scribes, friends, colleagues and fans wrote and said some truly lovely things. You can step back in time and read these tributes, as fans and professionals celebrated the man who meant more than we'll ever be able to express; click here to reach our archive.

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Peanuts fans celebrated when their favorite beagle became a U.S. postage stamp in the spring of 2001. Relive some memories from the stamp's official debut.

Did Marcie begin as a character named Clara? Or are they two entirely different individuals? Check out the facts here, examine all the evidence, and then weigh in with your verdict!

Randy Martin was closely associated with the Arts & Entertainment Network series BIOGRAPHY, when he produced the splendid episode which profiled Charles "Sparky" Schulz. Martin chats at length here about how he prepared for that show, and what it was like to meet with The Man himself.

Which came first...the WWI Flying Ace, or the world-famous novelist? Joe Cool, or Joe Preppy? The psychiatrist, or the world-famous surgeon? Snoopy has taken on many roles over the years, and here's a comprehensive list...along with the date each alter-ego first was adopted.

Where does Lucy come up with all those excuses for pulling away the football, before poor ol' Charlie Brown has a chance to kick it? And, for that matter, what were all those excuses? Check here to find out!

Ever wonder when Linus made his grand entrance? Or whether Marbles preceded Olaf, or vice-versa? Here's a comprehensive list of Peanuts characters, in order of appearance.

Art Linkletter got a lot of mileage listening to children. Aside from his long-running television show, the result was two best-selling books -- KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS and KIDS STILL SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS -- both illustrated by Charles Schulz. In the Peanuts universe, nobody mangles the English language with greater skill (?) than Charlie Brown's little sister, Sally. We've collected some of her best lines.

Who held which position on Charlie Brown's baseball team? Did Linus take Shortstop, or Second Base...and which of the outfield positions has Lucy occupied? Get the scoop from this brief article!

Got a question? Send us an e-mail!

All PEANUTS characters pictured are copyrighted © by United Feature Syndicate, Inc. They are used here with permission. They may not be reproduced by any means in any form.