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A cartoonist rarely totally commanding over their creation. The drawing hand might shake and quiver and swerve rather than turn — consistency stands as a wish, not a certainty. And a truly lively figure will in time direct the author, instead of the opposite. This was consistently the manner in which the comic's creator Schulz portrayed why his creation, his energetic brainchild, transformed starting with his first appearance in 1950 and his final panel features at the turn of the millennium.

“As my drawing style became freer, Snoopy could to accomplish more,” the creator remarked during the mid-1970s. “And as soon as I eventually established the technique of using his imagination to imagine himself as numerous brave personas, the strip took on a totally different aspect."

Mapping the evolution of Snoopy’s design and character traits might seem tedious across Peanuts collections, however, fortunately for cartoon lovers, it’s about to get somewhat simpler. Scheduled for the 75-year milestone of the comic's run, The Core Peanuts serves as an exquisite hardcover collector's edition crafted by celebrated scribe Mark Evanier that curates the most iconic Peanuts strips and frames them combined with updated cultural and societal background. Designed by the designer Kidd, the book features a preamble by Jean Schulz, a preface from Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell, along with contributions from sixteen distinguished voices (with a space explorer fond of Snoopy). Included in the set are several keepsakes, like mail cards, art prints, an embroidered patch, decals, plus a replica original strip compilation.

Expanding upon Abrams ComicArts’ celebrated Schulz publications, Evanier’s tribute examines Schulz’s creative ambition and the strip’s lasting impact throughout the arts, literature, and everyday life. The final product highlights how the strip has surpassed eras, and transformed into a greater phenomenon than Schulz himself could ever attribute to his early ideas.

Underneath, you’ll find special excerpts from The Essential Peanuts, specifically looking at how Snoopy changed during the initial period.

In his commentary, featured in the book, the author points out the way each of the comic's personas ultimately evolved via constant practice and exploration, with Snoopy as the most dramatic example. By the late 1950s, the character had evolved more elongated and ever more inventive, transforming into all sorts of beasts to other personas like Joe Cool. It’s a gorgeous example of a skill that has declined as the newspaper industry fades, but certainly warrants a position in the history of illustration chronicles.

This Essential Collection, costing $75, debuts in stores on October 7th.