Complete Peanuts HC (2004-2016 Fantagraphics) comic books 2006

Volume 5 - 1st printing. "1959-1960!" Story and art by Charles Schulz. Rounding out the first decade in this volume, major new additions to classic Peanuts lore come fast and furious here. Snoopy begins to take up residence atop his doghouse, and his repertoire of impressions increases exponentially. Lucy sets up her booth and offers her first five-cent psychiatric counsel. For the very first time, Linus spends all night in the pumpkin patch on his lonely vigil for the Great Pumpkin. Charlie Brown's sister Sally makes her appearance, first as an (off-panel) brand-new baby for Charlie to gush over, then as a toddler, and eventually a talking, thinking cast member. All this, and one of the most famous Peanuts strips ever: 'Happiness is a warm puppy.' Almost one hundred of the 731 strips collected in this volume (including many Sundays) have never been collected in any book since their original release, with one hundred more having been collected only once. The introduction is by comedienne extraordinaire Whoopi Goldberg, who reveals which Peanuts character she has tattooed on her body (and where), as well as telling of her meeting with 'Sparky' Schulz, and her fascinating theory on Snoopy's brother Spike. Hardcover, 9-in. x 7-in., 328 pages, B&W. Cover price $28.95.

Volume 6 - 1st printing. "1961-1962!" Story and art by Charles Schulz. Launching into the 1960s, Schulz adds another new cast member. Two, in fact: The obnoxious Frieda, of 'naturally curly hair' fame, and her inert, seemingly boneless cat Faron. The rapidly maturing Sally, who was after all just born in the previous volume, is ready to start kindergarten and not at all happy about it. Linus' life is particularly turbulent in this volume, as he is forced to wear glasses, sees the unexpected return of his favorite teacher, Miss Othmar, and coaxes Sally into the cult of the Great Pumpkin (with regrettable results). Snoopy, meanwhile, becomes a compulsive water sprinkler head stander, unhappily befriends a snowman or two, and endures a family crisis involving a little family of birds. Plus baseball blowouts (including a rare team victory), Beethoven birthdays, and plenty of dubious psychiatric help for a nickel. This book collects 730 daily and Sunday comic strips, the vast majority of which are not currently available in any in-print Peanuts collection, and many of which have never been reprinted since their initial appearance in papers over 50 years ago. New introduction by legendary jazz pianist/vocalist Diana Krall! Hardcover, 9-in. x 7-in., 352 pages, B&W. Cover price $28.95.