Non-Schulz Peanuts appear again

An intrepid AAUGH Blog reader (hi, Michael) called our attention to issue 59 of Alter Ego, a magazine on comic book history. In there is an interview with Al Plastino, long-time comic book artist, former cartoonist of the Nancy comic strip, and most relevant to this discussion, the guy whom United Feature Syndicate had tapped for taking over Peanuts should something happen to Schulz (back before it was decided that Such Things Would Not Be Done.) Among the illustrations for the article are small but clear reproductions of three Plastino Peanuts dailies, showing us what might have been. It’s not Schulz, but then again, what could be?

Plastino had a similarly never-to-be-loved-by-fans role in comic books. When Jack Kirby (whose role as the original artist behind the Fantastic Four, Hulk, X-Men, and so many more make most important artist in American comic book history) started doing Superman comics, the editor wasn’t satisfied with the look of the character, and had Plastino redraw all of the Superman heads.

New releases
A pop-up shows up

Here Comes Charlie Brown!: A Peanuts Pop-up, Gene Kannenberg, Jr.’s adaptation of the very first Peanuts strip, is not the first Peanuts book to reprint only a single strip. There was at least one board book that did much the same thing. However, that board book was, at heart, a …

Classic finds
English Phrases to Comfort Your Heart

The next book in my Amazon Japan shipment falls into the adorable category of “Peanuts used to explain American culture”. English Phrases to Comfort Your Heart with Snoopy by Nobu Yamada falls into that category. It also falls into the category of “books which are meant to be destroyed”, as each …

New releases
Look! A mook!

Mooks – that is, items with magazine-like content but sold more like a book – are popular in Japan. Many of them come bundled with extra items, and there have been a fair number with Peanuts items. Most often these are bags – a handbag or a tote of some …