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.

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 …

New releases
Bringing up the rear

I’m interrupting my coverage of the shipment of books I got from Japan to cover another foreign book that just arrived. Now, I don’t try to collect every foreign Peanuts book. My collection is out of control as it is. I try to find books in languages that I don’t …