Charles Schulz’ beloved characters of Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have been enjoyed around the world for decades, but how did one man create such enduring characters?
Manga Biographies: Charles M. Schulz The Creator of Snoopy and Peanuts is a biographical manga about Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus, and more. The manga spans Schulz’ life from his childhood to his death in 2000 soon after he drew the final Peanuts strip, with the emphasis being on Schulz’ inspiration for his characters and his determination to become a cartoonist.
From sharing in the love of newspaper comic strips with his parents to the rejection of his coworker Donna, who became the catalyst for the Little Red-Haired Girl, Charlie Brown’s unrequited crush in the Peanuts comic strip, the manga showcases how interwoven Schulz’ life was with that of his creations. The manga keeps the focus on Schulz’s career toward the eventual success of Peanuts as well his creations that ultimately led to Peanuts characters, such as his sketches of his family dog and his first comic strip Li’l Folks: early work that pioneered Schulz’ vision for Peanuts.
The manga’s art is adorable. Yuzuru Kuki’s whimsical style is suited for this take on Schulz’ life and career. Even though the style is sweet and straightforward, Yuki conveys serious scenes with nuance and care. All of the principal characters are expressive, most notably Schulz himself. Yuki’s art manages to convey a correlation between Schulz and Charlie Brown as well, such as when Schulz endures awkward situations or he feels shy and nervous. It is a subtle but effective touch. Panels that depict Schulz drawing feature his actual work, which is a delightful touch.
At the beginning of the manga, a brief history page touches on major events during Schulz’ life. The events mentioned, such as the introduction of newspaper comic strips, World War II, and the Apollo 11 landing, are described in great detail beyond how they impacted Schulz’ life. For example, the Schulz family’s love of newspaper comics instilled a fascination in Schulz at an early age, and Schulz’ military service is described as cultivating his discipline and grit that allowed him to persevere in getting his comic strip published.
The publisher age rating for Manga Biographies: Charles M. Schulz The Creator of Snoopy and Peanuts is ages 12-18, but Peanuts fans of all ages can enjoy this take on Schulz’ life and determination to become a cartoonist. While the manga touches on more serious aspects of Schulz’ life, such as his military service, marital issues, and family death, it glosses over the details other than how these experiences may have influenced his creative process.
The manga includes extras in the back such as various Peanuts trivia, quotes, and more that gear to a young audience. Readers looking for a more in-depth biography of Schulz won’t find it here, but anyone wanting to read an inspirational and light-hearted take on Schulz’ journey as a cartoonist might enjoy this.
Manga Biographies: Charles M. Schulz The Creator of Snoopy and Peanuts
By Yuzuru Kuki
UDON Entertainment, 2024
ISBN: 9781772943443
Publisher Age Rating: 12-18
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Tween (10-13), Teen (13-16), Older Teen (16-18), Adult (18+)
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Middle Grade (7-11), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13)
