Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles M. Schulz
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Synopsis
Discover the man behind Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang in this imaginative and tender-hearted tribute told in comic-strip format!
Charles M. Schulz was arguably the most influential and popular cartoonist of the 20th century, and he poured many of his own emotions and experiences into the world of Peanuts over its iconic 50-year run. Now, Luca Debus and Francesco Matteuzzi pay tribute to the master by telling the story of Schulz’s life in the medium that made him immortal: the comic strip. Every strip provides a laugh as well as a piece of insight into his remarkable life story. Starting with the last days of his monumental career, Funny Things jumps back and forth in time to narrate both Schulz’s artistic achievements and the personal episodes that formed him as an author and human being, ultimately shaping him into the most beloved cartoonist on the planet. Filled with affection, charm, and poignant insight, Funny Things imagines Schulz through the lens of the very world he created, inviting us all to meet the man behind the blanket.
“The human being — self-doubting, proud, committed and sometimes dark — who forged one of the most significant artistic creations of the 20th century comes through in these pages. By using the visual language of the Peanuts comic strip, Debus and Matteuzzi tap into our collective unconscious... It’s a brilliant conceit, and it took cojones to do it. Hats off.” — Jeff Smith, The New York Times
“Readers will gain remarkably intimate insights into this quiet but doggedly ambitious man, four panels at a time. Debus and Matteuzzi even manage to alchemize humor and melancholy in a way that anyone who has come across Peanuts... will recognize.” — Booklist (
“Surprisingly emotional... an affectionate yet bracing portrait of an artist who never overcame self-doubt, workaholism, and insecurities to appreciate his own greatness. Even readers only passingly familiar with Snoopy and the gang will be charmed.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“An insightful and affectionate biography of an iconic American artist... the format masterfully emphasizes the deeply personal quality of Schulz’s work.” — Library Journal
“At every level, Debus and Matteuzzi succeed at presenting us with a biography that is richly informative and comforting, making it an essential work that deserves to be placed on the shelf next to any volume of Peanuts.” — The Comics Beat
“A brilliant and audacious idea... this beautifully published volume is nothing less than magical.” — Air Mail
“Funny Things is a beautiful and clever new way for the world to get to know the dear friend and mentor I knew for thirteen years.” — Lynn Johnston, creator of For Better or For Worse