Peanuts: Friends Forever 2016 Special #1
Created by Charles Schulz
Written by Charles Schulz and Jason Cooper
Art by Vicki Scott, Donna Almendrala
Colors by Nomi Kane, Denis St. John, Katharine Efird, Justin Thompson
Letters by Katherine Efird, Denis St. John, Donna Almendrala
KaBOOM!
Release Date: July 6, 2016
Cover Price: $7.99

Color me sad. When I read the blurb for Peanuts: Friends Forever 2016 Special #1, I felt the need to review it. For you see, this appears to be the end of this run of Peanuts comics. It seems that Charles Schulz‘s creations have been a part of my life since birth. And in a way, they have.

My mother’s best friend gave me a crocheted blanket and matching pillows when I was born and to this day, forty-six years later, they reside with me in my home. I’ve included a photo of the pillows below. It was a heartbreaking day when Schultz passed away in 2000, but this also stings a little. Having to say goodbye sucks.

These pillows look a little worse for wear, but then so do I.

Direct from the publisher:

After five years and 39 issues, four original graphic novels, and a groundbreaking tribute book, we bid farewell to this incarnation of Peanuts comics with an oversized finale.

Snoopy’s Daisy Hill Farm is being torn down and Charlie Brown tries to be there for him. It’s a warm goodbye filled with love and heart for all devoted Peanuts readers!

Much of this comic is adapted work, though some is definitely classic Peanuts. Once upon a time I might have thought that having someone change such a classic cartoon strip would have been tantamount to blasphemy, but now I see it as more of an homage to Schulz and his work. Besides, creating a version for today’s society seems to be in keeping with what he would have wanted.

As far as the stories go, they tell tales of friendship, equality, and the importance of being earnest in all things. In “Dress To Depress” we see that sometimes it really does take a village to raise a child, er I mean point. Within “Sally Brown On Reading” we bear witness to last-minute school papers that might lack substance but make up for it in conviction. But most telling of these is “Daisy Hill Days” that prove you can’t go home again, but frozen yogurt will ease the pain. Additional filler strips are included in this 45-page maxi-comic special.

I’ll be picking this up because I just have to do so. This comic is a must for anyone who wants to reminisce about the old Peanuts comics or for anyone that has been following the newer ones.

It’s a comic strip that will remind you to love for love’s sake alone. Who wouldn’t want that in their life?