The following is an interview with award-winning writer Mark Evanier (Kirby: King of Comics, MAD Art) regarding the release of The Essential Peanuts, a 75th anniversary hardcover collection celebrating the work of Charles M. Schulz, through publisher Abrams ComicArts. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Evanier about how Schulz’s legacy impacted him as a creator and fan, what he’s most excited for readers to experience with the collection, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Abrams ComicArts recently released the hardcover collection, The Essential Peanuts, in celebration of the beloved comic strip’s 75th anniversary. As a life-long fan of Peanuts, how has Charles Schulz’s legacy impacted you as a creator and a fan?
Mark Evanier: I think the strip was the first time I fell in love not with individual cartoon or comic characters but with a whole family of them in a whole world. I’m so inspired by Mr. Schulz’s longevity that I was unable to address him as “Sparky” even though he asked me to.
BD: What can you share with us about the curation process for the comics strips that will be included in this collection?
ME: There’s this magical place in Santa Rosa, California, called The Charles M. Schulz Museum, and they curate his entire, awesome body of work. They have everything. They know everything. I didn’t have a lot of time to do my end of this book but they made it possible. If you’re ever near Santa Rosa, drop by and you’ll see what I mean.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. Why do you feel that Peanuts’ insightful commentary on the struggles of childhood has had such an enduring impact throughout the generations?
ME: I think because it’s so real and the personalities are so real. Everyone knows people of whatever age who are like Linus or Lucy or Peppermint Patty or some of the others. Everyone at times feels like Charlie Brown. It causes us to kind of intermingle our lives with their lives. I don’t know how many times in my life, I’ve said something like, “Oh, this is like the time Charlie Brown dropped the ball and lost the game.” Or “This is like Snoopy deciding to take the ol’ doghouse for a spin to try and shoot down the Red Baron!”
BD: How would you describe your collaboration with Abrams ComicArts to bring this anniversary collection to life?
ME: The folks at Abrams are wonderful, especially their head honcho for this division, Charlie Kochman. It’s wonderful to write a book and know that they have your back and they’re going to do everything in their power, even if it means (gasp!) spending money to make the end product something you’ll be proud to have your name on. You may think I’m saying that because I write books for them but it’s the other way around. I write books for them because they’re so obsessed with doing it right.
BD: Finally, what are you most excited for readers to experience with this collection?
ME: I want to remind them what it was they always loved about Peanuts. Maybe the book will even connect them with who they were at the time they discovered it. That’s a fun journey to take.
