History of the Comic Strip

For this weeks reading I chose to read "Peanuts," "Calvin and Hobbs," and "Get Fuzzy."  I really enjoyed reading these little strips it was a great time and took me back to a younger version of myself.  I am very new to comic books and graphic novels but I have always read comic strips on growing up. My grandma used to read the spiderman strip to me every Sunday and I remember how excited I would get waiting to hear what happens next.

"Calvin and Hobbs" is the series I was least familiar with and very quickly I realized what all the fuss is about  and why there is such a huge fan base.  It really make people connect to a younger mind set and while your reading it life is simple during those panels.  I think that applies to most comic strips and is part of the reason so many people have loved them for so long.

"Get Fuzzy" is a comic I have been reading for the past few years when given the opportunity.  The character personalities are so great to me.  They contrast beautifully and the sense of humor is at times very dry and at times very sarcastic.  I stumbled onto this strip one morning at work in high school one summer and it was the first time I really laughed out loud at a comic strip.  The expressions Darby Conley draws onto these characters supports the text so strongly it really gives life to the characters and at times I found myself laughing to myself, "What the hell is that Cats Problem!!"  Something about how ridiculous the circumstances and characters are really appeals to me.

I also read the "Peanuts' featuring good ol Charlie Brown.  I had to read these strips.  I felt that if I didn't read the Peanuts during a week where the assignment was to read comic strips I would be slapping Mr. Shultz in the face.  I felt reading these strips now opposed to when I was younger I appreciate them much more now.  I liked them when I was little and I could relate to them but I was more into the action or physical slapstick humor found in other strips.  However now when I read the strips I have a blast and I am all of a sudden back to being 9 or 10 years old but I catch all the little jokes and nuances that the Peanuts are so loved for.  Snoopy cracked me up and the strip where Charlie Brown washes his hands before dinner and then pets Snoopy and has to watch them again had me laughing for 10 minutes.  Snoopy's reaction to Charlie Browns sister yelling at him that Snoopy has dog germs and Snoopy's reaction was brilliant.  The way the strips connected in the complete book made them a lot of fun to read as you follow the characters through the seasons and through obstacles.  There is a reason"The Peanuts" strip is considered a masterpiece and I am glad I can now appreciate it for what it is.