Not much I can say about Sparky except that I loved his work—as did Stephan and just about every other cartoonist wannabe. Volumes have been written about what Peanuts is all about. We all owe him a lot.
Not on;y did Schulz help Stephan Pastis get his start,
Pastis lives here in Santa Rosa CA, where Schulz did, too…
and, because he was a lawyer before a cartoonist, he sat on the board at the Charles Schulz Museum, and also provided legal assistance in regards to Peanuts licensing.
When I briefly volunteered at that museum in 2010, he had just left that position…
I don’t know whether it was paid or not… and I never got to meet him.
But others there pointed out some of the Peanuts references and tributes in Pearls…
The beach scenes, the brick wall where characters used to always meet to talk, though now the cafe counter is more present…
A lamp that looks like Charlie Brown’s zig zag T-shirt…
there’s more but I forget till I see it…
oh yeah… I think Pig’s bean bag chair… and some expressions in the dialogue, like “Sigh…”
Real life lesson: Wanting to be a hero is the least likely way to become one. Just doing what needs to be done, even if your bowels are loose and the sky is falling is the better option.
Here I am half awake yet and wondering why Charlie Brown is drawn differently in todays comic until Rat showed up and I go: “oooooh… right.” sips more coffee
I thought for a moment I had gone to Peanuts (even though today’s strip has Snoopy writing a letter) until Rat came in. Always nice when Pastis is very blatant in his Peanuts tributes.
BE THIS GUY about 5 years ago
In many ways Charlie Brown was the GOAT. His character helped create so many future characters, including Goat (Paris).
DanielRyanMulligan about 5 years ago
thank you charles schulz
garcoa about 5 years ago
Yes you were ahead of your time, Chuck, and (almost) all of us could all relate to you but you still lost all the baseball games.
LeeCox about 5 years ago
Can you tell that Charles Shulz was one of Stephan’s idols?
kaffekup about 5 years ago
I’ll bet Goat gets a swelled head when he finds out.
Robin Harwood about 5 years ago
For a minute there I thought I was reading the wrong strip.
Robin Harwood about 5 years ago
And I think I was. In this strip Rat is being nice.
Gent about 5 years ago
I dunno about Pig but Goat would be happy to know this.
willispate about 5 years ago
Rat can be nice, he just doesn’t show it much.
Kind&Kinder about 5 years ago
Not much I can say about Sparky except that I loved his work—as did Stephan and just about every other cartoonist wannabe. Volumes have been written about what Peanuts is all about. We all owe him a lot.
SusanSunshine Premium Member about 5 years ago
Not on;y did Schulz help Stephan Pastis get his start,
Pastis lives here in Santa Rosa CA, where Schulz did, too…
and, because he was a lawyer before a cartoonist, he sat on the board at the Charles Schulz Museum, and also provided legal assistance in regards to Peanuts licensing.When I briefly volunteered at that museum in 2010, he had just left that position…
I don’t know whether it was paid or not… and I never got to meet him.
But others there pointed out some of the Peanuts references and tributes in Pearls…
The beach scenes, the brick wall where characters used to always meet to talk, though now the cafe counter is more present…
A lamp that looks like Charlie Brown’s zig zag T-shirt…there’s more but I forget till I see it…
oh yeah… I think Pig’s bean bag chair… and some expressions in the dialogue, like “Sigh…”
dadoctah about 5 years ago
“Chuck”? Is Peppermint Patty somehow mixed up in this?
JasonBall about 5 years ago
The strip is wider today than usual. Because strips were allotted wider spaces in the paper back in Peanuts days, I’m guessing?
innertuber about 5 years ago
And a hero is just a sandwich.
Troglodyte about 5 years ago
Rat still managed to get Chuck’s goat.
Concretionist about 5 years ago
Real life lesson: Wanting to be a hero is the least likely way to become one. Just doing what needs to be done, even if your bowels are loose and the sky is falling is the better option.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member about 5 years ago
I was going down the comics without looking at titles and was thrown at the better coloring of Charley Brown til I saw Rat. Nice pastiche.
asrialfeeple about 5 years ago
Thanks, Sparky. Enjoy Heaven.
Major Matt Mason Premium Member about 5 years ago
Good grief!
Zebrastripes about 5 years ago
Awwww, RAT stepped up to make Charlie feel better.
The TM about 5 years ago
Hey, Stephan. I love your work. But, in this case, aren’t you supposed to include something like “Apologies to Charles Schulz”, even if in fine print?
detroitpete about 5 years ago
Don’t forget that he also worked with Bill Watterson who created “Calvin & Hobbes” on a story arc as “drawn by a second grader”.
Ellis97 about 5 years ago
I can tell that reruns of Peanuts have not aged well.
gregaw about 5 years ago
Here I am half awake yet and wondering why Charlie Brown is drawn differently in todays comic until Rat showed up and I go: “oooooh… right.” sips more coffee
Cary Rodda Premium Member about 5 years ago
Does Goat know this?
Radish the wordsmith about 5 years ago
Here’s 5 cents, get some psychiatric help.
gnome about 5 years ago
?! Wait, What?!……This is drawn really well…leading to the question….why just this time?…. X-)
mtrimberger Premium Member about 5 years ago
That is actually wonderful!
laurasohn11 about 5 years ago
That was pretty cool of Rat
Goat about 5 years ago
Charlie Brown, if you were ahead of your time, why are you still feeling glum in the fourth panel?
chris_weaver about 5 years ago
Having reassured Charlie, maybe Rat should talk to him about that ‘Lucy and the football’ thing.
TurbosDad about 5 years ago
Hey Stephan, per your remarks between panels one and two: No apologies necessary. He (Schulz) would have been honored…
gmu328 about 5 years ago
G.O.A.T? The greatest losing pitcher of all time in the little league …
jccdlc about 5 years ago
This is awesome!
zeexenon about 5 years ago
Now, if he turns real fast the inertia of his visor rotates the whole cap too?
wllilly1960 about 5 years ago
Stephan samples and remixes! He’s SOooooooo postmodern!
knight1192a about 5 years ago
I thought for a moment I had gone to Peanuts (even though today’s strip has Snoopy writing a letter) until Rat came in. Always nice when Pastis is very blatant in his Peanuts tributes.
russef about 5 years ago
An Orange Goat??
Chris Sherlock about 5 years ago
Rats!
eladee AKA Wally about 5 years ago
Bravo!!!!
oakie817 about 5 years ago
most excellent
BaltimoreJack Premium Member about 5 years ago
Great tribute to your mentor, Mr. Pastis!
Sisyphos about 5 years ago
One shudders to think what might have transpired if back in the day Charlie Brown actually had met up with and been influenced by Rat!
Or is this just Cartoon-Boy’s Envy-dream?
txmystic about 5 years ago
I’ve been thinking this exact thing about C.B.
clayface9 Premium Member about 5 years ago
Rats!
rgcviper about 5 years ago
Good grief! (As Major Matt Mason said … )
Sounds like being this kind of G.O.A.T. isn’t all bad, though.
Nice tribute.
AZPhinFan about 5 years ago
I’m sure he did this for Sparky
asrialfeeple about 5 years ago
The goat of the game, but the life of the party.
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member about 5 years ago
Way late, but the Daily Cartoonist pointed to this:
https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1958/06/16
hangedman about 5 years ago
They’ll never tell you they’re all just paying their devil’s due to Baphomet.
Sirhic_nab about 4 years ago
Rat meets Charlie Brown
Goat from PBS over 3 years ago
Charlie Brown will always be the GOAT. Well, he and Snoopy.