My worrisome thoughts on the upcoming Peanuts books from Fantagraphics have inspired some responses: Eve agrees that the design is almost confrontationally Artsy, while Franklin and David say it’s okay by them. Well, yeah, guys, that’s what I’m saying: You’re the Peanuts hardcore–of course you’re gonna love a nice tasteful thoughtful melancholic cover that will look nice on your bookshelf. Hey, I’m not even arguing that it won’t look nice on your bookshelf or anything like that. I just think that most people want a Peanuts collection that looks like it’s going to be funny, not one that’s some sort of “Taps”-in-design-form for our lost childhoods and the late Sparky Schulz, which is what Seth came up with. And yeah, David, the angst is right there, but so is the funniness, and that’s ultimately why people come back to Charlie Brown et al.
