APRIL 8, 2025—NEW YORK, NY—A deluxe coffee table book celebrating the 75th anniversary of the beloved comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, The Essential Peanuts (Abrams ComicArts; October 7, 2025; $75; hardcover in a slipcase with a portfolio of bonus extras) by award-winning writer Mark Evanier presents the most iconic and essential Peanuts comic strips with fresh historical and cultural context. Featuring an introduction by Patrick McDonnell, a foreword by Jean Schulz, and contributions from sixteen notable commentators, the volume boasts a design by Chip Kidd plus a portfolio of collectible Peanuts ephemera—including postcards, prints, an embroidered patch, stickers, and a facsimile of a classic Peanuts comic book.
The Essential Peanuts builds upon Abrams ComicArts’s celebrated Peanuts publishing program, which includes the Eisner Award-winning Only What’s Necessary: Charles M. Schulz and the Art of Peanuts (Abrams ComicArts; April 2025; $29.99) by Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear.
“Having loved Peanuts since I was about Charlie Brown’s age (and no more successful at kite-flying), I was thrilled when Abrams ComicArts asked me to spend weeks reading and writing about the comic strip that was so much more than just a comic strip,” says Mark Evanier. “The only drawback was that I tried writing the book sitting on the roof of a doghouse, but I kept falling off.”
“As we mark 75 years of Peanuts, this partnership with Abrams ComicArts is a testament to the lasting impact of Schulz’s beloved characters,” says Craig Herman, VP of Global Brand Experiences, & Publishing at Peanuts Worldwide. “Since being introduced to the world on October 2, 1950, Peanuts has been at the forefront of pop culture, and we can’t wait for fans to discover this extraordinary anniversary edition.”
Timed for its 75th anniversary, The Essential Peanuts underscores how and why the comic strip transcends cultural, generational, and linguistic barriers to remain relevant and beloved. By exploring the creative ambition of Charles M. Schulz, his wry commentary on childhood struggles and triumphs, and his enduring influence on art, literature, and everyday life, Evanier not only celebrates an incomparable legacy but also reveals the universal appeal at the heart of Peanuts.
75 Years of Peanuts
Happiness is . . . 75 Years. In 1950, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang were first introduced to the world. In the 75 years since, Peanuts has become a global phenomenon, encompassing award-winning animated content, stage shows and live experiences, high profile collaborations, and retail programs around the world. Artists, musicians, philosophers, and fans have been inspired by Charles Schulz’s creation for over seven decades and there is no end in sight for this beloved cast of characters who speak so beautifully and simply to the human experience.
About Peanuts
The characters of Peanuts and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by WildBrain Ltd., 39% owned by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz, who first introduced the world to Peanuts in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. Since then, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang have made an indelible mark on popular culture. In addition to enjoying beloved Peanuts shows and specials on Apple TV+, fans of all ages celebrate the Peanuts brand worldwide through thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions, cultural events, social media, and comic strips available in all formats, from traditional to digital. In 2018, Peanuts partnered with NASA on a multi-year Space Act Agreement designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students.
About Charles M. Schulz
Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) was an American cartoonist whose comic strip Peanuts chronicled the adventures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire gang, becoming one of the most widely recognized and beloved strips of all time. His gentle humor and keen insights into everyday human struggles earned him a reputation as one of the most influential voices in the history of comics and modern- day culture. To learn more about Schulz’s life and work, visit schulzmuseum.org.
About the Author
Mark Evanier is the award-winning author of Kirby: King of Comics and MAD Art. A respected writer, historian, and editor, he has worked extensively in the worlds of comic books and television, earning a reputation as one of the foremost authorities on comics and animation. Evanier has three Emmy Award nominations and received the Lifetime Achievement Award for animation from the Writers Guild of America. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
About the Book
The Essential Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz: The Greatest Comic Strip of All Time
By Mark Evanier
Introduction by Patrick McDonnell and Foreword by Jean Schulz
Original Contributions by Robb Armstrong, Derrick Bang, Rob Boutilier, Paige Braddock, Alberto Brambilla, Benjamin L. Clark, Alexis E. Fajardo, Ben Folds, Sarah Gillespie, Chip Kidd, Amy Lago, Mike Massimino, Akio Matsunaga, Jeff Morrow, Hilary B. Price, and Shuntarō Tanikawa
Abrams ComicArts | October 7, 2025
U.S. $75.00 ⏐Can. $94.00 ⏐UK £55.00
ISBN: 978-1-4197-8417-0
Hardcover in deluxe slipcase | 336 pages | 11 x 8-1/4″
Portfolio insert with bonus extras, including: 8 ready-to-frame prints, 5 vinyl stickers, 8 postcards, iron-on patch, and a reprint of a full-color classic comic book!
Founded in 1949, ABRAMS was the first company in the United States to specialize in publishing art and illustrated books. The company continues to publish critically acclaimed and bestselling works in the areas of art, photography, cooking, craft, comics, interior and garden design, entertainment, fashion, and popular culture as well as narrative non-fiction and new works of fiction for adults; children’s books ranging from middle grade to young adult fiction to picture books to board books. ABRAMS creates and distributes brilliantly designed books with the highest production values under the following imprints: Abrams; Abrams ComicArts; Megascope; Surely Books; Abrams Image; Abrams Press; The Overlook Press; Cernunnos; Cameron + Company; Abrams Books for Young Readers; Amulet Books; Abrams Appleseed; and Magic Cat. ABRAMS also distributes books for Booth-Clibborn Editions, Alain Ducasse Édition, Èditions de La Martiniére, Editions BPI, Global Golf Group, Lucky Spool, Milky Way Picture Books, The Museum of Modern Art, SelfMadeHero, Tate Publishing, V&A Publishing, and The Vendome Press.
