The original graphic novel Scotland Bound, Charlie Brown is the latest in BOOM! Studios' original stories starring Charles Schulz’s Peanuts characters like Charlie Brown and Snoopy, who were newspaper comic strip stables from 1950 until Schulz’s death in 2000. With the support of the Schulz estate, this new outing is adapted from the storyboards of an incomplete animated adventure. BOOM! has been publishing both original and archive Peanuts material for close to a decade, but this comic, by writer Jason Cooper and artist Robert Pope, is far and away the strongest and the truest to the spirit of the original.

This brand new Peanuts story sees Charlie Brown in a rare state of optimism and enthusiasm as he pursues his chance to visit Scotland and meet his pen-pal crush. Charlie Brown leads the charge to raise funds for him and his friends, including his dog Snoopy, to journey across the pond. The group explores the sites and culture of Scotland and learns a bit more about themselves along the way.

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The creative team channels the spirit of Schulz and Bill Melendez's classic TV specials and animated films like A Charlie Brown Christmas. At turns laugh-out-loud funny and emotionally resonant, this international journey channels Schulz’s unique perspective that balanced the youthful joy of discovery with the melancholy of growing up. Jason Cooper’s script captures Schulz’s keen sense of comedic timing, and when reading the dialogue, it is hard not to hear the childish delivery of those classic cartoons. The only thing missing is Vince Guaraldi’s jazz score.

Robert Pope flawlessly channels Schulz’s trademark thin and roughly textured line work. His ability to sell gags and create emotional depth while sticking to the minimalist aesthetic adds to the authenticity of the book. Schulz once said, “Formulas are truly the backbone of the comic strip,” and Cooper and Pope are faithful to many of the formulas that make Peanuts such a timeless work. The creators’ most brilliant decision is to structure each individual page like a daily gag strip that could be enjoyed in isolation. Pope lays out most pages along four rows that help contribute to the familiar rhythm of the classic strips and isn’t afraid to lean into silent moments for comedic effect. The art effectively transports the characters from the familiar minimal backdrops to a stylized tour of Scottish landmarks that inspire the same sense of history and discovery the characters experience in the reader.

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Of note are the letters from Donna Almendrala and Bryan Stone. Charles Schulz did all the lettering and art for the original Peanuts and so every facet of those strips reflects a part of his personality. The care that Almendrala and Stone take to imbue the same qualities of line and expression that Pope brings to his art is exemplary. Hannah White’s colors are vibrant and her ability to create a mood and elevate the action on the page are excellent additions.

If there is one nitpick to find in the book’s story, it is the necessity to ignore that a group of children have raised money to fly to Scotland and travel around a foreign country without any apparent adult supervision. This does allow for the writer to streamline the plot and get to the meat of the story but it is a bit preposterous. Still, the sheer joy of the proceedings outweighs this logical leap.

Scotland Bound, Charlie Brown is a delightful, funny and touching book that offers genuine and authentic character moments, an emotional arc for its cast and a satisfying lesson about savoring the present. Lovingly devoted to the original Peanuts, and in particular the animated specials of the mid-60s, this book is sure to reignite nostalgic feelings and inspire readers to revisit the classic comic strips or cartoons. But the creators do not play it safe and simply repackage familiar moments. This new outing feels both classic and fresh and offers a perfect introduction for new fans and a joyous romp for those with long-held affection for that old blockhead, Charlie Brown.

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