Snoopy returns in new Hachette collection

Hachette is releasing a new collection of the Peanuts comic strips, focusing on the iconic beagle Snoopy. The collection, titled Snoopy, includes reworked versions of classic strips, selected and reinterpreted by cartoonist Jean-Yves Ferri.

Collaboration with Jean-Yves Ferri

Jean-Yves Ferri has retranslated and reworked the selected strips, aiming to present Charles Monroe Schulz's work in a fresh way. The books include thematic selections of the best gags from the Peanuts universe.

New format and themes

Each book in the collection features a practical 96-page format with pop colors and a modernized layout. The themes are drawn from the Peanuts universe, focusing on characteristic and popular elements of the series.

First volume details

The first volume, L'Éloge de la paresse, is scheduled for November 4, 2026. It humorously explores the art of doing nothing. The first print run is 15,000 copies, with an additional 3,000 copies already being prepared for reprint.

Second volume and timeline

The second volume, Au fil des saisons, is set for January 27, 2027. It contains 18,000 strips drawn between 1950 and 2000, offering a comprehensive look at the Peanuts timeline.

Origins of Peanuts

Peanuts was created by Charles Monroe Schulz in 1947. He initially sold a weekly strip called Li’l folks to a newspaper in Saint-Paul, Minnesota. The strip was later renamed Peanuts by the United Feature Syndicate in 1950, a name Schulz disliked.

Evolution of the characters

Schulz built his Peanuts universe around Charlie Brown and his friends, including Violet, Patty, Schroeder, and Lucy. Snoopy started as Charlie Brown’s dog but became a central character in 1958, taking on various roles like a fighter pilot and explorer.

Legacy of Schulz

Charles Monroe Schulz passed away in 2000 at the age of 77. He had created nearly 18,000 strips, published in 2,600 newspapers across 75 countries and 21 languages, reaching an estimated 355 million readers.

French publishing history

The Peanuts comics first appeared in French newspapers, notably France-Soir. Multiple publishers in France, including Dargaud, have released Peanuts in album form, with titles like Snoopy super champion and Snoopy et le Baron Rouge.

Hachette's previous editions

Hachette first published Peanuts in France in 1974 under the Bande verte collection. They later republished Schulz's work in 2015 in the La bibliothèque rose collection, targeting children aged 8 and older. Sales varied significantly across the volumes.

New release aims to revive interest

A decade after the last Peanuts publication by Hachette, the famous beagle Snoopy is returning to French readers, aiming to attract both younger and older audiences with this new collection.