"I'm reposting the Mother's Day thread from two years ago. This is still my favorite Peanuts thread"

[Bucky]

2. Charles M Schulz, like most Minnesotans, was a sunlight deprived morose Lutheran

Most of his female characters were mankilling harpies who tormented Charlie and Linus. It was only after his remarriage to a younger more supportive woman that his "second generation" more positive characters like Peppermint Patti and Marcie came along and lightened the mood of the strip.

Honestly, the darker themes is what set Peanuts apart from the Howdie Doodie antics of the other newspaper funnies.