Peanuts by Charles Schulz for July 29, 2015

Could that be Franklin who rescued the Brown siblings’ ball?

It is indeed Franklin. July 31, 1968.

Ah, a historic day in Peanuts. Franklin is here.

I’m so used to seeing Franklin only with Peppermint Patty. I didn’t realize he debuted before her.

Yup, it’s definitely Franklin’s first appearance. But he was a denizen of the “other” neighborhood.

Notice that his head was not round at first- it had that defined cheek line that Charlie Brown is missing. -——————————-A few characters were introduced as living somewhere outside the regularly shown neighborhood, or even town. Later that division became blurry and was mentioned less.

Funny how Franklin was ‘swimming out there,’ yet he approaches Charlie Brown, who’s looking out to the water, from the beach behind

Considering the era in which this strip was created, it is no small feat for Charlie Brown and Franklin to be sharing time at the beach. Yet again, Schulz’s unobtrusive wisdom.

When left to their own decisions, children are truly color blind…

Franklin was also one of the few recurring characters in the strip without any, um, eccentricities. Nice, level-headed kid.

The debut of Franklin!

Same here, Charlie Brown.

xxx

The first ever appearance of Franklin in the Peanuts comic strip originally from 1968.

There is a later story arc in which Franklin comes to visit Charlie Brown and encounters all the quirkiness of that neighborhood.

That is a real understatement Charlie Brown.

I think Franklin was one of the few characters who never mocked, teased or otherwise made Charlie Brown feel bad.

FRANKLIN!!!! :-D