10 Funniest Peanuts Comics That Just Turned 50 (In July 2024)

Peanuts is one of the oldest and most hilarious comic strip series in history, which is why it is absolutely legendary. To this day, the likes of Charlie Brown, Linus and Snoopy are some of the most iconic characters in the history of fiction. Like even those who have never read a single one Peanuts Comedians know exactly who they are – and for good reason.

Charles M. Schultz S Peanuts is extremely timeless, as even some of the oldest comic strips are just as funny today as they were then. In fact, as of July 2024, a month’s worth of Peanuts Comic strips are 50 years old, which means now is the perfect time to look back at the funniest strips in the collection. And among them is one particularly noteworthy story that features Charlie Brown hitting the beach, where he’s just as hilariously obscure as ever. Here are those 10 funniest Peanuts Comic strips that appeared in July 1974!

10

Peppermint Patty hilariously redefines summer reading goals

Peanuts – July 11, 1974

Since it is July, the Peanuts gang enjoying their summer vacation, including the iconic duo Peppermint Patty and Marcie, who hung together in the shade of a tree. Without provocation, Patty yelled, “Nine in a row! This is a new record!“. Curious, Marcy asks what a new record is, to which Peppermint Patty clarifies, “This is my summer reading program… I read nine books in a row without understanding any of them!“.

Summer Reading has been responsible for introducing thousands of children to the joy of reading, although it can definitely be a bit of a drag when someone isn’t interested in the book they’re required to read – and that’s Peppermint Patty’s problem. but, Instead of feeling down about it, Patty simply redefined summer reading with a whole new ‘purpose’Which is absolutely hysterical.

9

Snoopy’s comical genius was not appreciated by Woodstock

Peanuts – July 12, 1974

There are few cartoon best friends more iconic than Snoopy and Woodstock, but even they aren’t without their problems. In this comic, Snoopy tells Woodstock a joke that he thinks is absolutely hilariousBut Woodstock didn’t react at all. Snoopy gets a little angry at his bestie for not giving him the reaction he was after, thinking to himself with a scowl on his face,Woodstock never understands anything“.

The funniest part of this comic isn’t that Woodstock pretty much ignores Snoopy’s joke, or even the joke itself, but Snoopy’s reaction in the last panel. He concludes that Woodstock simply did not understand the joke, because – in Snoopy’s opinion – the idea that Woodstock did not think it was funny is impossible. Indeed, Snoopy sees himself as a comic genius, and Woodstock just doesn’t appreciate it.

8

Charlie Brown knows Snoopy a little too well (much to Snoopy’s dismay)

Peanuts – July 14, 1974

Snoopy is Charlie Brown’s dog, and although he acts with complete autonomy in his everyday life, Snoopy still requires Charlie Brown to do all the things a responsible dog owner is supposed to doHow to provide him with food. One night while Snoopy is sleeping on top of his dog house, he wakes up to a muffin with grape jelly – and not for the first time.

Apparently, Snoopy creates grape jelly muffins so often that he has a specific way he kicks the door when he wants one – And Charlie Brown knows that well by heart. Chuck immediately knew what Snoopy’s kick meant, and told him that he was not giving him a muffin at 2:00. Snoopy thinks to himself that he needs to disguise that kick, as Charlie Brown knows him a little too well.

7

Peanuts exposes the real power behind Hollywood blockbusters: mothers

Peanuts – July 16, 1974

Summer blockbusters are and have always been a mainstay for children during summer break, And Peanuts Exposes the real reason these films are always so successful: Mothers. In the strip, Lucy, Sally, and Linus go to see a movie, and in the ticket line, Sally comments to Linus that the movie they’re about to see costs ten million dollars to make. Then, Sally asks Linus, “And you know why I’m going to see it? Because my mother wanted to take me out of the house!“.

The situation in Sally, Linus and Lucy is universal Moms seem to always send their kids to the movies during summer vacation in an effort to get them out of the house for a few hours.. In other words, the million-dollar blockbusters arguably have parents (in this case, mothers) to thank for their success.

6

Even when Lucy is wrong, she’s still somehow always right

Peanuts – July 19, 1974

During a baseball game, Lucy spots a fly ball heading her way. She calls the ball, so no one else on her team gets in her way of trying to catch it. Over and over again, Lucy shouts, “I got it!” Only to completely miss the catch. Lucy then says, “Everyone is wrong once!“. Lucy was wrong about being able to catch the ball, however By saying that everyone is wrong sometimes, she suddenly becomes right about being wrong.

Lucy is famously the biggest know-it-all in the Peanuts gang. This has been obvious over the years by how much she criticizes Charlie Brown, how she bosses everyone around, and how she has her own therapy stand where she literally charges kids to give them advice. And the comic is another example, as it shows that even when Lucy is wrong, she is still somehow always right.

5

Charlie Brown can’t even go to the beach without doing something wrong

Peanuts – July 21, 1974

Charlie Brown and his sister, Sally, take full advantage of their summer break by heading to the lake for a nice beach day. It is rare to see any member of the Peanuts band out of their hometown, which makes this comic especially meaningful when considering those who just turned 50. Unfortunately, Charlie Brown is still the hapless hero fans know him as, and that includes during a beach day.

When Charlie Brown tells Sally that her beach ball is floating across the lake, she tells him not to worry about it, and simply calls the ball back to her. Sally then tells Charlie Brown, “You have to know how to talk to a beach ball“, something that Charlie Brown clearly doesn’t know how to do. In other words, Charlie Brown can’t even go to the beach without doing something wrong.

4

Snoopy challenges the idea that dogs are man’s best friend

Peanuts – July 22, 1974

One night, Chuck walks into his house looking sad, and Sally asks him why he’s not at the party. Charlie Brown said that he was just humiliated in front of all his friends, so he decided to leave early. Sally, trying to cheer him up, says at least he can spend the rest of the night hanging out with Snoopy. However, Charlie Brown tells you, “He’s still in the party!“.

Being Snoopy, it’s a safe bet that he didn’t simply stay at the party while Charlie Brown left, But was a contributing factor to Charlie Brown leaving in the first place by being one of his friends who was laughing at him After he humbled himself. Snoopy is not exactly nice, especially to Charlie Brown, because Snoopy challenges the idea that dogs are a man’s best friend with each passing day.

3

Snoopy proves he’s the greatest writer of our time (at least, he thinks so).

Peanuts – July 17, 1974

Snoopy has long been an aspiring novelist, taking to his typewriter while sitting on his dog house for many years over. Peanuts history, And in this comic strip, he writes something really superb. At least, he thinks so. Snoopy writes a story about a woman named Edith who doesn’t want to marry someone because of his weight, and the man goes to his friend, who asks him why he can’t just go on a diet before saying, “You can’t have your cake and neither can Edith!“.

Cheap words are not usually the mark of a great author, although this is completely lost on SnoopyBecause he is very satisfied with the writing. Snoopy even thinks to himself, “It’s exciting when you’ve written something you know is good“, and honestly, his confidence is admirable, even if he is totally delusional.

2

Snoopy Nearly Invents a Whole New Way to Play Tennis

Peanuts – July 15, 1974

During a singles tennis match, Snoopy is frustrated with the way he is playing. He keeps thinking about all the things he should have done during the match, and all the ways he could have improved his game. but then, Before losing his focus completely, Snoopy pulls back, saying, “We don’t play ‘should’!“.

While Snoopy’s comment was his way of getting his head back in the game, the way he said it makes it how he wants it is a way to play ‘should’ in tennis. Imagine, a game where either side could redo a missed opportunity, or undo any of their mess-ups. Honestly, it would be pretty terrible, but it seems that even the non-existent ‘should’ version of tennis would be preferable to how Snoopy is playing in this strip.

1

Snoopy’s ‘bedtime snackiness’ distracts him from the beauty of nature

Peanuts – July 13, 1974

It seems Snoopy is the most ‘snacky’ when he should be asleep, something fans have seen before when he knocks on Charlie Brown’s door trying to get a jelly muffin. In the comic, Snoopy is experiencing the same level of hunger in the middle of the night while lying on top of his dog house. Instead of taking in the atmosphere of a quiet summer night, with all the natural sounds it offers, Snoopy is focused on the sound of a can opener somewhere in the distance, and immediately perks up, determined to go beg Charlie Brown for some food..

Snoopy is easily one of the standout characters of the entire Peanuts strip, and the month of July in 1974 highlights that with comics such as these. but, Snoopy certainly isn’t the only one, like each of the 10 Peanuts Comic strips are absolutely hilariousAnd it is worth looking back on now that they are already 50.