There's a reason for everyone who's ever read Peanut consider it an absolute classic, as the original comic has everything fans could want from a series. In-depth character studies, genuine relationships that feel meaningful, and – of course – humor. In every conceivable way, people like Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and Charlie Brown have captured the hearts of readers since the first comic book was published – and continue to do so to this day.
While the franchise has certainly grown since its early run into the realm of animated films, holiday specials, and even Broadway musicals, Charles M. Schulz's graphic novel is where Peanut had its beginning. These comics laid the foundation for everything Peanut became, then It's important to look back and truly appreciate your legacy. And, starting in November 2024, this is the perfect time to do just that, as an entire month's worth has just turned 60. Peanut comics from November 1964!
10
Charlie Brown makes sure Snoopy always has a great dining experience
Peanut – November 3, 1964
Charlie Brown is bringing Snoopy a bowl of dog food, placing it gently at the pup's feet, and then walking away. Snoopy doesn't touch his food and even seems a little confused at first, as if Charlie Brown had forgotten something. One panel later, it is revealed that Charlie Brown, in fact, forgot one thing: a choice of dressings. Charlie Brown returns with Roquefort and Thousand Island dressing, presenting Snoopy with two options for his dining pleasure.
It's no secret that Snoopy considers himself more human than dogso it should come as no surprise that he needed to choose the seasonings for his meal before eating. But what makes this comic even more hilarious (and even a little touching) is that Charlie Brown happily does this for him, ensuring that Snoopy always has a great dining experience.
9
Snoopy has the most absurd alarm clock fans have ever seen
Peanut – November 5, 1964
Snoopy is lying on top of his doghouse (as he always does), when he suddenly jumps up in panic. Snoopy lets out a loud “Good grief!“before admitting that he overslept, and after looking at his 'alarm clock,' Snoopy knows exactly why he accidentally slept in. It appears that his alarm didn't go off, which is something that makes Snoopy really surprised, despite the fact that your “alarm clock” is literally just a sundial.
Obviously, Snoopy's reasoning is hilariously absurd, and it's clear that it's time for Snoopy to invest in a real alarm clock.
A sundial simply uses sunlight to cast a shadow on its face, which tells the time. There's no way a real sundial could function as an alarm clock, explaining why it didn't go off and why Snoopy overslept. Obviously, Snoopy's reasoning is hilariously absurd, and it's clear that It's time for Snoopy to invest in a real alarm clock.
8
Sunday School makes Linus feel guilty for the funniest reason
Peanut – November 6, 1964
One Sunday afternoon, Charlie Brown encounters Linus while walking outside and asks where he has been. Linus explains that he was at Church School learning about different sections of the Bible. In his most recent class, Linus was studying the letters of the apostle Paul. Although Charlie Brown says this sounds interesting, Linus tells him that reading that section of the Bible makes him feel guilty because, “I always feel like I'm reading someone else's mail“.
Typically, if someone begins to feel guilty after reading the Bible, they likely feel that they are not following its teachings as closely as they could. But in Linus' case, it's not like that. Linus feels guilty because he is “reading someone else's email“, which is an absolutely hilarious reason to feel guilty after reading the Bible.
7
Snoopy is almost shot down by a bird flying south
Peanut – November 10, 1964
Snoopy is sitting on top of his doghouse when a bird quickly approaches and almost hits Snoopy, forcing the pup to jump out of the way as it passes by. Snoopy expected to see some birds flying overhead, given the time of year, but he certainly didn't expect one of them to almost fly straight at him.
While Snoopy's reaction to almost getting hit by a random bird is hilarious, It's even funnier to consider that this is the first in Snoopy's long relationship with birds. Snoopy's best friend Woodstock is a bird, and he was introduced in 1966 – two years after this comic book was published – and Snoopy would also lead the Beagle Scouts, which consists entirely of birds. This bird may have had a brief moment in Snoopy's life, but it was just the first of Snoopy's many experiences with birds.
6
Peanuts confirms that Snoopy isn't as relaxed as he seems
Peanut – November 13, 1964
Shermy tells Snoopy that she thinks the puppy is super laid back and relaxed, and that she wishes she could live in that state of mind too. Snoopy comments that he is happy that Shermy sees him this way, but that he is far from 'chill'. Snoopy admits that “Inside I am a violent turmoil!“, which is some interesting insights into Snoopy's character that fans probably didn't know about.
Interestingly, the reason Snoopy isn't as relaxed as he appears may have something to do with Snoopy's original owner, Lila. It is later revealed in Peanut that Charlie Brown is not Snoopy's first owner and that he was practically abandoned by Lila's family. Snoopy wouldn't resolve these feelings until 1968, meaning that at this point, he's still feeling the pain of Lila's abandonment.
5
Schroeder recruits Snoopy to help celebrate his personal hero
Peanut – November 14, 1964
As Sally is walking down the street, she encounters Schroeder, who is holding a strange sign. Schroeder is warning everyone who passes him that Beethoven's birthday is just 32 days away. Given that Schroeder is a piano prodigy, it only makes sense that Beethoven is his hero, and he wants everyone around him to celebrate (or at least acknowledge) Beethoven's birthday with him.
And one of Schroeder’s first “recruits” is Snoopy, who also holds a sign reiterating what Schroeder’s sign already said. Snoopy's involvement with virtually every member of the Peanuts gang is hilarious to watch over the decades of Peanut' continuity, and this is no exception. Snoopy knows how much Beethoven means to Schroeder, so he's helping him celebrate his hero's birthday — and the comic is as sweet as it is hilarious.
4
Snoopy finds the cutest way to make a pile of leaves
Peanut – November 18, 1964
As Snoopy sits in the grass, enjoying a beautiful autumn day, a single leaf gently falls from a tree branch above. Before reaching the ground, however, Snoopy blows the leaf back into the air, moving in a specific direction. Snoopy does this a few more times until the leaf falls into Snoopy's pile of leaves, and the cute puppy smiles when he sees that his pile has gotten a little bigger.
If Peanut fans find this comic familiar, they should, as it was adapted into perhaps the most popular Peanut animation, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. And in both versions, Peanuts successfully portrays Snoopy making a pile of leaves in the cutest way possible.
3
Snoopy takes his Beethoven picket to the next level
Peanut – November 24, 1964
When Snoopy commits to something, he really commitsand this becomes clear when he takes his “Beethoven picket” to the next level. As Schroeder continues to remind the town how close Beethoven's birthday is (with the number of days on his sign changing from 32 to 22), Snoopy does the same, but a little more aggressively. Snoopy's sign says: “You shouldn't have to be reminded of this every year!“, effectively shaming everyone in town for not automatically remembering when Beethoven's birthday is.
Snoopy is fully committed to Schroeder's causeand he is proving his devotion by expressing his disappointment with the general public at needing to be reminded every year when Beethoven's birthday is. This comic is just as cute as the last one and definitely more hilarious.
2
Snoopy doesn't need to say a word to be hilariously sarcastic
Peanut – November 27, 1964
When Charlie Brown gets home from school, he goes up to Snoopy and immediately scolds him. Snoopy doesn't seem to mind that Charlie Brown is home after a long day being away from home, and Chuck has a problem with that. Charlie Brown says other dogs jump for joy when they see their owner coming home, but he doesn't get one bit of that from Snoopy.
Only someone like Snoopy could be sarcastic without uttering a single word, especially when Charlie Brown is on the receiving end of it.
So Snoopy gives Charlie Brown what he asks for and starts jumping all over the place – and the sarcasm doesn't go unnoticed by Charlie Brown. Only someone like Snoopy could be sarcastic without uttering a single word, especially when Charlie Brown is on the receiving end of it.
Peanut – November 30, 1964
Lucy is playing alone with a soccer ball, trying to kick it across the yard. However, for some strange reason, Lucy can't get the ball to go anywhere, even when her foot makes direct contact. Lucy prepares the ball, drops it and shoots perfectly, but the ball stays at her foot as if it were stuck there. Lucy herself is confused by the situation, saying, “It won't… just stay there!“, offering no possible explanation to the reader.
Although Lucy may not know why she can't kick the soccer ball, the reason seems obvious: this is karmic justice for all the times Lucy faked Charlie Brown. Lucy is famous for snatching the ball away from Charlie Brown before he tries to kick it, and now she can't kick a soccer ball. But no matter the explanation, this scene is totally hilarious, which makes it one of the 10 funniest Peanut comics that just turned 60 years old.