It’s fair to say that Peanut is the most iconic and beloved comic book of all time, as Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Woodstock are some of the greatest characters ever created – comic book characters or otherwise. In fact, that’s the reason why Peanut is perhaps the greatest comic book series ever created: its characters.
Not only does the comic give readers an endless supply of jokes, but it also gives a peek into the lives of these characters, allowing the characters themselves to tell the jokes naturally. AND two of the biggest standouts are easily Snoopy and Woodstock. Their friendship is one of the funniest parts of the whole thing. Peanut series, as the antics these two get up to are absolutely hilarious, making any comic with them together one that everyone Peanut fan needs to read. And, in a harvest of Peanut comics that just turned 40Snoopy and Woodstock’s friendship is beautifully demonstrated.
10
Snoopy doesn’t blame Woodstock for rejecting a specific bird custom
Peanut – October 1, 1984
As Snoopy and Woodstock sit together on top of Snoopy’s doghouse, Snoopy mentions that this month, birds tend to fly south for the winter. He says: “all the cliff swallows head to Goya, Argentina… six thousand miles later, in March, they return to Capistrano“. Woodstock responds with his characteristic garbled chirps that only Snoopy can understand, and although readers do not know what he said, Snoopy’s response indicated that the little yellow bird got his point across.
Woodstock doesn’t care what other types of birds do, there’s no way he can fly thousands of kilometers just because it’s winter. This is one bird custom that Woodstock doesn’t follow, and Snoopy doesn’t even blame him, proving that these two are not only hilarious, they’re also great friends.
9
Snoopy doesn’t hesitate to receive constructive criticism (he just can’t apply it)
Peanut – October 3, 1984
Snoopy is typing The Great American Novel on top of his doghouse and offers a draft of one of the chapters to Lucy, who doesn’t hold back in her ‘constructive criticism’. Lucy has a problem with Snoopy’s application of romance to his story, as she notes that “he waved goodbye“not a very romantic farewell between two lovers. So Snoopy takes the criticism seriously and corrects the sentence with,”He also said, ‘Have a nice day!’“.
It is clear that Snoopy doesn’t understand romance and was completely unable to apply Lucy’s constructive criticism to your work. ‘Waying goodbye’ isn’t the most romantic goodbye, but it’s also not ‘have a nice day’, and the fact that Snoopy thinks it is is absolutely hilarious – even if it is the source of Lucy’s momentary frustration.
8
Woodstock doesn’t let his height stop him from playing basketball with Snoopy
Peanut – October 4, 1984
Snoopy and Woodstock take to the basketball court in this Peanut comic book, and Snoopy has a solid game plan for how they’re going to play. First, they will play hoops, taking turns practicing some shots. Then, they will split up and play one on one. However, as Snoopy delivers the last part, he notes Woodstock’s stature and corrects himself by saying, “Or maybe one against a quarter…“.
It’s clear to Snoopy, Woodstock, and the readers themselves that the little yellow bird is just that: small. Woodstock is much smaller than Snoopy, which is directly addressed in Snoopy’s clever joke in this comic. However, His height doesn’t stop Woodstock from playing basketball with his friend. And perhaps most notably, this doesn’t stop Snoopy from including him in his games, further confirming how good friends they are.
7
Snoopy is unimpressed by Charlie Brown’s “exciting” trick
Peanut – October 5, 1984
When it’s time to bring food to Snoopy, Charlie Brown decides to do it with a little extra flair. Charlie Brown walks up to Snoopy with the dog’s bowl full of food in his hand before handing it to him while standing upside down. Charlie Brown says that Snoopy should be excited, since he is the first dog in history fed by someone who lies upside down. After Charlie Brown leaves, Snoopy looks at his food and sarcastically says, “How can I eat when I’m so excited?“.
Snoopy is unimpressed by Charlie Brown’s “exciting” trickas he chooses to basically ignore Chuck’s demonstration before commenting on it with a thick layer of sarcasm. While this is pretty typical of Snoopy, he should have been impressed by Charlie Brown’s ability to lift his head with one arm while holding a bowl of food without spilling it – as he should Peanut fans.
6
Snoopy takes it personally when he doesn’t get the last cookie (but not how you might think)
Peanut – October 8, 1984
Snoopy knocks on Charlie Brown’s door, and Chuck knows exactly what his dog wants: food – specifically, a chocolate chip cookie. Unfortunately, Charlie Brown has some bad news for the cookie-craving puppy. Charlie Brown said to Snoopy: “You are very late. The last chocolate chip cookie is gone“. Sad and heartbroken, Snoopy turns away from the door in disbelief, saying to himself: “I can’t believe it… I would never have left without saying goodbye“.
It looks like Snoopy took it personally when he didn’t get the last chocolate chip cookie. Not because he was mad because someone ate before him, Snoopy was upset because the cookie didn’t say goodbye. This is definitely an unexpected reaction to learning that the cookie someone wanted to eat was gone, making Snoopy’s response to the news that much more hilarious.
Peanut – October 13, 1984
Peppermint Patty calls Charlie Brown to complain about Marcie. In a few comics before this one, Peppermint Patty and Marcie were playing football, and it was clear that Marcie didn’t have what it takes to be a football player. Patty tells this to Charlie Brown, saying, “she will never be a football player“and that,”some people just never learn“. At that moment, Lucy calls Charlie Brown outside her house, asking if he wants to kick the football while she holds it. Upon hearing this, Charlie Brown responds to Patty: “No, we don’t“.
Peppermint Patty is complaining to Charlie Brown about Marcie’s ‘football problem’, although Chuck apparently has more in common with Marcie than Peppermint Patty thinks, as he also has a ‘football problem’ – one that Charlie Brown will never be able to ‘kick’.
4
Snoopy is the funniest person he knows and he lets Woodstock know it
Peanut – October 20, 1984
Snoopy and Woodstock are sitting together in the grass as Snoopy reads about what not to do if you get stung by a jellyfish. Snoopy reads aloud to Woodstock: “Do not rub your skin if stung by a jellyfish“before adding,”and don’t rub your eyes if you’re stung by a comment“. After saying this, Snoopy starts laughing as Woodstock sits silently next to him, looking at the hysterical dog in confusion. Snoopy then explains that he made up the last part himself – the part he found so funny.
Snoopy is clearly very pleased with the ‘hilarious’ joke he came up with while reading about jellyfish with Woodstock. In fact, it’s fair to say that Snoopy thinks he’s the funniest person he knows, based on this comic and the countless others he’s appeared in over the years – and he’s happy to let Woodstock know that whenever he can.
3
Peppermint Patty ‘plays nice’ when caught playing in class
Peanut – October 22, 1984
One day during class, Peppermint Patty is playing with an eraser, throwing it in the air and catching it with her teeth. Moments later, the teacher calls Peppermint Patty, asking if she is paying attention. Peppermint Patty says yes, and that she’s not playing with the eraser, but using it to erase a mistake she made on the paper. Patty then uses the rubber while it is still in her mouth.as if she had deliberately placed it there to carry out this task.
Peppermint Patty is famous for never paying attention in class and usually opts to sleep through any class – and she usually gets away with it. And now, readers see the extent of Patty’s ability to “play it cool” under pressure (even if the attempt is ridiculous, to say the least).
2
Charlie Brown is the reason Sally lost faith in heroes
Peanut – October 31, 1984
When Sally is doing her homework, she calls Charlie Brown, asking her older brother if he could help her with her homework and that he will be her hero if he helps her. However, Charlie Brown is watching TV, so there’s no way he can stop just to help his little sister with her schoolwork. So Sally goes back to her homework and says to herself, “That’s the problem these days… we don’t have heroes…“.
Sally completely loses faith in all heroes just because Charlie Brown doesn’t help her with her homeworkand the absurdity of this logic is utterly hilarious. Charlie Brown choosing to watch TV instead of doing more schoolwork doesn’t mean the world is empty of heroes. But for Sally, that’s exactly what it means, and it’s hysterical.
1
Snoopy always manages to find time for Woodstock (even when he’s sleeping)
Peanut – October 30, 1984
Snoopy is sleeping on top of his doghouse when Woodstock flies up to him and lands directly on Snoopy’s nose. This wakes Snoopy up immediately, but clearly not completely. Still dazed and half asleep, Snoopy asks Woodstock, “Looking for me?“before saying:”I’m here somewhere“.
It seems Woodstock can’t wait until Snoopy wakes up to hang out with himBut instead of getting mad at the little yellow bird for disturbing his sleep, Snoopy makes time for his best friend, even though he’s not fully awake yet. Two people who get on each other’s nerves but never lose that love between them is the truest sign of a friendship, and that friendship is shown perfectly in this particular comic, making it one of the top 10 Peanut comics that just turned 40 years old.