Over the years, Peanut portrayed stories that ranged from silly to downright absurd, but perhaps the greatest plot in comic book history occurred in 1980. Charles Schulz tells the unlikely story of Snoopy's Beagle Scouts gang getting into a bar fight in this month-long saga, which has become a beloved classic that deserves a closer look.
As far-fetched as the premise of a bar fight may seem for a comic as familiar as Peanuthas stood the test of time as one of the series' greatest sagas. In this story, Harriet – one of Snoopy's Beagle Scouts – is arrested after starting a bar fight. Charlie Brown and several other fan-favorite characters are involved in this conflict to help rescue her.
Charlie Brown's involvement turns this shocking plot into an unforgettable adventure, as he ventures into the desert on an expedition from which he will not be able to return – unless his friends can band together and rescue him.
Peanuts Kicks Off Snoopy's Craziest Story With an Arrest (Yes, Seriously)
One of Snoopy's Beagle Scouts faces prison time after starting a bar fight
From October 24th to November 26th, this fun saga begins with Snoopy taking the Beagle Scouts on a camping trip. However, to his dismay, the scouts inform him that they prefer to drink root beer at the club. Although they are not describing a literal slash, drinking beer at the disco – known as “The Birdbath” by Snoopy – is clearly a comical substitute for drinking beer at a bar. As the leader, Snoopy is frustrated by this request, but ultimately allows Woodstock and the other birds to do whatever they want.
When the Beagle Scouts return, Snoopy is surprised to see them all looking worn out. They all have various injuries on their little bodies, and even Woodstock is missing a tooth. The scouts confess that they were caught in a fight against antagonistic blue jays and that Harriet was arrested after starting it. A character facing prison time is a surprising departure from the norm Peanut plot points, considering Schulz's comics generally explore ventures more suitable for children, as opposed to a situation as mature as a bar fight. Fortunately, Snoopy has Charlie Brown to rely on after Harriet commits her crime.
Charlie Brown helps Snoopy, only to get lost in the woods
As Charlie Brown disappears, Peppermint Patty goes in search of him
As the owner of Snoopy, Charlie Brown takes it upon himself to rescue Harriet from her prison. Of course, he discovers that Harriet isn't actually in prison. Instead, she was taken in by the Humane Society, from which he frees her. This joke shows that the Humane Society is seen as a prison by the birds in Snoopy's group, even though humans like Charlie Brown know this. Anyway, now that Charlie Brown has found Harriet, he must take her home. However, there is one obstacle that stops him: he has no idea how to get there.
Charlie Brown ends up lost in the desert in need of rescue, wandering aimlessly through the woods with Harriet in tow – who he doesn't understand in the same way that Snoopy and the other birds can. This unlikely duo provides plenty of laughs, as Harriet demonstrates that she is far less concerned about their status than Charlie Brown. Fortunately, he's not the only one Peanut character with worries. At home, however, Peppermint Patty enlists Marcie's help in locating him when she discovers he is missing. Their efforts are in vain as they too get lost, and Snoopy gets home before any of them.
Charlie Brown and Snoopy finally reunite in a hilarious way
Snoopy tries to return Charlie Brown's favor, albeit with mixed results
While Peppermint Patty and Marcie search unsuccessfully for Charlie Brown, Sally scolds Snoopy for sitting around instead of looking for his owner. After all, Charlie Brown is only lost because he wanted to help Snoopy's friend, so the least he can do is help with the search. In typical Peanut Fashion, Snoopy's quest is as bad as Peppermint Patty's when he is constantly distracted. In the end, no one actually rescues Charlie Brown, as he finds everyone himself – even though they are the ones who are supposed to find him in the snow.
That Peanut saga ended up being adapted as “Charlie Brown Lost!”, presented in a 1983 episode of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show titled “Snoopy: Man's Best Friend”.
Once Charlie Brown and his friends arrive home, the story ends with a few jokes that tie everything together. First, Peppermint Patty calls Charlie and mentions a kiss they shared during their reunion, but he doesn't remember the kiss. It turns out that it was Snoopy who kissed her, stealing Peppermint Patty's moment with Charlie Brown that she had been looking for throughout the entire story. Then, Sally welcomes her older brother home, only to reveal that she has moved her belongings into his room and he will have to move them back. Even after his return, Charlie Brown cannot rest.
This classic Peanuts tale reflects the evolution of the series into one long-form narrative
Charles Schulz channels his animation experience into this adventure
By 1980, Charles Schulz had written several TV specials based on his work. Peanut comics. These promotions include holiday classics like 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmaswhich catapulted the franchise to new levels of popularity. By employing long-form narratives through these and other animated adaptations, Schulz learned about the importance of strongly defining characters so they can sustain stories that span longer than a single comic strip. Over time, he began applying this idea to comics, writing stories that spanned several strips, from Linus running for school president to Lucy destroying Schroeder's piano.
The story of the Beagle Scouts' fight at the disco is a notable example of Schulz applying these lessons, as much of the story's comedy stems from the characters' quirks. For example, Peppermint Patty's love of comic books slows her down in her search for Charlie Brown, while Snoopy's imaginative nature causes him to lose sight of his goal entirely. By telling long stories with these characters, Schulz inspires readers to invest more in what they are doing. The misadventures of Snoopy and his gang culminate in one of the Peanut' best stories, and it's a testament to how much the series evolved during its run.