Carlos Schulz Peanut comics are as delightful to read now as they were when they first began publication in 1950, and this continued success is due in no small part to the beloved characters he cultivated. From Charlie Brown to Snoopy, each member of the main gang has their own charming quirks that endear them to readers. In this batch of comic books published sixty years ago, Linus rises to prominence as he embarks on one of his most hilarious adventures.
Linus made the decision to run for president of the school in October 1964, with several strips chronicling his campaign for the coveted position. This story inspired 1972 You weren’t elected, Charlie Brown animated special, consolidating it as a classic in Peanut history. Without further ado, here are the 10 funniest Peanut comics that just celebrated their sixtieth anniversary!
10
Charlie Brown writes a letter asking for advice
First published: October 2, 1964
In this first strip, Charlie Brown decides to write to an advice columnist in hopes of getting advice. As he writes his letter, however, he realizes that he is not sure what advice he wants from her. Instead, he decides to keep his appeal open to interpretation: “Just send me some advice.” That line certainly deserves a chuckle, but it’s also a little poignant when you consider the story of Charlie Brown.
From the first Peanut comically, Charlie Brown has been an underdog, always facing ridicule as a result of his perpetual misfortune. It’s no wonder, then, that he decided to seek advice. There is no specific situation for which he needs advice, as the guidance he requires is much more general, so he will take whatever he can get. Hopefully this will end up helping Charlie Brown in the long run.
9
Lucy finally washes Linus’ blanket against his will
First published: October 25, 1964
Lucy has never been the biggest fan of Linus’ blanket, and here, she finally gets to wash the old cloth. Naturally, Linus is shaken by her absence, after trusting her for so long. As he falls apart without it, Lucy guides him through the process to keep him updated and ultimately returns it to him. Linus’ distress over his blanket being out of reach proves how important this is to him.
Linus’ security blanket made its first appearance in Peanut on June 1, 1954. It has become a staple of his character, as he holds it and sucks his thumb in an iconic pose. It’s normal for children to have comfort objects, and while Linus’ attachment may be a little extreme, at least he’s content.
8
Sally ponders the futility of life while jumping rope
First published: October 11, 1964
Charlie Brown’s younger sister, Sally, appears in the next strip. She is seen jumping rope and having fun as usual, until she stops abruptly out of nowhere. Then, she starts crying. Linus runs over to ask what’s wrong. Sally explains that she was just jumping rope until, as she says, “Suddenly everything seemed so futile!”
This moment is surprisingly philosophical for a character as laid-back as Sally. Typically, her aloof behavior allows her to enjoy life without paying attention to the deeper issues that may haunt other characters, such as Charlie Brown. It seems that her older brother’s pessimism has started to rub off on her, as poor Sally can’t jump rope without reflecting on the purpose of it.
First published: October 4, 1964
Lucy loves little more in life than making a fool of Charlie Brown, and this comic is a perfect example of that. When she offers to hold a football so Charlie Brown can kick it, he refuses. Then, Lucy surprises him by pulling out a signed document that states she will not take the ball out from under him. Charlie Brown falls for it and Lucy pulls the trigger once again, revealing that the document was never authenticated.
Peanut‘The iconic football joke is one of the series’ best jokes that has stood the test of time throughout its run. This version of the joke is one of many variations of it, as Lucy finds increasingly hilarious ways to prank Charlie Brown. As much as Charlie Brown would like to believe he’s smart enough to see through his tricks, the repetition of this joke proves otherwise.
6
Schroeder Names Linus School President…Almost
First published: October 7, 1964
With this strip, Linus’ candidacy for school president begins, with Schroeder taking the podium to nominate him. Lucy is eager for her friend – and longtime crush – to give his speech about Linus, but Schroeder goes off the rails when talking about Beethoven. Lucy’s classic “My God!” is a reasonable response to Schroeder’s silly tangent.
Schroeder’s most prominent character trait is his dedication to music, and he often presents this through his love of Beethoven. He will take every opportunity he can to talk about the famous composer, much to the dismay of Lucy, who would rather flirt with him than hear about music. Even when it comes to politics, Schroeder can’t help but integrate Beethoven in some way.
5
Linus begins his presidential campaign (and Snoopy approves)
First published: October 15, 1964
Now that Linus has been named school president, it’s time for him to start campaigning. Here, he makes an official decree about the policies he will implement if elected. He promotes salary increases for all faculty members and adds that dogs trespassing on school property will be welcome. Naturally, Snoopy is the biggest supporter of the latter policy.
What makes this strip hilarious is the contrast between Linus’ two proposals. The first is a logical appeal that proves that Linus is, after all, a good fit for this leadership position. The other, of course, is completely silly and only pleases Snoopy. If Snoopy is eligible to vote, then Linus has earned his endorsement.
4
Linus can’t keep his campaign promise for a lovely reason
First published: October 16, 1964
Linus continues his campaign, this time with Lucy’s help. He proclaims that if he is elected, he will appear before the school board. However, this campaign promise is quickly wasted when Lucy approaches and whispers something to her brother. Linus then sheepishly admits that he won’t be able to meet with the school board after all because he’s going to bed before the meeting.
Although Linus is one of the most mature members of Peanut Despite being younger, it is moments like these that remind him of his immaturity. At the end of the day, Linus is still a child who curls up in his blanket and goes to bed early, and it’s good that Lucy is there to remind him of that fact.
3
Snoopy steals the spotlight from Linus during his big break
First published: October 19, 1964
Since Linus is running for school president, Schroeder offers to take his picture for the school newspaper. A normal photo of Linus won’t do, so he suggests posing with Snoopy. However, once Snoopy enters the scene, he completely takes over and becomes the center of attention. In the end, Schroeder says he changed his mind about adding Snoopy.
Snoopy’s antics make him the star of every comic he appears in, even when he shouldn’t be. What Schroeder forgets here is that Snoopy is no ordinary dog, evidenced by his World War I Flying Ace persona and other wacky alter egos. As such, even though he’s supposed to be a supporting role in Linus’ film, Snoopy can’t help but remind everyone that he’s more than just a dog.
2
Linus Ruins His Presidency Chance With Hilarious Callback
First published: October 21, 1964
As the election draws to a close, Linus prepares to give a final speech to secure the position of school president. Charlie Brown is excited by the prospect of his friend’s imminent victory, and Lucy is confident that he won’t lose – as long as Linus doesn’t make any mistakes at the last minute. Unfortunately, Lucy’s worst fear comes true, as one sentence costs Linus his presidency: “I want to talk to you this morning about the “Great Pumpkin.”
Linus’s belief in the Great Pumpkin is his funniest joke in Peanutas he remains the only member of the gang who believes in the fictional being. Every year on Halloween night, Linus sits in a pumpkin patch and waits for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. Of course, this always proves fruitless, but Linus continues to believe – much to the consternation of those around him.
1
The Great Pumpkin Costs Linus the School Election
First published: October 26, 1964
As Charlie Brown and Lucy predicted, Linus mentioning the Great Pumpkin in his campaign speech causes him to lose the election, ending the plot. He defends himself to Snoopy by saying he made the courageous choice to choose his belief over the presidency. Snoopy later thinks to himself, “If you hope to get elected, don’t mention the ‘Great Pumpkin’!”
Snoopy makes a good point here. Lucy, or any other character, would agree that Linus shouldn’t have mentioned the Great Pumpkin to ensure his victory. On the other hand, it’s commendable that Linus stays true to himself instead of lying to get his peers to accept him. Linus’ faith in the Great Pumpkin may be ridiculous, but it’s still important to him, and he will remain true to his beliefs at all times. Peanut‘prolific race.