There’s a reason everyone who’s ever read Peanuts regards it as an absolute classic, as the original comic strip has everything fans could want from a series. In-depth character studies, genuine relationships that feel significant, and – of course – humor. In every conceivable way, the likes of Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and Charlie Brown have captured the hearts of readers since the very first comic strip was published – and they continue to to this day.
While the franchise has certainly grown since the start of its syndication into the realms of animated features, holiday specials, and even broadway musicals, Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip is where Peanuts got its start. These comics laid the foundation for everything Peanuts has become, so it’s important to take a look back and truly appreciate their legacy. And, as of November 2024, this is the perfect time to do just that, as an entire month’s worth has just turned 60. Here are 10 of the most must-read Peanuts comics from November 1964!
10 Charlie Brown Makes Sure Snoopy Always Has an Excellent Dining Experience
Peanuts – 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 the food, and even seems a bit confused at first, as if Charlie Brown forgot something. A panel later, it’s revealed that Charlie Brown did, in fact, forget something: a choice of dressings. Charlie Brown returns with Roquefort and Thousand Island dressing, presenting Snoopy with two options for his dining pleasure.
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It’s no secret that Snoopy thinks of himself more as a human than a dog, so it should come as no surprise that he would require a choice of dressings for his meal before eating. But what makes this comic even more hilarious (and even a bit heartwarming) is that Charlie Brown happily does it for him, making sure Snoopy always has an excellent dining experience.
9 Snoopy has the Most Absurd Alarm Clock Fans Have Ever Seen
Peanuts – November 5, 1964
Snoopy is lying on top of his doghouse (as he often does), when he suddenly jumps up in a 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 late. It seems his alarm failed to go off, which is something Snoopy is actually surprised by, despite the fact that his ‘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 an actual alarm clock.
A sundial merely uses the light of the sun to cast a shadow over its face, which indicates the time. There’s no possible way a true sundial could ever act 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 an actual alarm clock.
8 Sunday School Makes Linus Feel Guilty for the Funniest Reason
Peanuts – November 6, 1964
One Sunday afternoon, Charlie Brown runs into Linus while taking a walk outside, and asks him where he’s 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. While Charlie Brown says that that seems 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“.
Usually, if someone starts to feel guilty after reading the bible, it’s likely because they feel as though they’re not following its teachings as closely as they could be. But, in Linus’ case, that isn’t so. Linus feels guilty because he’s “reading someone else’s mail“, which is an absolutely hilarious reason to feel guilty after reading the bible.
7 Snoopy Nearly Gets Taken Out By a Bird Flying South
Peanuts – November 10, 1964
Snoopy is sitting on top of his doghouse when a bird quickly swoops in and nearly hits Snoopy, forcing the pup to jump out of the way as it zooms by. Snoopy was expecting to see some birds flying overhead given the time of the year, but he certainly wasn’t expecting one of them to nearly fly right into him.
While Snoopy’s reaction to nearly getting struck by a random bird is hilarious, it’s even funnier to consider that this is the first of 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 was published – and Snoopy would also go on to lead the Beagle Scouts, which consists only of birds. This bird might 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 Snoopy Isn’t as Relaxed as He May Seem
Peanuts – November 13, 1964
Shermy tells Snoopy that he thinks the pup is super laid back and relaxed, and he wishes he could live in that state of mind as well. Snoopy comments that he’s glad Shermy sees him this way, but that he’s far from ‘relaxed’. Snoopy admits that, “on the inside I’m a raging turmoil!“, which is some interesting insight into Snoopy’s character that fans probably weren’t aware of.
Interestingly enough, the reason why Snoopy isn’t as relaxed as he seems might have something to do with Snoopy’s original owner, Lila. It’s later revealed in Peanuts that Charlie Brown isn’t Snoopy’s first owner, and that he was all but abandoned by Lila’s family. Snoopy wouldn’t resolve these feelings until 1968, meaning at this point, he’s still very much feeling the sting of Lila’s abandonment.
5 Schroeder Recruits Snoopy to Help Celebrate His Personal Hero
Peanuts – November 14, 1964
As Sally is walking down the street, she runs into Schroeder, who is holding a strange sign. Schroeder is letting everyone who passes by him know that it’s only 32 days until Beethoven’s birthday. 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 recognize) Beethoven’s birthday with him.
And one of Schroeder’s first ‘recruits’ is Snoopy, who is also holding up a sign reiterating what Schroeder’s sign already said. Snoopy’s involvement with practically every member of the Peanuts gang is hilarious to see throughout the decades of Peanuts‘ 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 strip is as sweet as it is hilarious.
4 Snoopy Finds the Cutest Way to Make a Pile of Leaves
Peanuts – November 18, 1964
As Snoopy is sitting in the grass, enjoying a beautiful fall day, a single leaf gently falls to the ground from a tree branch above. Before it reaches the ground, however, Snoopy blows the leaf back up into the air, moving in a specific direction. Snoopy does this a few more times until the leaf lands on Snoopy’s pile of leaves, and the cute pup gives a little smile at the fact that his pile got a little bit bigger.
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If Peanuts fans find this comic strip familiar, they should, as it was adapted in perhaps the most popular Peanuts animation, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. And, in both versions, Peanuts successfully depicts Snoopy making a pile of leaves in the cutest way possible.
3 Snoopy Takes His Beethoven Picketing to the Next Level
Peanuts – November 24, 1964
When Snoopy commits to something, he really commits, and that much is clear when he takes his ‘Beethoven picketing’ to the next level. As Schroeder continues to remind the town how close Beethoven’s birthday is (with the number of days of his sign changing to 22 from 32), Snoopy does the same, but a bit more aggressively. Snoopy’s sign reads, “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 has fully committed to Schroeder’s cause, and he’s proving his devotion by expressing his disappointment with the general public for needing to be reminded every year when Beethoven’s birthday is. This comic strip is just as sweet as the last one, and definitely more hilarious.
2 Snoopy Doesn’t Have to Say a Word to Be Hilariously Sarcastic
Peanuts – November 27, 1964
When Charlie Brown gets home from school, he walks right up to Snoopy and immediately scolds him. Snoopy doesn’t seem to care at all that Charlie Brown is home after a long day being away from the house, and Chuck has a problem with that. Charlie Brown says that other dogs jump for joy at the sight of their owner coming home, yet he’s not getting even a little 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 is not lost on 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.
Peanuts – November 30, 1964
Lucy is playing with a football by herself, attempting to punt it across the yard. However, for some odd reason, Lucy is unable to make the ball go anywhere, even when her foot makes direct contact. Lucy sets the ball up, drops it, and kicks it perfectly, yet the football just stays on her foot as if it is stuck there. Lucy, herself, is confused by the situation, saying, “It won’t go… it just lies there!“, offering no possible explanation for the reader.
While Lucy may not know why she can’t kick the football, the reason seems obvious: this is karmic justice for all the times Lucy faked-out Charlie Brown. Lucy famously yanks the football away from Charlie Brown before he tries to kick it, and now, she’s unable to kick a football. But, no matter the explanation, this scene is utterly hilarious, making it one of the 10 funniest Peanuts comics that just turned 60.
Peanuts
Created by Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts is a multimedia franchise that began as a comic strip in the 1950s and eventually expanded to include films and a television series. Peanuts follows the daily adventures of the Peanuts gang, with Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy at the center of them. Aside from the film released in 2015, the franchise also has several Holiday specials that air regularly on U.S. Television during their appropriate seasons.
