Six Classic Peanuts Comics from the 1960s Highlighting Charles Schulz’s Genius

The best decade in the history of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts was the 1960s. The comic strip launched in 1950. For the first decade, Charles Schulz’s work was still evolving. The characters took a little while to develop the personality traits readers came to love. Charles Schulz’s artwork also shifted from a somewhat generic cuteness to the more distinct characters that became icons.

By the 1960s, Charles Schulz hit his sweet spot with well-defined characters and a freshness to the material. There are plenty of hilarious, heartwarming, and inspired Peanuts comics from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, but taken as a whole, nothing tops 1960s Peanuts.

The 1960s are also when the characters became superstars. A Charlie Brown Christmas arrived on TV in 1965, and it was quickly followed by more TV specials. Peanuts also debuted on the big screen in the 1960s with the 1969 film A Boy Named Charlie Brown.

Six exceptionally good comic strips from that decade prove that Charles Schulz was a genius.

6 A very Lucy welcome

At the beginning of June 1965, Charles Schulz launched a series of strips in which Charlie Brown goes away to camp for two weeks. While Charlie Brown is lonely at camp, he eventually meets another lonesome kid named Roy, and the two strike up a friendship. Charlie Brown is relieved to be home in this comic from June 19, 1965. Lucy bursts Charlie Brown’s bubble. When he says what a joy it is to be home, her only reply is “Have you been away?”

5 Snoopy’s right

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a TV special. It was an instant hit upon its release and quickly became a classic. Peanuts became synonymous with Christmas, which makes Charles Schulz’s Christmastime comics special. Here is one from Christmas Day 1965, starring Snoopy. He observes the snowfall in the first three panels and on the final panel says, “Actually, they all look alike to me!”

4 What a blockhead

Here is another Christmas Day comic strip which predated the TV special. On Christmas in 1961, Charles Schulz combined humor and heart with Charlie Brown writing a sincere Christmas note, only for his pencil to break.

3 Rat A Tat Tat Tat Tat Tat Tat!

In this comic strip from Oct. 10, 1965, Snoopy is in his fantasy world as his World War I Flying Ace persona. Linus walks up behind him and seizes an opportunity to spook Snoopy.

2 MMMMM!

This famous strip has been reprinted countless times. Its key line, “Happiness is a warm puppy,” has been placed on many pieces of Peanuts merchandise.

1 Good night, Snoopy…

In 11 little rectangles with minimal words, Charles Schulz tells readers everything they need to know about Snoopy and Charlie Brown. Snoopy is a lovable scamp and Charlie Brown is Charlie Brown, the kind of kid who manages to get kicked out of his own bed by a dog.

Read more about the best comic strip Charles Schulz ever did.

Source: Polygon