THE Peanuts The comic strips, written and illustrated by the legendary Charles Schulz, have always been more than just gag-a-day newspaper strips. Schulz accomplished much more than making readers laugh. He used his work to present complex ideas that often led to exceptionally dark and discouraging material it was downright morbid.
Some morbid strips still contain humor with the theme, while others focus solely on the intended message. These works sometimes present vague ideas that leave the reader capable of developing them further. Others cover detailed concepts that provide specific images. No matter which category they fall into, these comics turn out to be scary.
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10 The headless snowman
Publication date: December 27, 1987
When Sally is disturbed by a snowman and can’t sleep, she asks her brother for a strange and rather morbid favor. She wants Charlie Brown to bring her the snowman’s head. After granting his wishes, he throws the snowman’s head away and scares Snoopy. Although the situation is humorous, it is also frightening and presents symbolism that speaks to a relevant concept of extremist thinking and impatience.
Disturbing his brother represents an impatience that Charlie will likely face the consequences of. Sally’s excessive demands are the product of extremist thinking, which also has a negative effect on another person. In this case, poor Snoopy is in shock. Schulz’s use of a morbid act and visual representation of his influence on others helps to reinforce his ideas and sneak up on the rankings.
9 Woodstock feels lonely on Mother’s Day
Publication date: May 11, 1980
When this famous holiday celebrating mothers around the world arrives, most spend time with their beloved well-wishers. However, some do not have a mother or do not know her. Instead of being a joyful occasion, the day can cause feelings of loneliness and depression in those who find themselves in this situation. This is the case with Woodstock. Not knowing who his mother is, he becomes sullen when he thinks of her.
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Snoopy handles his similar problem well and does his best to console his friend. With good intentions, he takes his friend to where he was born, only to discover one stump remaining. Woodstock’s feelings are comparable to anyone in a similar scenario. The morbid way in which the concept is presented is reminiscent of both mortality and the need to feel grateful.
8 “The first thing we do…”
Publication date: February 1, 1980
There are times when Snoopy’s lawyering skills are called upon. When Patty spends the better part of a week getting rained on in class, she enlists Snoopy’s help in addressing the situation with the principal. The meeting does not go well since the director scares away her lawyer with a famous and morbid quote. With her lawyer gone, Patty is out of luck.
An important idea is presented through Patty’s legitimate problem and the principal’s reaction. What Patty is asking is completely within her rights, and readers can relate the situation to everyday life and the struggles they experience. The director’s reaction is excessive and unnecessarily morbid. His behavior reflects that of those who are able to solve minor problems but choose not to do so due to questionable priorities.
7 Charlie Brown’s Explosive Kite
Publication date: March 13, 1960
Charlie Brown has had several bad experiences with kites, but perhaps none as morbid as this one. After much effort and with Lucy’s encouragement, he finally gets a kite to fly. A moment, anyway. After a surprise explosion, what remains of the kite falls to the ground. Once again his hopes are dashed and the reader realizes that the poor child will probably never succeed in this or any other activity.
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The morbid aspect of the strip comes from the inexplicable way in which Charlie Brown fails. Knowing his problems with flying kites, having him succeed and immediately blowing up the kite involves a force beyond his control guiding him to failure. The reader knows that this theory could apply to experiences other than just flying kites like Lucy holding the soccer ball.
6 It will all disappear one day
Publication date: June 9, 1963
Charlie Brown often spends time with his little sister. He also passes on important knowledge, such as information about the constellations and their lifespans. Unfortunately, Sally begins to get upset that one of them will eventually disappear. His reaction involves a first appearance of thoughts about mortality. There’s no surprise here, because she’s so young, but Sally’s behavior also speaks to an element of inevitability.
Sally’s catalyst, the idea that such an enormous lifespan could come to an end, implies that time has no relation to the fear of mortality. This fact suggests that being afraid of mortality is inevitable. Schulz’s use of exaggeration in his bubble also adds a sense of heightened emotion related to Sally’s fear. These elements and the atmosphere employed present a morbid but deep streak.
5 The doctor gives Charlie Brown some unexpected news
Publication date: May 4, 1964
A call from the doctor usually doesn’t bode well, especially for Charlie Brown. After taking x-rays, his doctor calls him to tell him the results. When a second x-ray is discussed and the results are given, Charlie panics. Although the doctor’s words remain unknown to the reader, they retain a morbid feeling due to the visual elements of the final frame. The reaction depicted usually comes from receiving terrible news.
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Every detail of the final image supports the idea that Charlie Brown has just been informed of something that changes his life. The space taken up by the text suggests a loud, sudden scream, supported by Snoopy’s placement. Its large eyes have a skeletal appearance and its lines indicate tremors, implying shock. Although lacking in theme, the exceptionally morbid conclusion places this entry in the middle of the rankings.
4 Spike’s origin story
Publication date: September 18, 1994
Spike is a character that readers often empathize with. This feeling of empathy couldn’t be greater than when Spike recounts how he came to live alone in the desert. Even though he insists he didn’t mean to, he chased a rabbit that was hit by a car. Taking responsibility for his actions, Spike decided the best thing to do was to isolate himself so as not to hurt anyone else.
There is no real punchline or joke in the conclusion. Only morbidly presented concepts about action, consequences, regret and denial. Spike needed to reinforce that he didn’t want to commit this act, which speaks to the use of denial to stave off regret. When he admits his feelings about himself, his immediate subversion of those emotions reinforces the idea of denial, as does his self-imposed isolation.
3 Lucy almost impales Snoopy with a giant ice cube
Publication date: February 11, 1960
There was a scary time when Snoopy was afraid to leave his doghouse. With a giant icicle on top, he feared it would fall and impale him if he moved. Charlie tries to lead Snoopy away from danger, but his first attempts fail to get the frightened puppy to move. After receiving a cautious warning about noise and ice, Lucy commits a morbid act. She screams intentionally.
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Lucy’s actions could have easily hurt Snoopy, something she was well aware of. His behavior is not the only one that shocks the reader. The lines drawn around the ice cube indicate that it is shaking and may fall. In the first version, the reader would have had to wait until the next day to anticipate what might happen to Snoopy and why he was being presented with such a morbid view of the value of life.
2 “Kid with a key”
Publication date: December 5, 1984
One of the most morbid moments in the Peanuts comics comes when the reader learns more about Patty. She tells her teacher that she is known as a latchkey child. When she returns home each day, she is alone and has to fend for herself. Patty soon after reveals that she is alone because her single father is often at work. The gang’s last comment may seem like a joke, but there’s much more beneath the surface.
Patty’s mention of “we are a growing race” addresses an important issue and conveys to the reader that the consequences of similar scenarios could negatively affect the children involved. His statement about world governance may not be a punchline, but an expression of an important concept: Children in these situations might not be ready to take on the necessary roles when the time comes.
1 Schulz and Snoopy’s Most Touching Memorial
Publication date: June 10, 1994
Schulz is well known for making powerful D-Day and other World War II commemorative coins. One of his most moving works is also the most morbid. Snoopy, representing the average soldier, writes to his mother to assure her of his good health and the hope of returning home by Christmas. The stress of the situation is apparent in his fragile penmanship, and the reader is painfully aware of the horrors that await the soldier in the days to come.
The broader text of the statement, “I hope so,” reinforces the soldier’s anxiety. The use of black and white, as was common in his memorial works, adds to the atmosphere and provides a visual representation of sadness. The mention of Christmas provides the final piece, as the reader knows this soldier, like many others, might not benefit from an extra vacation. Connecting the reader to a morbid but important historical moment puts this entry at the top.
Peanuts
Charlie Brown, an ordinary man plagued by self-doubt, faces life’s challenges with his faithful dog Snoopy and his friends like the bossy Lucy, the philosopher Linus and the talented pianist Schroeder. Through everyday adventures and heartfelt moments, the series explores themes of friendship, resilience and the simple joys of childhood.
- Writer
- Charles M. Schulz
- Editor
- United Features Union
- Artist
- Charles M. Schulz