One of the longest running comic strips of all time,Peanutsran for just about 50 years. As a result, the strips that were published in November 1984 have celebrated their 40th birthday in 2024. AllPeanutscomic strips are worth a view, as they always have something to offer. Still, there are some comics from November 1984 that stand out as being particularly sidesplitting.
The decade of shoulder pads, Reaganomics, and the mantra of “greed is good,” the ’80s were noted as a decadent decade where enough was never enough. In contrast,Peanutsretained its down-to-earth style, neurotic-yet-adored characters,and its mix of funny and poignant sense of humor to create comic strips that remain timeless - unlike many other trends and pieces of media from the 1980s.
10"The Janitor Keeps Sweeping Me Out!"
November 15th, 1984
Pig Pen introduces himselfto his teacher even though he has been in her class all year.She somehow has managed not to notice Pig Pen throughout the school year, most likely because the janitor keeps sweeping him out of the classroom. As dirty as Pig Pen is, the janitor has the right idea in sweeping him out of the classroom.
10 Peanuts Comics That Will Make You Want to Hit the Ice
Sports of all ilk have been a mainstay of Peanuts - but be it the winter, spring, summer, or fall, ice skating is always commonly included.
In a following strip, it is pointed out by Violet that Pig Pen is so dirty that he actually has leaves in his hair, which he explains is because he forgot to rake his hair. If a kid has to rake his hair, then Pig Pen brings being swept out of the class on himself.While this moment of his teacher noticing him for the first time could have been a wake-up call, readers know and expect Pig Pen to come to school just as dirty, if not more dirty, in ensuing comic strips.
9"My Hair Has More Fun Than I Do"
November 13th, 1984
Playing in the playground at recess can be a blast for so many kids, including thePeanutschildren.On the see-saw, Peppermint Patty’s hair flies wildly, prompting her to think that her hair has more fun than she does. Based on her facial expressions in the comic strip, it does not seem like Peppermint Patty is enjoying herself, setting a low bar for someone (or something) having more fun than her - including a part of her own body.
While most Peppermint-Patty-at-school comic strips are set in the classroom, this comic strip gives a rare peek at recess time for her - and presumably whoever is on the othe side of the see-saw.
School is usually not the most fun place forPeppermint Patty due to her troublewith academics and falling asleep in class, but at least she has recess to give her some fun in her day. Although,it looks like her hair is the one having all the excitement.While most Peppermint-Patty-at-school comic strips are set in the classroom, this comic strip gives a rare peek at recess time for her - and presumably whoever is on the othe side of the see-saw.
8"I Love This Place!"
November 11th, 1984
Snoopy often likes to act likeCharlie Brown is his personal waiter, short order cook, butler, and personal assistant.For once, Charlie Brown decides to play into the fantasy and acts like he is a waiter at a fancy restaurant to Snoopy when he is going to bring him his dinner. Diverting from their typical dinner routine, Charlie Brown explains tonight’s special of dog food and asks if Snoopy would care to look at their root beer list like a diner would look at a wine list.
Snoopy decides on the house root beer, and Charlie Brown leaves with the promise to return with Snoopy’s dinner. Snoopy is enjoying every bit of the spectacle, exclaiming how much he loves this place.Getting first class treatment in his own doghouse, Snoopy is living the good life, and it’s all thanks to Charlie Brown’s good treatment and willingness to pretend that he is a waiter at a high-class restaurant.
7"The Life of Bunnies"
November 9th, 1984
Sally gets ready to read her report at the front of the classroom but has actually come prepared with a report on not just one, but two different subjects.She has one report on the life of bunnies while the other is about what happens if life ends in a tie.The teacher lets Sally know that the report on bunnies is the right call. Her report on life ending in a tie is a bit on the dark side and surprisingly serious for the usually imprudent Sally.
Kristin Chenoweth has portrayed Sally Brown in Broadway productions ofPeanutsproperties.
Regardless,it is a good thing she has her more informative and laid-back report on bunnies to fall back on.While it would have been interesting to hear Sally’s take on life ending in a tie - whatever that could mean, especially for a child - it is best for the class that they get taught about bunnies instead.
6"We Won’t Come Near You"
November 8th, 1984
During the summer of 1984, Peppermint Patty and her dad went on a trip to France, where she wrote to her buddies, specifically Marcie and Charlie Brown, about her travels.Her trip is so amazing that she cannot stop talking about it even after she is back home, waking up Marcie in the middle of the night to show her pictures of her in front of the Eiffel Tower in a previous comic strip.
Another comic strip from November 8th,1984 shows a Parisian culinary souvenir that Peppermint Patty brings with her to class.Bringing home a baguette back from Paris, she plans to share itwith her friend Marcie. That said, the baguette turns out to be a deadly weapon after Patty accidentally whacks Marcie in the head with the huge loaf of bread. Peppermint Patty sees what a threat her bread is and promises not to get close to the teacher.
5"Maybe I’m Allergic to My Desk!"
November 2nd, 1984
After getting yet another terrible grade on her test, Peppermint Patty, after much thought, decides that a very likely theory for her poor test performance has got to be because she is allergic to her desk.School is always pretty stressful for Peppermint Patty, and she nearly never does well on any of her tests. Given her repeated bad performances in her exams, it is not at all a shock to see that she has tried to come up with some reasons to help explain her horrible grades.
While most know this character as Peppermint Patty, her real name is actually Patricia Reichardt.
While Peppermint Patty’s theory is a bit strange and unrealistic, one really never knows when it comes to Peppermint Patty.The teacher may not be too sold on her latest theory. However, Peppermint Patty’s grades are so bad that the teacher may even be willing to give her new idea a shot.
4"A Teeny Tiny Little Yellow Bird"
November 30th, 1984
Friends can serve as inspiration for writers, whether in helping to create characters, establishing character traits, or influencing story events.Snoopy, being the World Famous Author, experiences this writerly strategy as seen in this comic strip.Snoopy writes, or attempts to write, a story about an intimidating looking man when Woodstock hops onto his typewriter, which ends up altering Snoopy’s description of his lead character.
Woodstock is a very adorable, “tiny” bird. In other words, Woodstock is not intimidating in the least, contrasting with Snoopy’s original conception of his main character, who is “a huge man with a fierce and wild expression.“Writing that the story’s main character has eyes like a “teeny tiny little yellow bird” is an odd description and something that no one would be able to imagine as they read.There’s unorthodox descriptive terms, and then there is just bad writing, which is the case for poor Snoopy.
3"Singing in the Rain”
November 27th, 1984
In this meta comic strip, Woodstock sings with the musical notes letting the reader know what is coming out of his mouth, but raindrops put a damper on his singing, with the rain pushing down the music notes to melt and droop onto Woodstock.Acknowledging that Woodstock is in a comic strip by altering the look of the musical notes based on the rain in the last two panels,Peanutsmakes reference to its existence as a comic strip.
Woodstock is a bird, so it is only natural that he is seen singing, but what is a little less natural is seeing the musical notes droop to the point that they are almost sitting on the tiny bird’s head.The comic strips where music is front and center, like the strips withSchroeder playing pianoor Woodstock singing, bring out this running gag of the musical notes affecting the characters physically.
2"You’re Weird, Sir”
November 18th, 1984
When Peppermint Patty is called on by the teacher and does not know the answer, as tends to happen, she thinks that the answer will come to her later tonight.As a result, she gets a lightbulb moment in the classroom and asks her teacher to call her at home so that she can then look up the answer to her question in an overly complicated back and forth game of telephone.
All Marcie can sayafter hearing her best pal’s strange idea is that she is “weird,” which is honestly not at all far from the truth.It takes a good friend to let one know when they are being weird, after all. Peppermint Patty likes to come up with unique solutions to her problems in school.Most of her solutions tend to be irksome, to say the least, for her teacher.
1"Forget It!"
November 19th, 1984
Like most children,Sally misunderstands a lotof things and mixes up a lot of words.An example of this phenomenon occurs in this comic strip, which has recently celebrated a November birthday. Sally proudly reports to her big brother that she has signed up for a course in conversational French, but since this is Sally, she of course misunderstands the name and thinks it is “controversial French.”
Charlie Brown corrects her, and that it is all it takes for Sally to just disregard the whole thing before she has even started. Sally sees no purpose in taking conversational French, because it is a total snooze fest to her. Rather, Sally wants some drama instead and is disappointed to hear that there is not a course in controversial French. It’s a shame that thePeanutsstrip missed out on some great foreign language gags.
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.
