76 Years Ago, ‘Peanuts’ Shockingly with a Delightfully Cruel First Comic
Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip debuted on October 2, 1950, introducing a surprisingly dark comedic tone that would become central to the series. The original strip featured Shermy and Patty as the primary characters alongside Charlie Brown, though neither had received official names at the time of publication. The first installment’s punchline set the strip apart from contemporary comics with its mean-spirited humor: as Charlie Brown walks by, Shermy remarks, “Here comes ol’ Charlie Brown. Good ol’ Charlie Brown… How I hate him!”
As Schulz continued developing the strip, he gradually introduced new characters that would become iconic to the franchise, including Lucy and Linus Van Pelt. These additions shifted the focus away from the original duo. Despite their historic role in launching one of the most influential comic strips in American history, both Shermy and Patty slowly disappeared from the strip’s lineup, ceasing to appear entirely by the 1970s. Their brief tenure in the spotlight mirrors the fate of early supporting characters in evolving creative properties, where refinement of the core concept often necessitates shedding initial character choices. The first strip’s notably cruel humor foreshadowed Peanuts’ characteristic blend of childhood innocence and witty cynicism that would define the strip throughout its 50-year run.