Pig-Penis one of the most iconic members of thePeanutsgang, and one of the oldest. Indeed,Pig-Pen has been making readers laugh since 1954, introduced a mere four years afterPeanutsfirst entered syndication. Throughout that time, the famously filthyPeanutscharacter has been at the center of many jokes. However, arguably none of them can compare to one running gag that’s as old as he is, mostly because it shows just how smartthe creator ofPeanuts, Charles M. Schulz, really was.
In a series of fourPeanutscomic strips, Charles M. Schultz tells one long joke with Pig-Pen right at the center of it. And it’s absolutely hilarious, even by today’s standards.
In thePeanutscomic strip published June 15, 2025, Patty is scolding Pig-Pen for how dirty he is. She tells him that no one will admire him if he doesn’t clean himself up, and he’ll essentially be a pariah as long as he remains so dirty. But, before Patty can even finish making her point, Schroeder walks by them, and he’s just as filthy as Pig-Pen.
In thePeanutscomic strip published August 09, 2025, Patty turns her attention to Schroeder, scolding him for being influenced by Pig-Pen. She then tells the two of them that no one else will want to be around them if they don’t take a bath and clean themselves up. However, just like before, someone else walks by before Patty can finish making her point. This time, it’s Snoopy, and like Schroeder before him, the pup is just as dirty as Pig-Pen.
In thePeanutscomic strip published July 17, 2025, Patty has had enough of seeing so many people influenced by Pig-Pen. She calls Charlie Brown to complain, telling him that both Schroeder and Snoopy let themselves get disgustingly filthy all because of Pig-Pen, as they were seemingly following his lead. But, little does Patty know, Charlie Brown is just as dirty as Pig-Pen while talking to her on the phone, as he, too, has been influenced by Pig-Pen.
In thePeanutscomic strip published June 18, 2025, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Schroeder decide that Patty was right all along. They were wrong for letting Pig-Pen influence them the way he did, and they shouldn’t have allowed themselves to get so filthy. So, they all clean themselves up, and call Patty to let her know how proud of them she would be. But, in the final panel of this strip, it’s revealed that Patty herself is covered head-to-toe in dirt, as she, too, falls to Pig-Pen’s influence.
Why Charles M. Schulz’s Running Pig-Pen Gag is So Genius
Schulz Effectively Tells the Same Joke 4 Times, & Makes It Funnier Each Time
This running Pig-Pen gag is basically just the same joke told four times in a row. One character (or characters) tells Pig-Pen that being dirty is wrong and that no one else will be influenced by him, only to be proven wrong immediately after saying it. While one might think the joke would stop being funny after the second or third comic strip, that’s not the case. And the reason for that is the progression and evolution of the joke.
It’s not as though an endlessline ofPeanutscharacterscame strolling in behind Schroeder, continuously proving Patty wrong in-sequence. The gag evolves each time, as it begins with Schroeder, doubles-down with Snoopy, changes it up with Charlie Brown, then adds a final twist with Patty. The setup and the punchline is the same in every comic strip, but because of the progression and evolution of the joke, it just keeps getting funnier. And that is pure comedic genius on Schulz’s part.
Pig-Pen’s 70-Year-Old Joke is a Perfect Example of Why Peanuts is so Timeless
Out of every comic strip that’s ever been published, it’s safe to say thatPeanutsstands above the rest as the most timeless. Not only has it transcended the comic strip medium into the realm of feature films, animated series, and holiday specials, but the original comic strip itself has stood the test of time.
This running gag alone is a perfect example of why that’s the case, as it is a truly hilarious joke that’s just as funny now as it was 70 years ago. One would think that a joke told in the ‘50s wouldn’t hold up as well today as it did then, but this one - and many others like it - confirm that that’s not the case, and it’s all because of Schulz’s timeless humor and comedic genius.
10 Funniest Peanuts Comics That Just Turned 70 (In September 1964)
Peanuts is a timeless comic strip because of its characters, including and especially Lucy, and these 10 comics from 1954 that just turned 70 prove.
While thisPeanutsgag featuring Pig-Pen is a great example of the entire comic strip’s timelessness, it’s far from the only one. Upon looking back at even the oldestPeanutscomic strips, readers will find jokes that hold up just as well, and are easily just as hilarious. But, in regard toPig-Penspecifically, this one is by-far his funniestPeanutsjoke, and it perfectly shows how smart Charles M. Schulz really was.
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.
