Snoopyis easily one of the most iconic aspects of thePeanutscomic strip, and his hilarious alter-egos are a big reason why. AmongSnoopy’s greatest alter-egosare “World-Famous Attorney” and “World War I Flying Ace”, but arguably hisbest inPeanutshistoryis “Joe Cool”. And now, it’s time to take a look back at that iconic alter-ego, complete with Joe Cool’s first appearance and all-time funniest moments.
Snoopy’s Joe Cool made hisfirst appearance in thePeanutscomic strippublished on June 17, 2025 by Charles M. Schulz. In fact, Joe Cool didn’t just have a debut comic strip, he had a debut arc. The alter-ego’s first appearance was followed by two more comic strips published on May 28 and 29, respectively, which collectively act as Joe Cool’s breakout story.
The firstPeanutscomicfeaturing Joe Cool sees Snoopy’s alter-ego wearing a pair of sunglasses, leaning against his dog house. Speaking in the third person, Joe Cool narrates his actions, saying that he’s hanging around the student union at his imaginary college. Linus walks by and - playing along with Snoopy’s game - asks Joe Cool how he did in his chemistry class that day. And, in true ‘too cool for school’ fashion, Joe Cool makes it clear that he couldn’t care less about chemistry.
The secondPeanutscomic featuring Joe Cool tells readers exactly what Snoopy’s alter-ego is doing while hanging around the student union: “eyeing chicks”. However, Snoopy isn’t able to stay in character for long, as he admits that “Joe Cools are scared to death of chicks” after he leers at Lucy, who seemingly doesn’t take being objectified by creepy dogs very well (and rightfully so).
The third and finalPeanutscomic in Joe Cool’s debut arc shows the cool college dog “hanging around the dorm on a Saturday afternoon”. When Linus walks by and asks Joe Cool why he’s “hanging around the dorm on a Saturday afternoon”, Joe Cool confesses, “No wheels, man!”.
Who Is Joe Cool? Snoopy’s Iconic Alter-Ego, Explained
Snoopy lets readers know exactly who “Joe Cool” is during his firstPeanutscomic strip arc, and the character only gets more fleshed out over time. Joe Cool is a college student who is quite literally ‘too cool for school’. He never seems to go to class, as he prefers to hang around either the student union or his dorm room. Of course, this all takes place in Snoopy’s imagination, as the student union, his dorm room, and, indeed, the entire ‘college’ Joe Cool attends is really just Snoopy’s dog house.
Snoopy’s Joe Cool is truly the epitome of what being ‘cool’ means in the most over-the-top, cartoonish way possible.
To become Joe Cool, Snoopy simply puts on a pair of sunglasses, leans against a wall, and states that he is Joe Cool. Sometimes Snoopy also incorporates a sweatshirt with the name “Joe Cool” embroidered on the front, but originally, all it took was a pair of shades and the right attitude. Joe Cool’s personality is reminiscent of that of classic ‘cool guys’ of the era, including James Dean andHappy Days’ Fonzie.
Joe Cool’s Best Peanuts Arc Coincides with the Soft Introduction of an Iconic Character
Linus Moves In with Snoopy when His Little Brother, Rerun, is Born
While Joe Cool has no shortage ofhilariousPeanutsarcs(including and especially his debut), one in particular easily stands out from the rest. Published in May 1972,Peanutsgave readers a multi-comic story arc that showed Linus moving into Joe Cool’s dorm after Lucy kicks him out of the house. Linus and Joe Cool become roommates for a time, living the classic college experience. But, after some time passes, Charlie Brown feels the need to intervene, at which point, this story arc gets an unexpected twist.
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It’s revealed that the only way Lucy was able to kick Linus out of the house for as long as she did was that Lucy and Linus’ mom was in the hospital giving birth to their little brother, Rerun. While Rerun wouldn’t be featured for some time after thisPeanutsarc, his soft introduction is the catalyst for this entire ‘Joe Cool’ story, making it not only utterly hilarious, but also incredibly memorable.
Why Snoopy’s Joe Cool is So Timelessly Hilarious in Peanuts
Everything aboutPeanutsis timeless, as it is arguably the best comic strip ever created, and Joe Cool is firmly included in the many reasons why that’s the case. This Snoopy alter-ego is a hilarious parody of the classic ‘cool guy’ trope, from his appearance, to his apathetic indifference, to his complete disregard for rules and structure. Joe Cool is truly the epitome of what being ‘cool’ means in the most over-the-top, cartoonish way possible, which is why it’s so hilarious every timeSnoopydecides to bring this alter-ego to life inPeanuts.
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.
