Lucy Van Pelt is amongPeanuts' most memorable characters nowadays, standing alongside Charlie Brown as one of the series' beloved cast members. However, one year before Lucy joined the mix, another forgotten character in thePeanutscast played the exact role she would later fill, including being the founder of the fan-favoritefootball gagthat would eventually become a series staple.

Violet was, in many ways, the series' original “Lucy”, and they’re even mistaken for each other frequently thanks to their matching black hairstyles.

Peanuts, Violet introduces herself to Snoopy and Charlie Brown gets upset that Snoopy didn’t introduce him to her-1

Before Lucy’s creation in 1952,Violet Grayjoined the cast ofPeanutsin 1951 as Charlie Brown’s short-lived crush and long-term bully. Violet was, in many ways, the series' original “Lucy”, and they’re even mistaken for each other frequently thanks to their matching black hairstyles. She slowly faded into obscurity after Lucy’s introduction, limited to cameo appearances in the ’80s and ’90s before her final appearance in 1997. Before then, though,Violet starred in plenty of entertaining comic strips that are worth revisiting as she celebrates her 74th anniversary this month.

10Violet Didn’t Care for Charlie Brown From Day One

First Published: July 25, 2025

Violet’s debut in 1951 sets the precedent for her relationship with Charlie Brown before they even exchange a word.Upon her arrival, she happily introduces herself to Snoopy - who resembles a more traditional dog in earlyPeanutscomic strips - and ignores Charlie Brown when he pointedly clears his throat.

As it turns out, Charlie Brown hadn’t been trying to get her attention, and he berates Snoopy for failing to introduce him to Violet. This joke hints at theintelligent dog Snoopy will someday become, in addition to establishing how little Violet cares for poor Charlie Brown, since she doesn’t spare him so much as a glance before walking away. Unfortunately, Violet’s treatment ofPeanuts' protagonist only worsens from here.

Peanuts, Violet says that she doesn’t care what names she gets called because words don’t hurt her then calls Charlie Brown a blockhead-1

9Violet Was The First to Call Charlie Brown a Blockhead

First Published: August 11, 2025

Lucy may be known for calling Charlie Brown a blockhead, but she wasn’t the first character in Peanuts to use the now-iconic insult. Violet originated the name back in 1951, prior to Lucy’s introduction. In this comic, as Charlie Brown walks off,Violet recites the mantra of"sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me", before turning around and calling Charlie Brown a blockhead.

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The irony here, of course, is that Violet downplays the effectiveness of insults before slinging one in Charlie Brown’s direction, just to get a rise out of him. Violet tends to be a hypocrite in herPeanutsappearances, being rude to Charlie Brown in one strip and being offended by him standing up for himself in the next.

Charlie Brown grimaces (left) and Linus smiles (right) against a backdrop of Peanuts comic strips

8Violet OriginatedPeanuts' Iconic Football Gag, Not Lucy

First Published: Jun 07, 2025

That’s right:the long-running joke that Lucy is most commonly associated with throughout pop culture began with Violet instead of Lucy. In fact, contrary to its reputation, it wasn’t always intended to be a mean-spirited prank. As seen here, Violet holds the football still for Charlie Brown but panics at the thought of him kicking her hand instead.

Just as Charlie Brown charges at the ball, she pulls away out of fear, causing him to slip and fall. In true Violet fashion, she immediately pins the blame on Charlie Brown after the fact by saying,“You didn’t kick the ball, Charlie Brown…why didn’t you kick it?“Lucy went on to hold Charlie Brown’s football next, and it would gradually evolve into one ofPeanuts' best gags.

Peanuts, Violet holds a football for Charlie Brown but panics and pulls it away at the last second, causing him to fall-1

7Violet Will Do Anything to Keep Charlie Brown Away From Her Parties

First Published: June 13, 2025

In this comic, Violet isn’t shy about not wanting Charlie Brown around. She asks if he likes coconut, and when he says he doesn’t, she announces that she’ll be hosting a party full of coconut, from coconut cake to coconut candy. Disgusted by the prospect of this, Charlie Brown runs away, and the triumphant smile on Violet’s face says it all.

Charlie Brown first reveals that he doesn’t like coconut in a comic strip from July 14, 2025, in which Violet offers him a mud pie sprinkled with coconut and he’s more revolted by the coconut than the mud.

Peanuts, Charlie Brown says he doesn’t like coconut so Violet says her party will be full of coconuts-1

One of Violet’s funniest running jokes involves throwing parties and telling Charlie Brown that he won’t be invited to them for reasons that vary in absurdity. Along with her friend Patty - anotherunderrated characterwho was also overshadowed after getting replaced by the more well-known Peppermint Patty - she finds endless joy in refusing to allow poor Charlie Brown admittance into her gatherings.

6Charlie Brown Gets What’s Coming to Him After Crossing Violet

First Published: August 01, 2025

Believe it or not,Violet’s dislike of Charlie Brown isn’t entirely unjustified, as their mistreatment of each other goes both ways. In an unusual moment of generosity, she offers him an ice cream cone as thanks for being “nice” to her. However, Charlie Brown admits that he hasn’t been nice to her at all. He recalls the ways he’s harmed her, such as pushing her off her tricycle unprovoked.

Violet insists on giving Charlie Brown the ice cream, then smashes the cone on his head. Either she’d intended to do this from the start as a prank, or being reminded of his cruelty makes her lash out. Either way, this is one of the few instances where Charlie Brown deserves to get bullied by Violet.

Peanuts, Violet offers Charlie Brown an ice cream cone but when he says he hasn’t been nice to her she smashes it on his head-1

5Like Lucy, Violet Is Willing to Get Violent with Charlie Brown

First Published: June 21, 2025

Although Violet isn’t quite as prone toviolence towards Charlie Brown as Lucy is, she doesn’t hesitate to knock him down a peg when the situation calls for it. One such example can be found in this comic, when Charlie Brown witnesses Patty calling Violet a tattletale. Once she’s gone, he decides to rub salt in the wound by calling out,“Ol' ‘Tattletale’ Gray, huh?”

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This joke doesn’t amuse Violet in the slightest, and without a word, she punches Charlie Brown in the head before storming off. At this point, he should know better than to insult Violet, since it doesn’t have a history of turning out well for him. Still, even if Violet doesn’t appreciate Charlie Brown’s humor, readers certainly do.

Peanuts, Patty calls Violet a tattletale and Charlie Brown repeats it to Violet, who punches him for it-1

4Charlie Brown Tries (And Fails) To Reason with Violet

First Published: August 01, 2025

This comic kicks off with Violet chasing after Charlie Brown in a fit of rage and declaring that she’ll “get him”, presumably because of a joke or insult that had backfired. Before she can land a hit on him, though, Charlie Brown attempts to reason with his assailant by delivering a powerful speech about violence not being the answer.

Charlie Brown goes on about how they should resolve matters peacefully to make the world a better place, then Violet shuts him up by punching him. As she leaves him lying on the ground, she tells Patty,“I had to hit him quick…he was beginning to make sense!“Maybe one day Violet will do some self-reflection, but this isn’t that day.

Charlie Brown with Lucy and Schroeder in Peanuts Art

3Violet Brags About Her Father’s Wealth, But It Backfires

First Published: Jul 25, 2025

Another hilarious quirk of Violet’s is her habit of bragging about how rich her father is, especially in comparison to Charlie Brown’s father.Here, she visits his house, and at every turn she mentions how much better her house is. She declares that her dad makes more money than his, to which he nonchalantly replies,“I realize that…and I’m very happy for you.“Clearly, this isn’t the reaction Violet had been hoping for.

Whenever Violet insults someone, she does so in an effort to get a rise out of them. Rather than giving her that satisfaction in this comic, Charlie Brown takes the high road, which frustrates her to no end. At his kind words, all she can do is exclaim,“You drive me crazy!”

Peanuts, Violet chases Charlie Brown to attack him and he tells her violence isn’t the answer, but she hits him anyway-1

2Snoopy Admits He Can’t Compete With Violet’s Rich Father

First Published: June 23, 2025

Charlie Brown isn’t the onlyPeanutscharacter who has to deal with Violet’s constant boasts about how wealthy her family is compared to others'. EvenSnoopy has to endure it, as depicted in this strip. Without any prompting on Snoopy’s part, she suddenly says,“My dad has a better comprehension of the role Great Britain must play during the next decade than your dad.”

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The comedy here stems from the fact that she’s trying to compete with a dog here, as opposed to an actual person who could possibly be affected by her words. Snoopy, knowinghis parentsare dogs, concedes that she’s right about that.Violet’s obsession with putting others down to prop herself up reaches a laughable new low here.

Peanuts, Violet brags about her dad having more money than Charlie Brown and he says he’s happy for her which drives her crazy-1

1Lucy Puts Violet In Her Place, Hinting atPeanuts' Future

First Published: July 01, 2025

In this last comic, Violet’s penchant for rudeness reaches a crescendo as she launches a series of devastating insults at Lucy. Charlie Brown is thoroughly impressed as she calls Lucy a “fourteen-carat blockhead” among other vicious nicknames. She then strides over to Lucy with a wicked smirk on her face, believing she’s won their verbal brawl, but she gets more than she’d bargained for once it’s Lucy’s turn.

Lucy catches Violet off guard by shouting,“You’re a no-good, tale-tattling little sneaking snip-snap pony-tailed ape!!!“Violet sulks off in defeat, and Linus tells Charlie Brown that “nobody can beat Lucy at “infighting”. Funnily enough, this comic foreshadows Violet’s ultimate fate inPeanuts, as Lucy ends up replacing her by stealing her main traits and pulling them off better.