Snoopyhas a number of siblings that have made random appearances throughout thePeanutscomic strip. From Belle to Marbles, Charlie Brown’s iconic dog has no shortage of family members who are happy to swing by for special appearances. And one of his siblings stands out in particular, not just as perhapsthe most recognizable of Snoopy’s siblings, but because this one has a shockingly tragic backstory.
In thePeanutscomic strip by Charles M. Schulzpublished July 26, 2025, readers are taken to the desert where Snoopy’s brother, Spike, is wandering around all alone. Spike is talking to himself, breaking the fourth wall by addressing the reader. He begins by posing the question, “Why do I live all alone out here in the desert?”, and the answer is utterly heartbreaking.
Spike was once a hunting beagle, and his owner ordered him to chase a rabbit. Spike didn’t want to, but he also wanted to please his owner, so he did as he was told. While Spike wasn’t fast enough to catch the rabbit, he did chase it into the road where the rabbit was hit by a car. Spike was traumatized by watching the rabbit get killed right in front of him, and he hated himself for being the cause. So, Spike ran away from his owner to go live out in the desert, “where I couldn’t hurt anything again”.
Snoopy’s Brother, Spike, was Traumatized by Witnessing a Death
Spike’s Origin Story is Decidedly Dark forPeanuts
Peanutsis famous for its light-heartedness, with even serious topics amounting to little more than universal problems experienced by children. Even when Charlie Brown talks to someone about his depression, he’s usually just voicing his anxieties about the future, questioning his place in the world (something many children experience). In other words, even the most serious topics usually don’t delve into life and death, or the lasting effects of trauma. But, that all changed with Spike’s origin story, which dealt with both of those heavy topics.
Spike’s origin becomes even more tragic when considering the nature of animals in thePeanutsuniverse. Like Snoopy, Woodstock, and even Spike himself, this rabbit that Spike watched die was more than likely anthropomorphic to a certain extent. It wasn’t just another animal that a beagle would have been hardwired to hunt (like in real life), this rabbit was essentially a person the same way the other Peanuts animal characters are. And Spike watched this ‘person’ die right before his eyes, and it was all his fault - something that’s decidedly dark for aPeanutscomic.
Snoopy has been Helping His Brother Heal from His Trauma Throughout Peanuts
Snoopy Goes Out of His Way to Include Spike Whenever He Can
Snoopy doesn’t always have the chance to spend time with his family, but whenever he does, he’s always ecstatic to see them, including and especially Spike. Whenever Spike comes to visit, Snoopy always makes him feel right at home, and even includes his brother in his imaginary games, like WWI Flying Ace (where Spike is a member of the pretend infantry). Basically, Snoopy lets Spike know that he doesn’t have to live alone in the desert, he’s accepted and loved for who he is by his family and the entire Peanuts gang community - trauma and all.
Snoopy’s “WWI Flying Ace” Alter Ego From Peanuts, First Appearance & Most Memorable Moments Explained
Snoopy’s WWI Flying Ace is his most iconic alter ego in Peanuts comic strips, movies, and specials, and his rich history is worthy of the recognition.
While Snoopy makes Spike feel accepted and loved whenever he’s in town, Snoopy also doesn’t pressure him to move out of the desert, he just gives him the option to come to a place where he’s always welcome. But, the decision to leave the desert is only Spike’s to make, and by the time of this comic strip’s publication,Snoopy’s brother still feels that’s where he belongs, and it’s all because of his shockingly tragic backstory inPeanutscanon.
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.
