Linus van Pelt, the blanket-carrying philosopher in the “Peanuts” comic strip, may not be as iconic as Snoopy or Charlie Brown, but he is a beloved character who has his own brand of wisdom and humor. Here are ten of the funniest “Peanuts” comics that prove Linus is truly the best character.

1. The Great Pumpkin Believer: The series of strips where Linus unwaveringly believes in the Great Pumpkin showcases his incredible faith and optimism. Each year, despite the skepticism from his friends, Linus waits in the pumpkin patch, providing a mix of hilarity and heart.

2. Linus and His Blanket: There’s a multitude of strips where Linus’s philosophical moments are punctuated by his attachment to his security blanket. One notable one is when Lucy buries it, and Linus plants a ‘Blanket Farm’ hoping it will grow new blankets.

3. Linus in Charge: One strip has Linus taking care of Snoopy for the day, which turns into a funny role-reversal with Snoopy having to follow Linus’s rules. The visual of Linus authoritatively walking with Snoopy on a leash while giving life lessons is both amusing and endearing.

4. The Philosopher: In strips where Linus shares his thoughts on life, there’s always a punchline that takes you by surprise. For instance, when he muses about whether we control our destiny or are controlled by fate — only to end with him tripping over his blanket.

5. Sibling Rivalry Antics: Across several strips, we see Linus outsmarting Lucy. A classic is when Lucy demands that he change TV channels threatening physical harm, only for him to retort with wits about the futility of her threats without her actually having the channel preferences at hand.

6. Friendship With Charlie Brown: Some strips show Linus as Charlie Brown’s only supporter. The punchline often lies in how Linus offers deep thoughts for comfort that inadvertently remind Charlie just how doomed he might be — but always with genuine affection underneath it all.

7. Miss Othmar’s Admirer: The running gag about Linus’s crush on his teacher Miss Othmar brings many laughs with it. His earnest declarations of love coupled with misunderstandings from adults make for comedic gold.

8. The Blanket Hurling Talent: Who can forget the time when the usually passive Linus uses his blanket as a weapon to defend himself? Seeing this usually calm character lose it makes us laugh out loud and adore him even more.

9. The Pumpkin Is a Metaphor: In one Halloween arc, we follow Linus pontificate on what the Great Pumpkin represents — it’s all deeper life metaphors until Snoopy shows up and he thinks it’s the Great Pumpkin, leading to uproarious results.

10. Piano Prodigy: While not as musically inclined as Schroeder, there are still instances where humble Linus shows off impressive talent on a toy piano saying profound things on Beethoven’s birthday — before Snoopy comes along and dances on top of it.

Throughout all these comics, what makes these moments funny is not just what happens to Linus but how he reacts to them with unfailing wit and surprising depth — traits that make him stand out in Charles M. Schulz’s beloved world of “Peanuts.”