Though it may surprise fans that he initially debuted as a "passing" character, Charlie Brown's first appearance in Peanuts sets the foundation for his core traits, which in turn elevated the character to the iconic status he enjoys today. The evolution of Charlie Brown from a passing character to the central figure is one of the most fascinating aspects of early Peanuts cartoons; for fans of Charles Schulz' work, new and old alike, studying Peanuts' characters' introductions adds great layers of context to their appreciation of the strip. Charlie Brown quickly came to embody good-natured resilience in the face of constant defeat, which made him the perfect central character for Peanuts, and is essential to why he became such a beloved figure.

Charlie Brown is universally recognized as the central character of Charles Schulz' legendary comic strip Peanuts, but many readers might be surprised to learn he did not start out that way.