Review: THE BEANO BOOK 1956 (Facsimile)

Cover art by James Crighton.

One of the books I treated myself to for Christmas was this facsimile of The Beano Book 1956 (originally published in 1955). As the original was published four years before I was born I'd never read it before so it was all new to me.

As most of you already know, you can order a facsimile of any Beano annual from 1940 to 2013 from D.C. Thomson and they're printed on demand:
https://shop.beano.com/awesome-gifts/classic-beano-gifts/personalised-beano-annual-from-your-year

I've bought a few of them before but this one intrigued me because it contains work by all the greats who were involved with the Beano at a high point in its history. The strips in this book would have been drawn in late 1954 so we have work by Leo Baxendale at the start of his career when his style was still developing...

Fascinating to see The Bash Street Kids when it was still called When The Bell Rings...

Ken Reid is well represented too. His style was more restrained on these early Roger the Dodger strips, and far from the manic outrageousness it would display ten years later on Frankie Stein for Wham!,  but it still displayed perfect craftsmanship...

Davy Law's Dennis the Menace is already in his full glory here, leading the charge for what would become the distinctive "mischievous kids" approach the Beano is famous for...

Other great artists are well represented too. Dudley Watkins on Lord Snooty, Ken Hunter on Wee Davie, and early work by Bill Holroyd on Nobby the Enchanted Bobby for example...

...and Jack Glass giving us a darker, more sinister look to The Iron Fish than the lighter approach that Sandy Calder brought to it in the late sixties. (I prefer Jack Glass' more dangerous looking version seen here to be honest.)

There are things here that wouldn't sit well in a comic of today. Bird Boy helping whale hunters to kill their prey isn't something you'd see in a modern Beano annual. Art by Paddy Brennan...

A new character for me was Hookey's Bust'em Book drawn by Charles Grigg before he developed more of his own distinctive style. The story is about a magic book that can spring its characters to life. (An idea re-used years later in Smash! with Charlie's Choice, but with a TV set instead of a book.)

It's interesting how many of the Beano adventure strips of the period had gimmicks simply explained as magic. Nobby the Enchanted Bobby had magic boots that could transform him, Hookey had his book, Jimmy's Magic Patch had a patch on his trousers that sent him back in time. Even the characters using science, such as The Iron Fish and General Jumbo, were using technology not yet invented. It all added to a fantastic sense of wonder that comics of the period contained and kids never questioned things like that because they knew that the impossible is great entertainment. 

These Beano annual facsimiles are excellent value and very well produced. Admittedly the binding is very tight so I couldn't lie the pages flat to scan (so you'll have to do with these camera snaps) but as they're print-on-demand it's necessary to have glued binding as stitched would be far too costly. The books are all scanned from the original annuals which means they also pick up any tanning from the old pages, but I'd much rather have that than over-saturated remastered pages that knock out half the fine lines. 

You're required to have the books personalised when you order them as they're intended as gifts, but you can type in any message you like. So rather than add a name you can just put "for collectors" or something. Or dedicate it to yourself if you like. (Update: I've been told you can just type 'none' and it'll be left blank.)

The books are produced by Signature Books under licence from D.C. Thomson, so I don't know how long that contract runs for. I'd like to see them do other old D.C. Thomson annuals too. The Dandy Book especially. Ideally, I'd like to see them do facsimiles on demand of any old D.C. Thomson comic, although in regards to comics post-1960s the production costs would probably make it cheaper to buy the actual back issues from eBay.

Anyway, I recommend these facsimile Beano annuals so catch a few while you can!
https://shop.beano.com/awesome-gifts/classic-beano-gifts/personalised-beano-annual-from-your-year

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Beano Annual 2019 - Cover revealed

D.C. Thomson have today revealed the covers of Beano Annual 2019, which goes on sale around August of this year.

The covers feature artwork by Nigel Parkinson and include iconic characters such as Dennis the Menace, Billy Whizz, and even Big Eggo. (In case anyone was wondering, no I didn't draw the Big Eggo strip inside it. This book was done and dusted long before I was commissioned to do the character for the weekly.)

The Beano celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, and the annual's cover reflects that. 

You can follow The Beano on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/beanoofficial?lang=en

...and at their website:
https://www.beano.com

...and of course by buying the Beano comic every Wednesday!

Snap up those annuals!

A last reminder that The Dandy Annual 2018 is still in the shops but selling fast. I wrote/drew quite a few pages for this one; Keyhole Kate, Kid Cops, and Postman Prat. Some of the Kate and Prat ones were written by Nigel Auchterlounie as part of the big crossover story in the back of the book. Part of which has Postman Prat meeting Desperate Dan! An honour to draw such an iconic character.

Don't forget that The Beano Annual 2018 is also on sale now. (I don't have anything in that one unfortunately as it focuses on the core characters.) If you have trouble finding them in the shops, buy them directly from D.C. Thomson here:
https://shop.beano.com/books/double-trouble-pack-2018.html

Beano Annual 2017

Here's a cover for The Beano Annual 2017 that has appeared on a few online bookshops. Now bear in mind that this may or may not be how the published layout will look as sometimes websites receive a preliminary version. We'll know for sure when the book becomes available on the D.C. Thomson Shop itself. The artwork is by Nigel Parkinson.

The Beano Annual 2017, along with its companion annuals from D.C. Thomson, is scheduled for 1st August 2016. 

Snap up those annuals!

With Christmas fast approaching it's time to grab your copies of this year's annuals while you can! My local WH Smith sold out of The Dandy Annual 2016 weeks ago and sadly shows no sign of restocking.

I know some of you wait until December to buy the annuals (or even wait until the January sales) but the books have been out since July so it's better to buy early to ensure your copies. 

Sainsbury are currently selling The Beano Annual 2016 for £3.49, which is an absolute bargain. They've sold out of The Dandy Annual in my local branch though. Fortunately I bought my copies back in July, and reviewed them here if you want a preview of the contents:
http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/theyre-here-dandy-and-beano-annuals-2016.html

I'm currently drawing pages for the Dandy Annual that will be out next year, which inspired me to post this plug for the current books. Never Be Without A Beano (or Dandy) Annual! 

They're here! Dandy and Beano Annuals 2016

The 2016 cover-dated annuals are starting to appear now and The Dandy Annual 2016 and The Beano Annual 2016 were published just over a week ago. Let's take a brief look inside them.

I always find there's mixed emotions these days when The Dandy Annual appears; joy that there's 112 pages of all-new Dandy material, but sadness that it's a reminder that the weekly is no longer around. However, let's focus on the positive, and once again the book delivers a nice package of classic Dandy characters by contemporary creators.

Fans of Ken Harrison will be pleased to know that there's plenty of pages by him in here as he illustrates several Desperate Dan stories and a couple of puzzle pages.

I was pleased to see Desperate Dawg in the book too; the 1970s canine version of Dan. Originally by George Martin, the new version is drawn by Alexander Matthews.

Much-missed 1960s Ken Reid characters Big Head and Thick Head are back in a couple of new strips drawn by Mike Donaldson.

Jack Silver returns too, drawn by Wilbur Dawburn...

...while Nigel Auchterlounie once again draws Corporal Clott...

...and I tackle The Smasher and Keyhole Kate...

Other strips in this packed annual include Greedy Pigg by Nigel Parkinson, The Jocks and the Geordies by Paul Palmer, Brassneck by Steve Beckett, and the return of George vs Dragon by Andy Fanton, plus much more.


Like its sister publication, The Beano Annual 2016 kicks off with a cover by Nigel Parkinson. Nigel also draws several pages inside featuring top favourites Dennis the Menace and Minnie the Minx. 

It was good to see an adventure strip in the book, in the form of classic hero General Jumbo. I don't know who's illustrated it but the artwork is excellent.

Great to see work by Hunt Emerson in the annual, drawing Little Plum...

...and Laura Howell doing fine work on Les Pretend...

The annual features all the usual favourites such as Roger the Dodger, Biffo the Bear, Ball Boy, The Numskulls, the Bash Street Kids, Billy Whizz, Pup Parade, and of course Bananaman...

There's also three pages of Lord Snooty by me...

The Dandy Annual 2016 and The Beano Annual 2016 are out now at a R.R.P. of £7.99 each, but you're bound to find them discounted, or cheaper online. These are the only traditional British comic annuals left now so don't wait until they're remaindered after Christmas. Give them your support now, to help them continue for years to come.  

2016 Annual cover previews

D.C. Thomson have now released the cover images for The Dandy Annual and The Beano Annual dated 2016, which will be published soon. Both covers are drawn by Nigel Parkinson. 

You can pre-order the books at the D.C. Thomson website here:
https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/our-brands/beano-shop/books/pre-order-double-trouble-pack.html

Thanks to Beano fan 'Beanomaster1' for the heads up on Comics UK.  

Cover story

There's a discussion on Facebook at the moment about this annual cover so I thought I'd expand upon it here. This memorable cover to The Beano Book 1970 was painted by Dave Sutherland, who was the regular cover artist on the Beano annuals at that time (and for many years afterwards). He still draws The Bash Street Kids in The Beano every week of course, and this year will be his 53rd year on the strip!

The interesting thing about this annual cover is that the week the book was published, that week's Beano comic (No.1416, dated September 6th 1969) tied in with it, showing what happened next! A rare British comics crossover. Although the book cover was by Dave Sutherland, the strip on the weekly was by Biffo's regular artist Dudley Watkins. Sadly, by the time this saw print, Mr.Watkins had passed away suddenly the previous month. 

That same issue also carried an ad for the latest Dennis the Menace annual on the back page, with a vague link to that week's Dennis strip drawn by Davey Law. 

Annuals on their way!

The Summer Specials won't be out for a few days yet but you can already pre-order the Christmas annuals! The Dandy Annual 2015 and The Beano Annual 2015 are both available to order separately at £5.99 each from the publishers at the DC Thomson Shop, or you can save money if you order them as a double pack for only £10. According to the website they'll be delivered the first week of August.

https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/our-brands/annuals-calendars/double-trouble-book-pack.html

I only have four Rasher mini-strips in the Beano Annual, but I did quite a few pages for The Dandy Annual, - great classic characters The Smasher, Keyhole Kate, and Korky the Cat! Here's a preview of one of them...

Speaking of annuals, I'd better get on with drawing the pages for the 2016 editions! 

2015 annuals cover previews

Click to see images larger.

Over on the unofficial Beano fan forum an anonymous source has posted advance cover images of three upcoming DC Thomson annuals. The images are low resolution but even so, the covers look great! Ken Harrison's lively Dandy Annual 2015 cover shows a host of classic characters whilst Nigel Parkinson's Beano Annual 2015 cover displays his fantastic skills as an artist. (Just look at the perspective and detail in that railway station roof.) Both covers have a really nice uplifting sense of carefree joy about them.

In recent years the classic Beano/Dandy reprint gift book has perhaps focused too much on more modern times but from the looks of things the new edition will be firmly set around the 1940s. Hopefully there'll be some wonderful examples of work by Dudley Watkins, Allan Morely and more within its pages. And a Big Eggo strip on the cover? Incredible. (Although this may be subject to change by the time the book reaches the shelves of course, but I hope not.)

An Annual reminder

If you haven't already bought them there's a few annuals still in the shops that would make excellent Christmas presents. Most annuals these days are based around TV shows, toys, boy bands or suchlike, but there are still a handful that contain originated content. Both The Dandy Annual and The Beano Annual are packed with new, full colour strips featuring such favourites as Desperate Dan, Dennis the Menace, The Bash Street Kids, and suchlike, plus new stories of old characters such as Greedy Pigg, Jack Silver, Pansy Potter and more.

For this year's Beano Annual I drew a two page Biffo the Bear story, and for The Dandy Annual I drew several Smasher and Keyhole Kate pages. (I also wrote the scripts of the Smasher ones.) 

Many other artists have contributed too of course, including Nigel Parkinson, Karl Dixon, Wilbur Dawbarn, Laura Howell, Barrie Appleby and more.

Both annuals are priced at £7.99 each, but you'll easily find them discounted in the shops or online. 

If you want an annual for older readers there's the latest Viz offering, The Camel's Toe, which has 160 adults-only pages stuffed with strips from issues 202 to 211 of the monthly comic. Art by Davey Jones, Simon Thorp, Alex Collier, myself and more. £10.99 (but again, available cheaper if you shop around).