Published on the same day as the Christmas issue of The Topper I showed here the other day this festive 1967 edition of The Beano was packed with seasonal stories. The cover by Dudley Watkins is superbly designed, incorporating a 'Merry Christmas' message in the centre of the page whilst still being part of the strip.
Inside, Billy the Cat showed off his all-white 'snow-cat suit' for the first time. Usually of course Billy was dressed all in black. Art by Dave Sutherland.
Here's Little Plum! Art by Ron Spencer.
The Beano featured two adventure strips every week at this time, with the other being The Q-Bikes. Art by Andy Hutton.
On the back page, Dennis the Menace in his regular slot. Art by Davy Law.
Oh Lew... be still my beating heart! Billy the Cat AND the Q-Bikes!! Ambassador, with these Ferrero Roche you are really spoiling us.
ReplyDeleteHa! I thought you'd enjoy this one, Staz.
ReplyDeleteLovely old Beano , Lew . The absolutely classic time for that comic.I'll never tire of those beautifully rendered panels. It's not just nostalgia either. The drawing was so good.
ReplyDeleteFantastic stuff! A festive treat indeed. Snow, on Chritmas day
ReplyDeleteIts been so long since I saw a Q Bikes strip whcih was one of my very favourites as a kid (along with Bily the Cat and The Iron Fish). Amazing to see that this is very same comic you bought / got as a kid and you stil have it after all these years. Does anyone know waht the "Q" stood for in Q Bikes?
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff again Lew I enjoyed reading that and the wee nostalgia kick I got from it :)
Their version of Z Cars perhaps? Just a call signal?
ReplyDeleteI featured some Q-Bikes and Q-Ksrts strips here in February, Paul. You should subscribe to the blog so you don't miss anything. Or use the search window for strips you're interested in.
"Q" may have something to do with espionage, I assume. There was a movie in the late '30s called "Q Planes" (released in the US as "Clouds over Europe") with Ralph Richardson (playing a derby-hatted boffin who may have inspired the John Steed character in "The Avengers") and Laurence Olivier. And there was a silent film called "Q Ships."
ReplyDeleteThe 1967 Christmas Beano is clearly sparking some happy memories, but you published the 1967 Christmas Topper a few days earlier than this one, Lew, and, to me, D.C. Thomson-wise, this period's Topper seems much livelier, more zestful and impressive than its Beano!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I had both comics for several years but I preferred The Topper.
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