Cover Preview: BEANO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2019

Yes, we're still in summer but D.C. Thomson have revealed the cover to this year's Beano Christmas Special which you can pre-order from their web shop!

The cover art is by Nigel Parkinson and the all-new special will feature 68 pages of strips and activity pages, plus a set of free stickers! 

As there was some confusion in the past from some readers I should clarify that this Christmas Special is a stand alone publication. It is not the Annual, and it's not the Christmas issue of the weekly Beano. This Christmas Special will be in the shops months before Christmas, in September. 

So... if you feel like getting in the festive spirit while it's still over 20 degrees C outside, pre-order your copy today!

https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/beano-christmas-special-2019

Review: WHO KILLED ROUND ROBIN?

No, you don't get a free knife. I added that for effect.

If, like, me, you're sometimes dismayed at the current shortage of quality independent humour comics in the UK then this one is for you! Who Killed Round Robin? is published by Red and Black Comics Ltd and (I think) is their first release. 

The story originally appeared digitally throughout 2008 on the Who Killed Round Robin weblog. The project involved seven different comics creators taking their turns to contribute a panel to an ongoing narrative... a murder mystery... with none of them knowing where the story would be heading, except that the murder had to be solved by the end of the year! 

A fascinatingly anarchic idea that could have easily gone badly wrong, but the talent involved ensured that it didn't. Sure, the story goes off at tangents, and is wonderfully surreal at times, but everything is of a top class professional standard. There simply isn't a bad panel in the book. 

Written and drawn by Craig Conlan, Ian Culbard, D'Israeli, Colin Fawcett, Nigel Parkinson, Woodrow Phoenix, and Dave Taylor, Who Killed Round Robin is full of twists and turns and is genuinely funny. What else could you ask for? 

With 52 full colour pages packed with top quality art, Who Killed Round Robin? is available from eBay at this link:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Who-Killed-Round-Robin/123805073575

You'll also be able to buy the book directly from Nigel Parkinson at the conventions he's at... and coincidentally he's a guest at the London Film and Comic Con at Olympia this very weekend, (Table 29, next to me, upstairs in the Comic Zone next to the lift) so grab a copy there!

Isle of Menace

Available from today, a special set of Christmas stamps for the Isle of Man featuring Dennis and Gnasher! Exclusively drawn by Nigel Parkinson.

Even if you don't live on the Isle of Man you can still order a set from here:
https://www.iompost.com/stamps-coins/collection/a-beano-christmas-on-the-isle-of-man/

Can Minnie the Manx be far behind? 

Photos from Wythenshawe Comic Con

It was an honour to be one of the invited guests at the very first Wythenshawe Comic Con, which took place yesterday, 9th June 2018. A relatively small convention, but it attracted a lot of people despite competing with the glorious weather outside. Lots of families there, including several kids in Dennis the Menace style stripey tops! I really enjoyed the day, and the event had a nice atmosphere. Thanks to John Webster for the invite and for looking after us all. A good day and I hope there'll be more!

Here's a few photos...

The Beano's Nigel Parkinson!

Colin Mathieson of Accent UK comics.

Writer and editor Dan Whitehead.

Doctor Who storyboard artist Mike Collins.

Artist, writer, editor David Leach.

A happy customer!

'tis I.

More photos on the Wythenshawe Comic Con Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/wythenshawecomiccon

The organiser, John Webster, also runs the Wow! Comix comic shops. Check them out if you're up that way:
https://en-gb.facebook.com/wowcomixstockport/

Come and meet the Beano artists!

Still going strong after 80 years, there's a new issue of the Beano out today. It's issue No.3938 and here's the cover by Nigel Parkinson.

Speaking of Nigel, he'll be one of the guests at Wythenshawe Comic Con this Saturday, 9th June, along with Psycho Gran creator David Leach, Doctor Who storyboard artist Mike Collins, the guys from Accent UK comics, and myself. 

It's being advertised on the radio too. Listen to the ad here:
https://soundcloud.com/user-911266655/wythenshawe-comic-con-2018

It's a new event dedicated to comics, so come along and join us!

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!

This week's BEANO (No.3870)

Cover by Nigel Parkinson.

Here's the cover to this week's edition of Britain's longest-running comic. Yes, it's Beano No.3870, where Minnie the Minx takes centre stage as Batmin in a four page story. Art by Nigel Parkinson.

This packed issue also includes all the regulars such as Roger the Dodger, Dennis and Gnasher, Billy Whizz, and many more. There's another Make Me A Menace and Beano Boss by Hunt Emerson (which I've heard is a very popular feature despite older critics dismissing it as "filler"), a Pup Parade puzzle page drawn by Steve Beckett, a board game page, and much more.

Plus, another dose of Pup Parade and Ivy the Terrible strips by me!

All in Beano No.3870, out now for £2.50.
https://www.beano.com

Beano preview

Cover by Nigel Parkinson.

Just time for a very quick update. I see that the all-new Beano.com website now has regular previews of the latest issue. Quite right too of course. To see a few panels click here:
https://www.beano.com/posts/inside-beano-no-3862

…and don't miss the actual issue in your newsagents and supermarkets from Wednesday 23rd November!

Gotta go. Busy on future issues of The Beano and Epic!

Take cover! It's a take over!

Last week's Beano carried a splendid cover by Nigel Parkinson, with Walter's Dad the Mayor taking over the comic.

A few days later, The Phoenix boasted a fine cover by Jamie Smart with Looshkin the cat taking over the comic.

There's no question of course that it's a complete coincidence that these two comics with the same cover theme are side by side on the shelves of WH Smith at the same time. Comics are produced weeks in advance and neither publisher would have any idea the other comic was planning a similar theme that issue. 

It's an amusing twist of fate though, and the "take over" theme is a good one to freshen things up. I presume the situation will return to normal on The Phoenix next week but in the case of The Beano it's more drastic, as it leads into a complete revamp of the comic with this week's issue. (Looks good! See here.)

I couldn't help being reminded though of another "take over" cover from over 20 years ago. :) Can anyone think of any more? 

Another great BEANO package this week

Cover by Nigel Parkinson.

Unlike most other UK kids' comics, The Beano rarely comes bagged with gifts, but when it does it delivers on the quality. This week's edition includes a 24 page Beano Colouring Book featuring 23 of Nigel Parkinson's covers in black and white, plus a set of exclusive coloured pencils, each featuring a Beano character design. 

There's also a Danger Mouse Activity Minimag, featuring new strips and puzzles. Admittedly this serves a purpose to promote the new comic but it's a nice collectable item in its own right. 

Oh, and there's a little set of Lego Star Wars stickers too.

As for The Beano itself, it's another jam-packed issue (doesn't actually include jam) with all the favourites. The comic is really at a high again these days. Here's a few preview snaps...

Art by Barrie Appleby.

Art by Nigel Parkinson.

Art by Wayne Thompson.

Art by Lew Stringer. (Hey, that's me!)

The Beano No.3848, out now, £3.50.

Extra-special BEANO this week!

This week's Beano is an unmissable issue for kids on their school holidays and comic fans of all ages. It comes packaged in a card envelope which reveals one of the great gifts - the Flying Dennis Disc, a perfect frisbee for the park or beach. 

I know some people hate 'bagged' comics, but what if the packaging itself was a gift? On the back of the card envelope are cut out and keep Beano Buddies, - similar to the classic stand-up footballers that D.C. Thomson used to give away with their comics waaayy back in the 1960s.

That's not all. Inside the envelope there's a packet of Dennis Drenchers water balloons, ideal for all Menaces. 

The comic itself is an excellent issue. There's all the favourites such as Dennis and Gnasher, The Numskulls, Bananaman, Minnie the Minx and more...

Art by Nigel Parkinson.

...and a dog-themed Star Wars spoof I did for this week's Pup Parade...

Story/art by Lew Stringer.

This week's Bash Street Kids story is unusual in that it's only one page, but it leads directly into a board game in the centre pages called Escape from Bash Street! 

All in all, this is an exceptional issue and a must-have for Beano collectors. It's on sale in newsagents and supermarkets across the UK now for £3.50.

The BEANO No.3843

With perfect comedy timing, here's the cover of The Beano that goes on sale on the same day that our new unelected Prime Minister takes over. Artwork by Nigel Parkinson.

Inside the 36 page full-colour issue we see the return of Steve Bright on Bananaman, a very funny Mum Bingo game by Nigel Auchterlounie, and another Pup Parade page by me, plus Roger the Dodger, Minnie the Minx, The Bash Street Kids, and loads of other fun pages of course!

That's The Beano No.3843, on sale Wednesday 13th July, just £2.50.

Psst! Something's happening!

This week's BEANO. Cover art by Nigel Parkinson.

The Beano is in the news today as it's been revealed that there are plans to expand the brand online, as well as revamp the print comic. That's all I know so far. You can read the news item at The Courier website:
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/entertainment/186929/beano-characters-set-online-rebirth/

Dandy and Beano Summer Specials are here!

No doubt they'll be arriving in the shops soon but for now the 2016 Summer Specials for The Dandy and The Beano are available to order directly from the publishers at the D.C. Thomson Shop:
https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/our-brands.html

As in recent years, the Summer Specials are now in the 68 page 'Bookazine' format as opposed to the big 32 page glossy tabloids they used to be decades ago. This makes sense. The weekly Beano is a 36 page glossy these days, so a 'Special' in the same format would hardly be significantly special. There's also the problem of retailers wanting a more uniform size of course. A bigger footprint on the stands would demand a separate display space, and we know how retail giants like to charge for those! 

As far as I know, The Dandy Summer Special will contain reprint again, but The Beano Summer Activity Special will feature new material. I don't have any material in either so your guess is as good as mine at this point. Both feature new covers by Nigel Parkinson.

Anyway, summer's here so make it special with these two comics!

65 Years of Menacing!

This coming week is the 65th anniversary since Dennis the Menace was unleashed upon the world. He first appeared in The Beano dated 17th March 1951. As comics were dated to the weekend ahead back then, and The Beano was published on Wednesdays, that would mean kids would have been buying that issue on Wednesday 14th March 1951. 

Dennis' first artist was of course Davey Law, whose funny, contemporary style heralded great changes for comics in the 1950s. Seeing Dennis the Menace in his younger brother's copy of The Beano inspired Leo Baxendale to contribute to the comic, so without the Menace we might not have had Leo's creations The Bash Street Kids, Little Plum, The Three Bears, or Minnie the Minx. I think it's fair to say that Law's Dennis the Menace was a gamechanger and possibly the most influential character in the history of British humour comics. 

Here's a few examples of Dennis from over the years. This is the very first strip from 1951...

Next, one from later that year (Beano No.483, Oct 20th, 1951) with Dennis having evolved into his more traditional look...

At the top of this post is the cover to the third Dennis the Menace annual, published in 1959 for 1960. It reprinted numerous Dennis strips from the 1950s. Here's a selection...

When I first discovered the strip in the 1960s it had proved popular enough to be on the back page in full colour. This one from 1965, again by Davey Law...

Sadly, Davey Law passed away in 1971. His creation continued under the hand of David Sutherland doing a fine imitation of Law's style. Dennis' popularity continued and in 1974 he replaced Biffo the Bear as the cover star of The Beano. Here's an example of Sutherland's version from 1975. As you can see, by now Dennis had been joined by his dog, Gnasher, who first appeared in the strip in 1968...

In 1998, a new addition to Dennis' family, - a little sister! (Soon to be named Bea.) Art by David Parkin...

The current Dennis the Menace artist is Nigel Parkinson, doing a great job every week with a version that combines the best elements of the traditional Dennis but is still his own...

Although Dennis has now become a valuable merchandise brand for D.C. Thomson at the heart of it is still the weekly strip, amusing children of all ages, just as it always has. Happy Birthday Dennis! Long may you reign as the World's Wildest Boy! 

All Beano artwork in this article © D.C. Thomson and Co. Ltd.