Beano for the Heart and Soul

Beano began its weekly comic printing in 1938 and has featured Minnie the Minx, the Bash Street Kids, Biffo the Bear, Dennis the Menace and many others. Recently, Jon Gilbert Fox donated a copy of the Beano Book Annual to the Schulz Library. The Beano Book a square-bound book released every year by D.C. Thompson and Co, Ltd. before the holiday season.

In the States, Dennis the Menace typically conjures an image of a towheaded rascal pestering a Walter Matthau-esque Mr. Wilson. However, what many readers do know is that the UK has their own Dennis the Menace; a mop of unruly black hair adorns this trouble-maker’s head to match the coat of what I could only describe lovingly as the ugliest dog in comics, Gnasher. Debuting a mere three days after Hank Ketcham’s Dennis the Menace in 1951, David Law’s Dennis is a bit dirtier and honest. David Henderson took over the drawing reins in 1970, as we see below.

Many of the characters in Beano realize they are in a comic book and play Tex-Avery-style with artist or reader via jokes or hiding from the story.

The strips can run several pages or as one panel gags.

One more peek!

So the next time you visit our library be sure to check out The Beano Book from 1976 in the European Comics section!

–Jen Vaughn