Tim takes a look @ The Beano (July 26th Edition)
For this I’m going to look and review the 4 main contenders of the remaining British comics.
With the disappearance of such titles as ‘Buster‘, ‘Whizzer and chips’ and ‘Topper’ only few remain.
These are:
1) The Beano
2) The Dandy
3) 2000ad
4) Viz
There are other small digests like ‘Battle’ but I’m looking at the more available publications. Also Judge Dredd Megazine counts as a spin off for this and will not be included.
So the first in my journey is the Beano. The Beano (first released July the 30th 1938, so in fact a happy coincidence) is a bastion of British comics and also one of the few remaining in this day and age and remains a classic, which for the most part hasn’t changed that drastically… Or has it?
Front Cover: Lots of text, but all lost under the water bomb free gift set (which a lot of children’s publications are depending on now I notice, What ever happened to the McGowans toffee Bar and Swizzels Matlows lollipop which would melt and ruin the cover? Far too messy and eyecatching.
Artwork: For the most part, this keeps a selection of original artists, the Bash Street Kids and Ivy the terrible being prime examples of this. I remain thankful to God that The Beano hasn’t slide down the dangerous slope like the Dandy of have Manga style artwork crammed in to keep the Naurto/Bleach generation in. For the most part it keeps in the Beano’s colourful and vibrant theme.
Stories: Hmmm, tricky one this. I’ll be honest I never found the jokes in this LOL worthy, a wry smile perhaps, but they aren’t bad. There are some very weak plots with only a very minor payoff at the end. Lord Snooty the 3rd (more on him later) and Olaff the Madlander being the suspects here. I think Dennis is starting to suffer now as his ASBO adventures are amusing, but lacking soul. The Bash Street Kids reigning high here as always.
Characters: A large amount of standards remain and I am happy, BUT the new characters don’t seem Beano-ish if you see what I mean. Thankfully the terror that was ’Crazy for Daisy’ has gone, a undelightful story of a boy obsessed about a girl called Daisy (naturally) who seems to manipulate him and promote that stalking is funny. I really didn’t think it was children’s fiction worthy.
Lord Snooty the 3rd is a new addition, but seeming to lack any genetic traits of the one that I and a lot of people grew up with. Gone are his multicultural, varying class level friends. And now we have a boy who…well, is empty. No personality really, this may be a case to read more stories and find out but I severely doubt I’m wrong on this.
Observations:
* Bea: Sister of Dennis has established herself. Good.
* Walter the softie is getting more gender confused. Seeing that he and his chums have knitted themselves dolls of themselves to put their clothes on, he produces a flowery Bikini two piece…*shudder*
* Minnie the Minx now has a mid/Early 20’s lady teacher. Is this the Beano replacing the image that all teachers are 40+ ‘Pink Floyd: The Wall’ parodies? Still they wear the gown and mortar board. Nice touch.
* They need to establish that to children now that Love and Lust are very different things. Especially when the female teachers are quite hot.
* Flatulence based gags are not funny. Why have these become socially acceptable?
* A Big Eggo reference! Nicely done
Overall: Beano, you still will hold a place in our hearts. Always and ever.
With the disappearance of such titles as ‘Buster‘, ‘Whizzer and chips’ and ‘Topper’ only few remain.
These are:
1) The Beano
2) The Dandy
3) 2000ad
4) Viz
There are other small digests like ‘Battle’ but I’m looking at the more available publications. Also Judge Dredd Megazine counts as a spin off for this and will not be included.
So the first in my journey is the Beano. The Beano (first released July the 30th 1938, so in fact a happy coincidence) is a bastion of British comics and also one of the few remaining in this day and age and remains a classic, which for the most part hasn’t changed that drastically… Or has it?
Front Cover: Lots of text, but all lost under the water bomb free gift set (which a lot of children’s publications are depending on now I notice, What ever happened to the McGowans toffee Bar and Swizzels Matlows lollipop which would melt and ruin the cover? Far too messy and eyecatching.
Artwork: For the most part, this keeps a selection of original artists, the Bash Street Kids and Ivy the terrible being prime examples of this. I remain thankful to God that The Beano hasn’t slide down the dangerous slope like the Dandy of have Manga style artwork crammed in to keep the Naurto/Bleach generation in. For the most part it keeps in the Beano’s colourful and vibrant theme.
Stories: Hmmm, tricky one this. I’ll be honest I never found the jokes in this LOL worthy, a wry smile perhaps, but they aren’t bad. There are some very weak plots with only a very minor payoff at the end. Lord Snooty the 3rd (more on him later) and Olaff the Madlander being the suspects here. I think Dennis is starting to suffer now as his ASBO adventures are amusing, but lacking soul. The Bash Street Kids reigning high here as always.
Characters: A large amount of standards remain and I am happy, BUT the new characters don’t seem Beano-ish if you see what I mean. Thankfully the terror that was ’Crazy for Daisy’ has gone, a undelightful story of a boy obsessed about a girl called Daisy (naturally) who seems to manipulate him and promote that stalking is funny. I really didn’t think it was children’s fiction worthy.
Lord Snooty the 3rd is a new addition, but seeming to lack any genetic traits of the one that I and a lot of people grew up with. Gone are his multicultural, varying class level friends. And now we have a boy who…well, is empty. No personality really, this may be a case to read more stories and find out but I severely doubt I’m wrong on this.
Observations:
* Bea: Sister of Dennis has established herself. Good.
* Walter the softie is getting more gender confused. Seeing that he and his chums have knitted themselves dolls of themselves to put their clothes on, he produces a flowery Bikini two piece…*shudder*
* Minnie the Minx now has a mid/Early 20’s lady teacher. Is this the Beano replacing the image that all teachers are 40+ ‘Pink Floyd: The Wall’ parodies? Still they wear the gown and mortar board. Nice touch.
* They need to establish that to children now that Love and Lust are very different things. Especially when the female teachers are quite hot.
* Flatulence based gags are not funny. Why have these become socially acceptable?
* A Big Eggo reference! Nicely done
Overall: Beano, you still will hold a place in our hearts. Always and ever.
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