early 70s BEANO observations
Posted: 06 Oct 2015, 20:55
I am just looking through practically every issue of the BEANO from the very early 70s: this is when I used to read it regularly, and although it isn't quite as good as the 60s version, it is pretty creative stuff in the main: some of the gags, storylines and frames I actually recalled after seeing them for the first time since all these years later.
Here's a couple of items that are hopefully of interest:
For years I thought the final David Law DENNIS the MENACE was put out in the weekly comic in 1970, ---the one with the roll of lino------before the duties on this strip were handed over to Gordon Bell----for one week only---then to David Sutherland then onwards in perpetuity.
---But no: in March 1971, at the time of decimilization and the same week the comic increased from 16 pages to a then-whopping 20, two more David Law Dennis strips turn up, maybe these were kept in reserve to help strengthen the 'relaunch' of the decimal-era BEANO?
---Anyway, this is the final Dennis Law [!] weekly BEANO strip strip I can identify thus far at least:
And this next cover from late 1972 illustrates a real revelation for me:
Dudley Watkins left us in 1969 and in those pre-internet days you were left to work out everything about comics and who was creatively responsible for them all on your own: I knew Biffo the Bear was drawn by another artist, but I never knew who:
---However! Take a look at the guy sitting at the high desk on the extreme right of the final frame: at the time, I spotted this artist as 'the same guy who draws the Bash Street Kids---this character looks like the Head Teacher!!' David Sutherland, of course.....
---This was a bona-fide EUREKA! moment for me---or perhaps loss of innocence, depending on how you look at it: I have never forgotten this personal moment of realization and great to rediscover this page, the first sight I have had of it since '72.
Here's a couple of items that are hopefully of interest:
For years I thought the final David Law DENNIS the MENACE was put out in the weekly comic in 1970, ---the one with the roll of lino------before the duties on this strip were handed over to Gordon Bell----for one week only---then to David Sutherland then onwards in perpetuity.
---But no: in March 1971, at the time of decimilization and the same week the comic increased from 16 pages to a then-whopping 20, two more David Law Dennis strips turn up, maybe these were kept in reserve to help strengthen the 'relaunch' of the decimal-era BEANO?
---Anyway, this is the final Dennis Law [!] weekly BEANO strip strip I can identify thus far at least:
And this next cover from late 1972 illustrates a real revelation for me:
Dudley Watkins left us in 1969 and in those pre-internet days you were left to work out everything about comics and who was creatively responsible for them all on your own: I knew Biffo the Bear was drawn by another artist, but I never knew who:
---However! Take a look at the guy sitting at the high desk on the extreme right of the final frame: at the time, I spotted this artist as 'the same guy who draws the Bash Street Kids---this character looks like the Head Teacher!!' David Sutherland, of course.....
---This was a bona-fide EUREKA! moment for me---or perhaps loss of innocence, depending on how you look at it: I have never forgotten this personal moment of realization and great to rediscover this page, the first sight I have had of it since '72.