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In Pictures – The Beano, A Manual for Mischief Exhibition at the V&A

By John Freeman on July 15, 2018

The Beano - A Manual for Mischief - Victoria and Albert Museum 2018

Photo: Richard Sheaf

Beano fans are surely spoilt for choice at the moment, not only has the McManus Gallery in Dundee been taken over by them, and the gallery re-branded as the McMenace, but a small corner of London has also been given over by the comic.

Running until 12th August 2018, as we’ve previously reported, The Beano – A Manual for Mischief is at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The display illustrates the processes and development of Beano characters with artwork from publisher DC Thomson’s archives.

Photo: Richard Sheaf

Comics writer and editor Danny Pearson discovers one of his “Roger the Dodger” strips, drawn by Barry Appleby, in the V&A exhibition. Photo courtesy Danny Pearson

Plans for the V&A tie-in were also reported here on downthetubes last year, after the Daily Mail went mental over the idea of “farting statues” and it was suggested the exhibition was actually destined for the new V&A in Dundee.

• Beano: A Manual for Mischief 10.00 – 17.00 until Sunday 12th August 2018 V&A, NAL Library Landing – Free event | More information here online

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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.