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This week’s BEANO celebrates “The Art of Breaking Rules”

By John Freeman on November 10, 2021

This week, the BEANO is celebrating The Art of Breaking the Rules exhibition at Somerset House, London, with a tie-in cover and strips.

Behind a great Dennis and Gnasher cover by Nigel Parkinson, we’re treated to a smashing mix of your favourite strips, including “Roger the Dodger” and “Calamity James” written by Danny Pearson with art by Barrie Appleby and Leslie Stannage respectively.

Inside, the Dennis story started next week, which saw him taking on painting in a very special story, continues.

The BEANO-inspired “The Art of Breaking the Rules” exhibition continues at Somerset House, London, until next April. The Beano gang have created a mini-museum inside the exhibition, which gathers today’s greatest rule-breaking contemporary artists. All photos via Somerset House

Combining classic and current BEANO comic art with some amazing modern work, the Somerset House “BEANO – The Art of Breaking the Rules” exhibition, which runs until next April, is one no fan of the weekly humour comic will want to miss.

This huge exhibition takes up multiple rooms, exploring all aspects of the BEANO and its impact on modern artists.

In BEANO 4111…

The Artful Menace!

Dennis is being a bit arty! Beanotown Urban Museum of Modern Art is having its grand opening tonight! And the kids are being taught that art has no rules – which is Dennis’s speciality!

Gaming Wars!

Oh no! Bananaman has overheard General Blight’s new plans to take over the world. The only thing that will beat them is Bananaman’s awesome game playing skills! (I guess that means General Blight wins then… – Ed).

Sleep over!

Yeti’s been sleepwalking again – will he manage to not wake everyone in the house? In Yeti’s dreams, maybe! In real life – there’s no chance!

PSM – Pumpkin Spice Minnie!

Everyone is getting pumpkin obsessed – it’s everywhere and in everything. Minnie wants a slice of that pumpkin pie, so she and Francis are creating their own line of merchandise with extra pumpkin!

Bottoms Up!

Cuthbert’s parents are causing trouble this week – and it’s all about language! They’ll be getting to the bottom of it, no ifs nor butts about it!

• Check out the BEANO online at BEANO.com

• Beano: The Art of Breaking the Rules runs until 6th March 2022 at Somerset House, London

• Read Richard Sheaf’s article “In Pictures and In Review: “Beano – The Art of Breaking the Rules” at Somerset House, London”

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “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.