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New Beano collaborations planned as the British weekly humour comic ramps up for its 80th anniversary in 2018

By John Freeman on June 15, 2017 • ( 1 )

Beantown is reeling after Minnie the Minx was elected school president – and you can just imagine the mayhem that ensues in this week’s edition of Beano – and in the real world, Beano Studios is promising lots more japery for Britain’s top humour comic and characters.

A number of new collaborations with cultural icons are set to be announced over the coming months, with partnerships with major UK museums, couture fashion houses and British brands already lined up, as the publication ramps up to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2018.

Earlier this month, Beano Studios announced a partnership with Bonnier Publishing to publish a new range of titles based on the Beano brand – and DC Thomson’s fondly-remembered Jackie magazine, too, the latter to include collections of the girls’ magazine’s “Cathy and Claire” problem page and Photo Love Stories.

Bonnier’s Beano programme will feature a range of young fiction, nostalgic annuals, joke books and gift titles, with the first title arriving at the end of 2017.

Beano-related TV projects and live performances are also on the horizon, while Beano.com will be celebrating the milestone throughout the rest of 2017 and 2018 with a pipeline of videos planned across web, app and YouTube.

“It’s Beano’s 80th birthday and we are going to cause some mischief,” says Emma Scott, CEO of Beano Studios. “Our year-long celebration will have something for kids of all ages – even the grown up ones.

“We may be turning 80, but all things Beano are as relevant as ever; funny, rebellious and imaginative, staying true to the Beano spirit both online on Beano.com and offline in our iconic comic.

“Our mission at Beano Studios is to bring the Beano spirit to kids everywhere.”

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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.