Time Out celebrates 75 years of The Beano

By John Freeman on June 14, 2013

This week’s edition of theLondon listings magazine Time Out features an exclusive The Beano pull-out, sponsored by MasterCard.

The pullout celebrates 75 years of The Beano and ties in with the Southbank Centre Festival of Neighbourhood, which is sponsored by MasterCard, which (as we previously reported) features ‘Beanotown’, the home of Dennis the Menace and company, amongst its many attractions.

The exclusive pull-out comic features Dennis the Menace, Gnasher, and the rest of the gang arriving in London in search of something exciting to do and promotes the Festival of Neighbourhood.

As we previously reported, as part of the festival, Beanotown is, for the first time ever, being bought to colourful life, to delight adults and children alike.

The festival, which runs until 8th September, has taken over the whole of Southbank Centre’s 21-acre site. It features specially created indoor and outdoor artworks such as ‘The Appearing Rooms Fountain’ by Danish artist Jeppe Hein and a newly created beach.

“Time Out is excited to be the partner of choice for the exclusive The Beano comic pull-out,” enthuses Tim Arthur, the magazine’s editor. “As well as the iconic comic, this one-off Time Out magazine will include exciting editorial, including a blog of how the comic is made. I have even allowed Dennis to take over my editor’s letter slot!”

“We’re delighted to have brought Beanotown to London’s South Bank,” says The Beano’s Editor Craig Graham. “We’ve had a hoot working with Wayne Hemingway and Southbank Centre on this celebratory 75 year anniversary project and hope that visitors enjoy all that Beanotown has to offer. The Beano team have had a great time working with MasterCard on this special edition and we hope the readers of Time Out enjoy it and, of course, go and visit Beanotown at Southbank Centre!”

“We are delighted to continue our relationship with The Beano,” adds Jude Kelly, Artistic Director at Southbank Centre, “and this year we threw down a gauntlet to Dennis, a character of eternal youth, and dared him and his community to take part in our Festival of Neighbourhood. We’re particularly grateful to Time Out for embracing the festival so enthusiastically, and I would also like to thank MasterCard for their generous support.”

“Our partnership with Time Out magazine goes from strength to strength this week with a unique way of rediscovering and celebrating a comic of old,” says Paul Trueman, Head of Marketing, MasterCard UK & Ireland. “The pull-out will be a prized possession for those people who are familiar with the long standing The Beano comic book and the fun does not stop there, with the chance for Londoners to enjoy Southbank Centre Festival of Neighbourhood which includes an exclusive Beanotown Priceless night.”

• The pull-out is available in the 11th June Time Out edition and Londoners can register and enter the ballot to the exclusive Beanotown Priceless night on 2nd July at www.pricelesslondon.co.uk. Londoners have until 17th June to enter the ballot.

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.