
Ellis the Escaping Elephant by Lew Stringer © DC Thomson
This week’s Beano – No. 4025, on sale this Wednesday – features a new half page strip, “Ellis’ Great Escapes” by Lew Stringer, new tales of Ellis, Beanotown’s famous escaping elephant!
Ellis is an elephant in Beanotown Zoo, whose previous appearances include guest star roles in a number of Dennis strips in the comic, and he’s featured in games and puzzles on Beano.com.
No zoo can contain Ellis for long and his favourite thing is finding ways to escape!
Every week, Ellis will try to outsmart the zookeeper Terry Tuff and make a bid for freedom, using whatever means necessary… the funnier the better!
Past appearances of Ellis include an appearance in a cover-featured Dennis strip back in 2018, where Dennis’ Dad worries the escapologist pachyderm may be a bad influence on his son! (Hmm – shouldn’t that be the other way round?)

Beano 3948 – 2018 – featuring Ellis the Elephant
“Ellis the escaping elephant is a relatively new character who’s only been around for a few years,” says Lew, who’s drawing the new half page stories.
“I believe he may have originated from the Dennis and Gnasher cartoon, but he’s popped up in the comic a few times as part of the Dennis and Gnasher story.
“As far as I know he’s never had his own series before so I’m honoured to be the first writer/artist to bring his adventures to the Beano!”
Escaping elephants have of course been a great theme for many a cartoon and comic down the decades, including Tom and Jerry and more. It’s good to hear Beano is keeping the idea going and will surely be giving the concept its own unique spin!
• Check out “Ellis’ Great Escapes” in the Beano, along with all your other favourite characters – Beano No. 4025 is on sale this Wednesday 4th March in all good newsagents and supermarkets
• Lew Stringer talks about “Ellis’ Great Escapes” on his blog here
• Ellis the Elephant Puzzle on Beano.com
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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.
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