Bananaman’s 40th commemorative Beano comic is available in all good newsagents, supermarkets and through digital delivery now, fronted by a great cover from Nigel Parkinson. Find out more about the character’s celebratory issue here on downthetubes, and read on for Top 10 Bananaman Facts!

Beano 4022 cover featuring Bananaman
• Bananaman is the only character to had have an ongoing strip in both The Dandy and Beano at the same time
• Originally it was said that alter ego Eric Wimp gained his amazing Bananaman powers from the crescent shaped moon which resembled a banana when he rocketed to Earth as a baby. However, in 1991 it was stated in The Dandy that Eric actually received his powers as a baby from eating a Saturnium-laced banana (that one is strictly for continuity fans, readers!)
• Eric Wimp (aka Bananaman) now lives at 29 Acacia Road, Beanotown, having moved from Nuttytown and Dandytown. His name was changed to Eric Twinge for the 1983 cartoon series
• Mouldy bananas are to Bananaman as kryptonite is to Superman, they weaken his powers!
• Bananaman has the muscles of 20 men, but the brains of 20 mussels!
• Bananaman’s powers include flying, super-strength, super-duper speed, the ability to fly through space and the ability to look only slightly stupid in a tight blue leotard

A scene from the Bananaman animated series, now available on Amazon Prime
• In 1983, Bananaman got his own cartoon on children’s BBC, which ran until 1986. Voices of the animated characters were supplied by ex-Goodies members Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie and Tim Brooke-Taylor. The series is now available to watch on Amazon Prime
• Bananaman has a feathered crow sidekick simply called “Crow”
• Bananaman’s most famous evil rivals are General Blight, Dr Gloom and Appleman… He even went up against Desperate Dan during his time in The Dandy!
• In Croatia, the animated Bananaman series – was broadcast as Danko Bananko
• Beano comic is available, every week at all good retailers. This week’s Bananaman 40th anniversary celebration sees the Beanotown kids come together to defeat the baddies and free Bananaman, in a story written by Nigel Auchterlounie, drawn by Nigel Parkinson, who also provides the issue’s cover. Plus, Batmin returns, as Minnie the Minx faces Apple Man! The Bash Street Kids school King Zorg and the Nerks! Calamity James meets The Weatherman! And we get a cameo from The Goodies, the voices behind the classic Bananaman cartoon! Find out more about the character’s celebratory issue here on downthetubes.
In honour of his birthday the Beano shop has released special edition Bananaman t-shirts and mugs with 15 per cent off all products for a limited time using the code BANANAS.
The range also includes dress-up costumes and ‘Man of Peel’ t-shirts.
• Bananaman Books and Merchandise on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
• Follow the #Bananaman40 on Twitter
• Beano is online at www.beano.com
Bananaman © 2020 Beano Studios
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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.
Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
Appleman and his clones … “Are you rotten apples?” “We are rotten! Rotten to the core!”