The National Library of Scotland’s official birthday is fast approaching, with the 100th anniversary of its creation via an Act of Parliament falling on Thursday 7th August – and will be celebrating by giving visitors on the day a special edition of the BEANO!
Visitors to the National Library at George IV Bridge Edinburgh and Kelvin Hall in Glasgow will be given their own copy of a special edition centenary comic, created by BEANO, with a cover by Nigel Parkinson, especially for this occasion. Until copies run out, that is!
“BEANO is the longest running weekly comic created every week in Dundee for almost as long as we’ve been in existence,” said National Librarian Amina Shah.
“BEANO is loved by kids and adults alike, alongside many iconic characters like Dennis, Gnasher, Minnie and Bananaman. We cannot think of a more appropriate and fun way to mark our official birthday.”
“100 years of the National Library of Scotland? That calls for maximum mayhem!” added Craig Graham, BEANO’s Director of Mayhem. “It’s been a total joy to bring a bit of Beano mischief to such a brilliant milestone. We had a blast creating the story, and we hope visitors have just as much fun diving into it. The Bash Street Kids managed to get lost in the archives and luckily, no priceless manuscripts were harmed (we think!)”
Visitors on the day will also get the chance to meet special guest Dennis the Menace (who will be kept under the watchful eye of Library staff!).
The special BEANO edition features the George IV Bridge building on the cover by Nigel, while inside the comic readers will be treated to The Bash Street Kids’ visit to the National Library.
On the morning of Thursday 7th August the Library will give away 500 copies of the special edition Beano to lucky visitors at George IV Bridge, Edinburgh and Kelvin Hall, Glasgow. They will be given out on a first-come first-served basis. Visitors will also have the opportunity to sign a giant birthday card, which will be stored in the Library’s archives in perpetuity.
• Check out the National Library of Scotland opening hours and plan your visit on the NLS website
• BEANO is online at beano.com
• Nigel Parkinson is online at nigelparkinsoncartoons.blogspot.com
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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: downthetubes News
DC and Marvel Crossover Comic Books Continue Through 2026 
Six UK regions receive £25 million to bolster creative industries 
First Look: Doctor Who – The Prison Paradox #1 
Studio Ghibli and Art History of Anime/Manga talks by Helen McCarthy lined up at Quay Arts