The Future’s Beano!

By John Freeman on August 28, 2019

Congratulations to Britain’s longest running comic, Beano, which has reached No. 4000 – on sale at retailers today (Wednesday 28th August). Offering a collectible cover featuring a specially designed, eye-catching red foil logo and an extended storyline set in the year 4000 where Dennis has to save Beanotown from grown-ups, this landmark issue includes its first ever digital free-gift – a companion video game, Beano 4000: PoGO to the Future!

Every reader can team up with the Bash Street Kids in the story and win the chance to become a character in a brand-new game level for free at www.beano.com/games

Beano 4000: PoGO to the Future!

In Beano’s 4000th issue, as we reported on Monday, readers are introduced to a ‘future’ Dennis (sporting an intriguing robotic arm) who travels back to the present day to warn the Beano gang that things are bleak in the year 4000.

Beano has been abolished! Mayor Brown’s descendent; Emperor Brown and his Robot Army have taken over Beano Town, Dennis urges his friends and readers to travel to the year 4000 via time machine, to save their future today.

The storyline is reflected with a digital free-gift on Beano.com Beano 4000: POGO to the Future! The game lets readers battle Emperor Brown then answer a quiz question about how many cans of laughter you discovered for a chance to becoming immortalised as a character in the game.

The extended storyline reflects Beano Studios‘ recent research into Generation Alpha (kids 10yrs and under) who are already making their opinions known through their activism and environmental lobbying. One in five have already taken part in a political demo or march, and 47% agreeing it’s important to speak out about what you believe in.

• This new Beano 2020 Annual is also on sale now from all good bookshops – and you can also buy a personalised version direct from the DC Thomson Web Shop

John Anderson, Editor said: “What better way to mark Beano’s 4000th issue than by looking forward to see how our friends are getting on in the year 4000? You’ll be pleased to know that 2,000 years hasn’t dimmed their appetite for fun, if anything they’re hungrier that ever! Here’s to the next 4,000 issues!”

“This very special edition of the comic will become a real collector’s item to be passed down to generations of future fans,” added Mike Stirling, Editorial Director of Beano Studios. “4000 consecutive issues are an epic achievement, but it still feels like Beano is new and 100% relevant to each new generation.

“I agree with Dennis; thinking kid has never been so important.”

• Beano comic is still available, every week at all good retailers. To play Beano 4000: PoGO to the Future! visit www.beano.com/games

• This new Beano 2020 Annual is also on sale now from all good bookshops – and you can also buy a personalised version direct from the DC Thomson Web Shop

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MORE LANDMARK ISSUES!

Here’s how the Beano celebrated previous millennial milestones down the decades…

Beano No. 1000, cover dated 16th September 1961

Beano No. 2000, cover dated 15th November 1980

Beano No. 3000, cover dated 16th January 2000

About the Author
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John Freeman

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.