DS Forums

 
 

Quality of the Beano


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 20-06-2011, 10:42
be more pacific
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,034
I can see the Beano's future in branded spin-offs such as cartoons and games, rather than in print form.

To put the 40,000 figure into context, a standard issue of a Batman or X-Men title is unlikely to shift more than 100,000 copies worldwide. Yet these properties remain absolutely massive in films, cartoons, toys, games and other spin-offs.
be more pacific is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 20-06-2011, 20:55
JAS84
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Hull, UK
Posts: 7,363
Dandy gets only 10,000 readers! That's why it had a major revamp last October, a last throw of the dice. If it fails (thankfully, it looks like it isn't going to) then it'd end up merging with The Beano.

By the way, don't forget that those US comics sell in a lot more countries than Beano does. 40,000 is probably MORE than Batman or X-Men sell in the UK.
JAS84 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-07-2011, 21:43
craigy132
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,920
What has happened with this comic recently?

I remember when it was good in the 90s, a little corny but readable, now its just seems very silly and some of the artwork is awful.

Has it got worse or have I just got older?
Its definately changed (partly due to political correctness)
Ive read it all my life since the 70's and now Im 38 and the wife still buys me Dandy Beano Dennis the menace and bash st kids annuals every year but the artwork and general humour are of such a poor standard I think its a tradition thats going to stop.
Actually in the 70's and early 80's it was so popular that it never used to carry any adverts, I guess the sales revenue alone was enough to sustain the comic
craigy132 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-07-2011, 00:06
be more pacific
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,034
Its definately changed (partly due to political correctness)
Ive read it all my life since the 70's and now Im 38 and the wife still buys me Dandy Beano Dennis the menace and bash st kids annuals every year but the artwork and general humour are of such a poor standard I think its a tradition thats going to stop.
Actually in the 70's and early 80's it was so popular that it never used to carry any adverts, I guess the sales revenue alone was enough to sustain the comic
What people call 'political correctness' is often just a change in social mores. While today's kids might take some weird and wacky elements of the comic strips in their stride, the idea of a child being constantly threatened with violence from parents and teachers - without these people being flagged as abusers - would seem utterly bizarre in the modern world.
be more pacific is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-07-2011, 18:35
JAS84
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Hull, UK
Posts: 7,363
Sadly, the Dennis and Bash Street annuals are already history. And Craigy's right, they didn't have outside advertising until 1988.
JAS84 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-07-2011, 20:05
craigy132
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,920
What people call 'political correctness' is often just a change in social mores. While today's kids might take some weird and wacky elements of the comic strips in their stride, the idea of a child being constantly threatened with violence from parents and teachers - without these people being flagged as abusers - would seem utterly bizarre in the modern world.
Yeah the term 'political correctness' was the wrong way to describe it - the way you have summed it up is what I meant
craigy132 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 01:48
Phoenix Lazarus
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 13,888
What people call 'political correctness' is often just a change in social mores. While today's kids might take some weird and wacky elements of the comic strips in their stride, the idea of a child being constantly threatened with violence from parents and teachers - without these people being flagged as abusers - would seem utterly bizarre in the modern world.
Yeah-in the 70s, when I used to read the Beano, Dad's were forever thrashing kids with slippers, and teachers were forever thrashing pupils with canes!

I loved the Beano in the 70s-but haven't read a copy since 1979, except when I saw a copy once in 1998. I noticed there were much fewer comic strips than before, and that Dennis the Menace and Bash Street Kids were two of the few old strips still running. Neither of them, nor the rest of the comic, seemed half as lively and fun as it used to in the 70s. If I recall rightly, though, the Numskulls had imported as a comic strip. They were originally in Beezer in the 70s, and I loved them-so I was quite glad they were still running.
Phoenix Lazarus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 03:09
Button62
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,839
I have been collecting Beano Annuals all my life and still buy one every year. the oldest one I have is from 1960 and I have every one since then apart from two.

I still read it every year, but it's not as funny or as good as it was in the 60s and 70s.
Button62 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 12:21
TRIPS
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,584
Simon Rodgers;50429346]Sometimes I wonder why can't they ever reprint past comica and annuals, with everything the same?
What a great idea. not a matter of nostalgia ,the writing was far better in the early Beanos.
I read the Beano and Dandy every week
+ the annuals.from late 50s to mid 60s.
I noticed i wasn't enjoying them as much as i got older, i thought nothing of it.
there was a tv program a few years back on the main writer for the comic, he had a falling out with the Owner and left he comic.turns out i was not alone in thinking the comic was going downhill.
Interviews show lots of kids thought the comic was not as good when he left.
The early editions are considered the best period by the fans of the comic.
TRIPS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 13:24
tingramretro
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Shotley, Suffolk
Posts: 10,824
Sadly, the Dennis and Bash Street annuals are already history. And Craigy's right, they didn't have outside advertising until 1988.
Are they? There was a Dennis & Gnasher Annual published in 2010!
tingramretro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 13:28
tingramretro
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Shotley, Suffolk
Posts: 10,824
Dandy gets only 10,000 readers! That's why it had a major revamp last October, a last throw of the dice. If it fails (thankfully, it looks like it isn't going to) then it'd end up merging with The Beano.

By the way, don't forget that those US comics sell in a lot more countries than Beano does. 40,000 is probably MORE than Batman or X-Men sell in the UK.
Also, while Batman, Green Lantern and a couple of the X-Men titles do indeed sell very well, they are about the only US comis to reach those figures. A lot of second and third tier titles struggle to reach 15, 000 and even Superman isn't currently doing that much better.
tingramretro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 14:03
be more pacific
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,034
Also, while Batman, Green Lantern and a couple of the X-Men titles do indeed sell very well, they are about the only US comis to reach those figures. A lot of second and third tier titles struggle to reach 15, 000 and even Superman isn't currently doing that much better.
I posted the 100,000 figure as an example of how badly certain American titles are performing. The point I was making was that the comics seem to exist out of tradition while the film and TV adaptations have become the true mass-market versions of those titles.

The Beano and Dandy seriously need some successful spin-offs to prop them up and justify the existence of the ongoing titles.
be more pacific is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 14:53
Aidanp
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Kilkenny, Ireland
Posts: 855
I don't get the continued popularity of the Beano - its humour is dated ( see the Simpsons & Viz ) and the characters wear clothes fromn the '50s.
Is it a visual 'comfort food ' ?
Aidanp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 18:29
JAS84
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Hull, UK
Posts: 7,363
Are they? There was a Dennis & Gnasher Annual published in 2010!
It was the last one. There's no 2012 edition advertised.
JAS84 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 18:30
JAS84
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Hull, UK
Posts: 7,363
If I recall rightly, though, the Numskulls had imported as a comic strip. They were originally in Beezer in the 70s, and I loved them-so I was quite glad they were still running.
Beezer closed in September 1993, the Numskulls moved to Beano two months later. It's still in the comic today.
JAS84 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 20:40
tingramretro
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Shotley, Suffolk
Posts: 10,824
I don't get the continued popularity of the Beano - its humour is dated ( see the Simpsons & Viz ) and the characters wear clothes fromn the '50s.
Is it a visual 'comfort food ' ?
Given the average age of Beano readers, I don't think most of them consider it dated. It isn't aimed at the audience who read Viz!
tingramretro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 21:18
sunnymeg
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,223
Well my 9 year old loves it, as do lots of his friends. So it must be doing something right!
sunnymeg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-07-2011, 23:26
jemimabond
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: scotland
Posts: 1,617
My son likes it too, dont buy it regularly though....always buy the annuals though, along with Oor Wullie/Broons.....braw.
jemimabond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28-07-2011, 20:56
JAS84
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Hull, UK
Posts: 7,363
the characters wear clothes from the '50s.
Actually, most don't. The only characters who wear short trousers are Dennis and the Bash Street Kids. Ball Boy does too, but his are justified as they're football shorts. Dennis has an in-universe reason for keeping his - his knobbly knees wear holes through long trousers. Bash Street has had the same artist since 1962 (so they've hardly changed in 49 years!). I expect they'll be updated when Dave Sutherland stops drawing them (which will probably be when he dies, can't see him retiring).
JAS84 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-12-2011, 21:59
kezzy38
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 238
That made me smile as my mum does the same!!

My collection probably goes back to the 1970s when I used to read it as well, you certainly couldn't see Dennis getting the slipper these days!!

As an aside, I went to school with Leo Baxendale's son, Mark. Leo was the original creator of Little Plum, Minnie the Minx, and The Bash Street Kids so Mark was, by default, very cool at our school!
Martin also drew for comics! He drew "Deadly Headley" for Buster and "Dick Twerpin" for Cheeky! He drew in his dad's style, but so did Tom Paterson, David Parkins and Colin Whittock.
Anyway, just to fill you in with a bit of info, Tom Paterson worked at the Fleetway comics "Buster" and "Whizzer & Chips" drawing strips like Sweeney Toddler, Robert's Robot and Watford Gapp. DC Thomson, who had a better quality of comics, grabbed him and got him to draw Calamity James for The Beano. Since then he has not become just a popular artist, but a comics legend, drawing strips like Fiddle O Diddle, Brain Duane, Fred's Bed and even getting to draw the main characters Dennis the Menace and Minnie the Minx. His style is immediately recognizable and features things like Squelchy Things, long noses, things written on them like "Wash here" and "Don't come, Dracula-I've got garlic sarnies!" and smelly socks.
kezzy38 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-12-2011, 22:01
kezzy38
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 238
Actually, most don't. The only characters who wear short trousers are Dennis and the Bash Street Kids. Ball Boy does too, but his are justified as they're football shorts. Dennis has an in-universe reason for keeping his - his knobbly knees wear holes through long trousers. Bash Street has had the same artist since 1962 (so they've hardly changed in 49 years!). I expect they'll be updated when Dave Sutherland stops drawing them (which will probably be when he dies, can't see him retiring).
Well done, "Digi". It's great when someone corrects a stupid stereotypicalization of comics!
kezzy38 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-12-2011, 22:08
kezzy38
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 238
I don't get the continued popularity of the Beano - its humour is dated ( see the Simpsons & Viz ) and the characters wear clothes fromn the '50s.
Is it a visual 'comfort food ' ?
To be honest, Aiden, The Beano has never been about keeping up-to date- it's always been about being funny, and that's what it is (well, at least up to about 2010. The humour is rather dull now, but that doesnt mark me down as one of the "Comics arent what they used to be" club, I am a massive fan of The Dandy, since the relaunch last October.)
And also, you say the humour is dated, (compared to Viz which is an adult comic anyway. But who cares in this context?) The Dandy's is not, their humour is very bright and new in strips like "Mr Meecher, the Uncool Teacher" and "The Bogies" but that's just some of them, another example of people thinking children's comics solely consist of The Beano. That's doing them an injustice, there's a far better comic out there called The Dandy.
kezzy38 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2011, 18:17
cnbcwatcher
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: At college, in L.A.'s office
Posts: 54,213
I stopped buying the Beano in 2005/2006 but I always found it quite funny when I bought it. Maybe it has changed recently though. I always thought it was strange why the Bash Street Kids never really changed.
cnbcwatcher is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2011, 19:56
kezzy38
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 238
It is very dull now.
kezzy38 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2011, 22:06
frost
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,763
. A lot of second and third tier titles struggle to reach 15, 000 and even Superman isn't currently doing that much better.
Action Comics in November is estimated to have sold over 130K.

American comics might not be selling great, but the vast majority, especially the ones with known characters, are selling much better than 15K.
frost is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply



Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 16:51.