If the Beano and the Dandy Merged...

It's been a while, and I'm back. And I'm back with a bloody long post too! Sorry for the giant gap since I last posted, other things have taken over priority, so the blog has had to take a back seat.

Anyway, on with the show...

I've been recently thinking what would happen if the beano and the dandy were forced to merge, and what I would like to happen. So, here is my contents of a perfect "The Beano and Dandy". Brace yourself, it's long!

The Beano and Dandy:

Cover: Dennis the Menace and Gnasher

You just couldn't have anyone else, could you? I think it could have a big picture of them relating to the story, much like in the current beano. Then underneath there could be a banner telling you what's inside, much like the one the dandy has at the moment. Art by the current artists Jimmy Hansen, Nigel Parkinson and Barry Appleby, with the odd Tom Paterson strip, just because.

Page 2: Issue xxxx - Whats Inside

Taken from the current dandy, this will give a contents, giant introduction from a character from the comic and maybe a Jamie Smart hide and seek puzzle. After a number of issues they could also include collector's corner and who's reading yours from the current beano, as there would have been enough issues for someone to have some form of a collection.

Page 3: Top half - Biffo the Bear and bottom half - Korky the Cat


Both of these are iconic strips yet work best in under a page, so what better way to use them than putting them on page 3 as half page strips, eh? Biffo could be drawn by Andy Fanton and Korky could be drawn by his current artist Phil Corbett. It would be eye caching and the first page readers would see when they look inside the comic.

Page 4: Bananaman 


Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Page 5: Billy Whizz

Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Pages 6 and 7: Minnie the Minx 

Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Page 8: Kid Cops 

Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Page 9: Subscription Advert

You just need one, and it would be even better if it was made into some fun, comic strip form drawn by Barry Appleby.

Pages 10 and 11: Billy the Cat

The beano is lacking an adventure story, and the best and most familiar to readers is Billy the Cat. It should be adventurous but not so much so that younger readers fail to understand it. Drawn by Steve Beckett.

Page 12: Ratz

Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Page 13: Shorts 

1) Grampire - Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)
2) Clown Wars - As much as I like it as a full page strip, I think it works better as a short. Everthing else stays the same.
3) Freddy the Fearless fly - Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)
4) Big Eggo - I think it would work as a short, and  I think without a character from the first issue it can't really call itself the beano. Art by David Sutherland.

Shorts are really good in comics. They can give new artists a place to start, and then if the ed. thinks they're good enough they could have a full page strip. Also, a lot of strips work best as just 2 or 3 frames. Shorts are an essential ingredient in comics!

Pages 14 and 15: The Numbskulls 

With more interesting storylines the numbskulls could be really good! Everthing else stays the same.

Pages 16 and 17: The Bash Street Kids

Just as it is now but with some slightly better storylines as the bash street kids can get rather boring at times.

Page 18: Arena of Awesome

With the beano dominating the front and back covers, the dandy just had to have the centre spread. Maybe each week there could be one beano character and one dandy character battling it out, or just as it is now. Drawn by Jamie Smart.

Pull Out "The Beezer and Topper" Comic: 


With the demise of Classics from the Comics last year and the Beezer and Topper ending almost 20 years ago, I think there is a need for more beezer and topper content. It would have appeal not only for nostalgics, but for the kids as well who jump with excitement when there is a cool mini-mag to pull out (or is that just me? :P) Anyway, here's what would be in it:

Cover: Beryl the Peryl 

Yes, I know she has most recently been in the dandy, but who else could you use?! Art by Barry Appleby.
 Otherwise, it could be pretty much the same as it was.

Page 2: Welcome and Contents page

This will have a contents on the top half and on the bottom half will have a "did you know?" page which would focus on a topic such as "...that Berly the Peryl was in 2 different comics?" ect.

Page 3: Beryl the Peryl  

Contined from cover.

Page 4: The Banana Bunch

Just as they were would be nice, but realisticly, they need a little modernising. Art by Nigel Parkinson.

Page 5: Mickey the Monkey 

Like it was in the early days. Art by Ken.H.Harrisson

Pages 6 and 7: Adrian the Barbarian

Just like it was! Art by Hunt Emertson or Brian Walker

Page 8: Baby Crocket

Just how it was but with a little bit of jamie smart magic! :)

The Beano and Dandy Continued: 

Page 19: Arena of Awesome

Continued from page 18.

Page 20: Thingummyblob

Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Page 21: Shorts

1) Twit - ter: Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)
2) Freddie Fear - Son of a Witch: I think this would work as a short. With some new ghoul or monster every time, each with a hidden pun! Art still Dave Eastbury.
3) Grampire: Same as before.
4) Big Eggo: Same as before.

Pages 22 and 23: Fred's Bed

Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Page 24: Meebo and Zuky

Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Page 25: Mailbag  

Just how it is now but with added beano! ;)

Page 26: Retro Beano 

Just how it is now but with strips other than just dennis and reduced to one page to make room for...

Page 27: Retro Dandy

Just like retro beano but... well... retro dandy! :D

Pages 28 and 29: Roger the Dodger       

Just how it is now but with no reprints and the occaional Tom Paterson one when Barry isn't available.

Page 30: Gnashers Tale          

Just how it was! Same artists as for Dennis.

Page 31: George Vs Dragon    

Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Page 32: Ivy the Terrible

Just how it is was! :) It was just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :) Art by Diego Jourdan.

Page 33: Ball Boy

Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Page 34: Desperate Dan 

Just how it is now! :) It's just perfect and I wouldn't change it in any way! :)

Page 35: Next Time... 

Just how it is now, but with added beano.

Page 36: Dennis the Menace and Gnasher

Continued from cover.

So there you have it, my perfect "Beano and Dandy." Why not spend a while coming up with your own. Obviously, this isn't set in stone, and strips could change from time to time because there are many great strips I've missed out (For instance I was toying between Ratz and Meebo and Zuky and in the end went for the later). I hope you've enjoyed reading it just as much as I have making it!

Comment away! Ciao!