Created by DC Thomson in Dundee, the Beano has been a comic book beloved by children since 1938, when it was first introduced as a companion paper to The Dandy.
The characters of Dennis and Gnasher, Minnie the Minx and The Bash Street Kids have stood the test of time, and the comic continues to endear itself to youngsters today.
But now comes a special issue of the Beano, written exclusively for adults, and which reflects on the turbulent events of 2020.
The special edition of the comic, dubbed BeanOLD, will be a pull-out inside the regular Beano and will see Dennis the Menace’s parents look back on Zoom quizzes, home-schooling, delayed Bond films and toilet roll shortages.
And the familiar faces of Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson, Captain Sir Tom Moore and Marcus Rashford will all feature.
The special edition of the comic will be a pull-out inside the regular Beano (Beano/PA)
The first adult issue will show Dennis’s father, Mr Menace, get a new job in the Elf Service, having lost his job at Wilbur Brown’s factory.
Sir Tom Moore, who raised more than £32 million for the NHS by walking laps of his garden, and Manchester United footballer Rashford, who has campaigned for free school meals and child literacy, visit Beanotown to receive honorary MBEs (Member of the Beano Elf-service) for their efforts this year.
While in town they save Christmas by rumbling Wilbur Brown and Walter Softy’s plan to steal all of the Christmas presents.
The special edition has been dubbed BeanOLD (Beano/PA)
The Prime Minister then lands in town and helps Wilbur Brown stage his getaway, with help from his recently departed chief aide Cummings as their getaway driver.
The comic even features a reference to Cummings driving with impaired eyesight, after his notorious drip to Barnard Castle during lockdown.
It also includes an appearance from environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who offers Dennis’s dad advice on how to grow his own Christmas tree, as well as a cameo from Desperate Dan, marking the first time the character has appeared in a comic for eight years.
The comic features a reference to Dominic Cummings driving with impaired eyesight (Beano)
Dunkirk actor Tom Hardy also makes a guest appearance as Dennis’ mum’s celebrity crush and Christmas present wish.
Mike Stirling, editorial director of Beano Studios, said: “We’ve formed our very own Gnational Elf Service to help spread laughs and keep the nation smiling this winter.
“We love bringing kids laughs every week but 2020 has been so tough, that for the first time in 82 years we’ve created a comic that kids can give to adults to share some much-needed Beano LOLZ.”
BeanOLD can be found in this week’s Beano, available to buy at retailers from Wednesday.
Find out more at beano.com/elf.
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