About Beano Magazine
It has been published weekly on a continuous basis with the exception of a time in World War II when paper and ink shortages caused the publication to be published every week until the end of the war. In 2009, the publication celebrated its 3,500th issue.
Early issues of Beano, in particular, the first issues go for astronomical amounts at auction. The comic is so popular in Britain that it rates its own postage stamp which was issued by the Royal Mail in 2012.
Major cartoon characters and residents of Beanotown in Beano Comic include Roger the Dodger, Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx, Calamity James, The Bash Street Kids, Ivy the Terrible, Ball Boy, and Billy Whizz. Retired cartoon characters, some of whom have returned to the comic series include Little Plum, Biffo the Bear, Lord Snooty, and The Three Bears. These characters are known and beloved by generations of British children.
The characters whose strips have had the longest run include Dennis the Menace, Bash Street Kids, Minnie the Minx, Rodger the Dodger, and Lord Snooty.
Readers have been able to play an influential role in which cartoon characters get the most play in the comic. The publication asks readers in reader polls which characters should return or get more action and what new strips readers want, and the publisher of Beano has listened over the years.