Click an Annual to read in Full.  

It's traditional for British comics to have their own book for parents to give their children as a Christmas present.

 

Naturally, The Beano was no exception and has been a staple in Christmas stockings for over 70 years.

 

The annuals are traditionally published in July or August, in time forChristmas, and since 1965 they have had the date of the following year on the cover. Before then no date was given.

 

From 1942 to 1949 the annual was called "The Magic-Beano Book", which referred to the short-lived Magic Comic that had ceased publication in 1941 due to the Second World War's paper rationing. The name reverted to the original title of "The Beano Book" in 1950 and continued, the year changing for each subsequent annual, until the release of the 2003 book in 2002 when it was renamed "The Beano Annual". The 2011 Beano Annual is taller and wider than previous annuals.

 

After paper rationing had ended, The Magic Comic was never revived, but some of the characters who had originally appeared in the pre-war Magic Comic remained as regular strips in the post-1950 Beano Comic (such as Koko the Pup).

 

Because of his popularity, Dennis the Menace has appeared on the front cover of every annual since the release of the 1979 book in 1978.