Ever alert for the call to action, unassuming schoolboy Eric Wimp eats a banana and transforms into ...Bananaman!
Since 16 February 1980, British comic book superhero Bananaman has entertained boys and girls far and wide. Created by David Donaldson, Steve Bright and artist John Geering, his zany adventures began in the very first issue of Nutty and continued weekly until the comic ended on 14 September 1985 after a run of 292 issues.
From 3 October 1983 to 15 April 1986, Bananaman starred in his own animated TV series consisting of 40 five-minute episodes by Terry Ward of Flick Films Ltd. Character voices were provided by comedy trio The Goodies (Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie) and actress Jill Shilling.
When Nutty came to an end, Bananaman was one of only a handful of characters to move to The Dandy, in which he regularly appeared until this too came to an end on 4 December 2012 after a run lasting 75 years!
Fortunately, in 2010 Bananaman had become the only character in DC Thomson’s long publishing history to feature in both The Dandy and The Beano, so when the Dandy ended he was already established in the Beano and this is where his adventures continue today.
Foiling fiends such as General Blight, Doctor Gloom, Appleman, Auntie, King Zorg and The Nerks, Weatherman, Captain Cream, and Eddie the Gent and The Heavy Mob, Bananaman is a parody of superheroes from the likes of Marvel and DC and is particularly reminiscent of Superman, Batman and The Incredible Hulk.
Such is his popularity, Bananaman is one of very few DC Thomson characters to have had merchandise produced exclusive to him. There was even Bananaman: The Musical, performed at the Southwark Playhouse Theatre in London from 15 December 2017 to 20 January 2018!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in the year Star Wars first screened in cinemas, the Atari 2600 games console was released and the Big Ear radio telescope received the "Wow!" signal, Adam Bagley grew up in Central England with a love for drawing, reading comics and watching cartoons.
Remaining fond of many classic British comics to this day, with appreciation for the characters and stories within their pages, it is perhaps unsurprising then to learn Adam is an artist and illustrator by profession.
Too young to read when Nutty was launched, it was just a couple of years later when Adam caught up with Bananaman's adventures, spending his pocket money on second-hand bundles of comics found at jumble sales, fetes, car boot sales and the like - and he's been a dedicated "Bananafan" ever since!