Bananaman's FIRST EVER GRAPHIC NOVEL?

As part of the celebrations for Bananaman's 45th anniversary, Beano 4273 and 4274 were dedicated to The Man of Peel.

Issue 4273, dated 15th February 2025, featured rugby sports star Mike Tindall as guest editor.  Tindall appeared alongside Bananaman in a special story which ran throughout the entire comic, across pages usually exclusive to the likes of Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx, The Bash Street Kids and Roger the Dodger.

As part of a bumper double pack, issue 4274, dated 22nd February 2025, included a 52-page Beano Presents graphic novel titled Birthday Bash.  Essentially Bananaman's 40th anniversary story from Beano 4022 bar a few redrawn panels here and there, Birthday Bash was nonetheless a nice, quality extra for readers to enjoy.

Beano 4274 with Bananaman graphic novel 'Birthday Bash'

Bananaman's 40th anniversary story was similar to the one in Beano 4273, in that it traversed across other character's pages in the comic, and so quite a few people are credited in the graphic novel, namely writers Jess Bradley, Andy Fanton and Danny Pearson, artists Phil Murphy, Wayne Thompson, Steve Beckett, David Sutherland, Laura Howell, Shannon Gallant, Leslie Stannage, Barrie Appleby and Nigel Parkinson, and writer/artists Nigel Auchterlounie and Hugh Raine.

Not credited is graphic designer Leon Strachan, who I think did a great job making the graphic novel not only look but feel extra-special, with vibrant cover and exciting chapter pages.

The Dandy Special series includes five Bananaman stories

My one grumble with Birthday Bash concerns the front cover, which states it is ​"Bananaman's First Ever Graphic Novel".

I believe A Dandy Special No.2 - Bananaman in Eurovillain Contest, printed and published in 1990, was actually the first.

These specials began as monthly publications but soon changed to quarterly.  Bananaman would feature a further four times, in A Dandy Special No.4: Bananaman - The Secret of Willie Boggins, A Dandy Special No.6: Bananaman in Stormy Weather, A Quarterly Dandy Special No.8: Dr Jackal and Mr Hide and A Quarterly Dandy Special No.10: Bananaman in Double Trouble, all published in 1991.

Short Bananaman stories with identical titles had previously been published but the specials consisted of 36 pages with 190x270mm dimensions, which is close to the standard American trimmed comic page size of 6.625" x 10.187" (approx. 168x259mm).

I'll be taking a look at these specials soon, dear readers.