Cuthbert Cringeworthy JOINS BASH STREET SCHOOL

Seeing as it's April Fool's Day, I've decided to take a brief break from blogging about Bananaman.  Instead, I'm going back to the 1st April 1972 to look at issue 1550 of The Beano.

Biffo the Bear treats The Bash Street Kids to Easter eggs

As you can see, Biffo the Bear is star of the front cover.  Dennis the Menace and Gnasher wouldn't have this honour until issue 1678, dated 14 September 1974.  For the time being, readers would find them on the back cover.

Biffo the Bear's story is a nice, short Easter tale featuring The Bash Street Kids. Biffo and Professor Screwtop (known to current day readers of the Beano as Rubidium "Rubi" von Screwtop's father) decide to surprise Class 2B by gifting them some chocolate Easter eggs, dropping them into the playground from a Biffo-themed flying egg invention.  Even teacher is seen enjoying one!

It's a different story on the centre pages though...

Cuthbert Cringeworthy's first appearance in The Beano

Issue 1550 is notable for the first appearance of Cuthbert Cringeworthy, who from the very beginning establishes himself as a teacher's pet and openly informs Teacher of his classmates wrongdoings, much to their despise.

Cuthbert Cringeworthy reports Fatty for eating in class

Interestingly, Teacher turns a deaf ear to Cuthbert openly being rude and disparaging towards his classmates.  Meeting them for the first time, he says "Greetings, ugly pupils!".  Then, Cuthbert refers to Frederick "Fatty" Brown (who is these days nicknamed Freddy) as "that fat boy" and Plug as a "far-from-lovely youth".

Thanks to Cuthbert's eagerness to squeal, Plug and Smiffy end up receiving corporal punishment, with Teacher giving each of them "six of the best" with his cane!

The story concludes with Cuthbert leaving alongside Teacher at the end of the school day in order to avoid being set upon by Class 2B.  The final panel shows Cuthbert turning to give his classmate a smug, taunting look as he walks out of the school gates. They vow to get him, setting the precedent for many years to come.

Gnasher dresses as a pterodactyl to scare Walter the Softy

Like Biffo the Bear, Dennis the Menace's story on the back cover is also Easter-themed, with Gnasher dressing up as a pterodactyl to scare Walter and The Softies into abandoning their Easter Egg Roll.

I love Gnasher's costume and the lively sequential art which shows him springing out of a giant Easter egg to scare Dennis's rivals before walking back on his hind legs and relaxing in a very human-like way.  That said, I'm not so keen on seeing Gnasher eating chocolate, which is toxic to dogs!  An oversight by the writer, no doubt! Tut-Tut!

None of the characters within the comic have Easter-themed stories, these being The Three Bears, Grandpa, Minnie the Minx, Lord Snooty, Billy the Cat and Katie, Pup Parade, Roger the DodgerThe Belles of St. Lemons, The McTickles, The Nibblers and Little Plum.  Still, it's a bargain read for the cover price of 2p!