1940 Beano Annual

The first Beano comic was published in July 1938. It was such a hit that it was quickly followed by the Beano Annual for 1940. 

The Beano Book was 134 pages long, retailing at 2/6 (or two shillings and sixpence) which is about £15 in today’s money! The book featured classic characters like Lord Snooty, Big Eggo, Pansy Potter, and Lord Snooty and his Pals. 

The very first annual comic strip was Big Eggo. Most of the annual was printed in just black ink – this page, and just 23 others, were printed with black and red ink. 

Just like today, annuals had comic strips, adventures stories, and activities in them too. Sometimes these strips would be a slightly funny shape – like crossing over the middle of the page!