Bananaman: Bear in this week's Beano

Bananaman in this week's Beano is a veritable menagerie of bear puns, written by me and drawn by Wayne Thompson who, for the first time since he was asked to drop his own distinctive character designs in favour of the 1980s John Geering style, looks like he's really enjoyed drawing this one. And the editorial team have had fun too, adding some nifty gags that I hadn't thought of myself (the Care Bears one is theirs, for example).

A couple of mine hit the cutting room floor, including the Yogi Bear gag you can see above, which on reflection was possibly a bit too obscure. Also missing is the visual gag when Bananaman crashes into a packing crate. He still hits the crate in the artwork, but in the published strip the crate is blank, whereas it originally bore the words "This side up use no hooks". I'm betting I'm the only person who remembers the obscure bear that's being referenced there. Anyone?

Also in this week's Beano is my Pansy Potter - Locked In The Lavatory, and some excelent strips, my favourite being Dennis The Menace by Nigels Auchterlounie and Parkinson which really does get some great gags and references in their (Walter is a transvestite wicked with, Gnasher pees on him, it's all good).



Kev F Sutherland, as well as writing Bananaman in The Beano, runs Comic Art Masterclasses in schools, libraries and art centres - email for details, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter. He's been writing and drawing comics for 25 years, he must know something.