The Beano Annual is the current name of the book that has been published every year since 1939, to tie in with the children's comic The Beano. , there have been 86 editions. The annuals are traditionally published in July or August, in time for Christmas, and since 1965, they have had the date of the following year on the cover. Before then, no date was given.
From 1943 to 1950, the annual was called "The Magic-Beano Book", which referred to the short-lived Magic Comic that had ceased publication in 1941 due to the Second World War's paper rationing. The name reverted to the original title of "The Beano Book" in 1950 and continued, the year changing for each subsequent annual, until the release of the 2003 book in 2002 when it was renamed "The Beano Annual". The 2011 Beano Annual is taller and wider than previous annuals.
After paper rationing had ended, The Magic Comic was never revived, but some of the characters who had originally appeared in the pre-war Magic Comic remained as regular strips in the post-1950 Beano Comic (such as Koko the Pup).
Because of his popularity, Dennis the Menace has appeared on the front cover of every annual since the release of the 1979 book in 1978.
The latest version came out in 2024 and was dated 2025. The book consistently retails at 6.99 from 2024. (released 2023)
List of annuals
This information is necessary to identify older annuals, which are not dated. If an annual is dated 1940, it would have been published in August 1939.
Prices are in shillings and pence with one shilling (1/-) equal to 5p. Modern equivalent prices (not inflation-adjusted) are given in brackets.
The Beano Book (1940–1942) Year Cover image Cover price 1940 Big Eggo and all the other (then-current) characters are sitting on a seesaw, which is supported by Pansy Potter. 2/6 (12.5p) 1941 All the then-current characters are emerging from gigantic eggs with Big Eggo's head peering onto the right side. 3/- (15p) 1942 All the then-current characters are dancing around the spinning Big Eggo – with Lord Snooty playing the bagpipes. 3/6 (17.5p)
The Magic-Beano Book (1943–1950) Year Cover image Cover price1943 Big Eggo and Koko the Pup are having a three-legged race with all the other characters running behind them. (The "Magic" in the book's name refers to The Magic Comic which is where Koko the Pup had originated back in 1939) 5/- (25p)advertised as 5/6 (27.5p)1944 Big Eggo and Koko the Pup are having a pillow fight on a balance beam and it looks like Eggo is going to sneeze. 6/- (30p)1945 Big Eggo and all the other (then-current) characters are playing leapfrog as they approach a pool full of water. 6/- (30p)1946 Big Eggo pulls all the other then-current characters along in a cart, as Koko holds a horseshoe in front of him. 6/- (30p)1947 All the (then-current) characters are gathered around Big Eggo, who has something spherical stuck in his throat. 6/- (30p)1948 Big Eggo and all the other then-current characters are playing musical instruments. (Koko plays a series of strings tied to Eggo's neck, as if they were a harp, while Eggo himself plays a drum as this was around the time he was given arms and hands). 6/- (30p)1949 Biffo the Bear and Koko are fighting in front of a taxi, while all the other characters are trying to stop them. 6/- (30p)1950 Biffo the Bear is painting a portrait of Big Eggo and all the other (then-current) characters on a large canvas. 6/- (30p)
The Beano Book (1951–2002)