20 Versions Of Bananaman Like You Never Dreamed

Bananaman, Britain's most famous comic book superhero and star of The Beano, is about to appear in a brand new movie. But will he look like any of these versions, found online by current Bananaman writer Kev F Sutherland?

20. Jamie Smart's Bananaman

Via Twitter: @rbguslTgOK

This never saw print, which is a great shame as his revamps of Desperate Dan and Roger The Dodger were legendary (and may make their way into a book some day if there's any justice).

19. The Dark Bananaman

Via SFX Magazine

Drawn by Paul Cemmick in this month's SFX Magazine, picking up on the news that there's a Bananaman movie in the pipeline. Via @bromley001

18. Savage Chickens' Bananaman

From the fantastic comic strip series, drawn on sticky notes by Doug Savage, a brilliant twist to a familiar tale. via Patrick Brown on Facebook.

17. Bananaman watches AFC Bournemouth

With his bezzie mate The Flash. He has to do something at weekends. via @afcbournemouth

16. The Bat and The Banana

By the excellent Dan McDaid, whose work you might know from Doctor Who magazine and elsewhere. Shark Infested Custard, of which you don't see nearly enough these days.

15. Bananaman Nando's Finger Selfie

No, I didn't know there was such a thing as any of those things, but there is, and this is one by @MikeyCoughlan via @NandosUK

14. The Goodies ARE Bananaman

Via @RobertWRoss

A lovely photo find by @RobertWRoss on Twitter, it's Tim, Bill & Graeme providing the voices for the 1980s Bananaman cartoon. Coincidentally the Goodies make a sneak guest appearance in this week's Beano.

13. People dressed as Bananaman

My God there's thousands of them. Here's just a handful from @HelenAndDouglas (for #SuperHeroFriday! #childrenshospiceweek), @A5shley, @yayburpees (for #burpeeyear), @MrLeeBrennan, @BHASnappy (for #BHAFC), and @FunStarsGoLive (for #HappyValley).

12. Miracle Banana

One part Bananaman, one part Miracle Man, all parts me and Wayne Thompson from The Beano earlier this year. Hopefully he returns soon, keep your eyes peeled comic book satire fans.

11. A Taiwanese Bananaman

I can't claim to fully understand where he's from, but he's on the Kinnikuman Wiki where it says he's "A Taiwanese choujin competing in the Choujin Olympics: The Resurrection. He made it to the third round in the preliminaries but came short to Kinniku Mantarou in the "Beach Flags Yeah" competition and was eliminated out of the Olympics." So now you know.

10. Bananawoman

I found her here, from where I can tell you she's Australian born in Logan City in 1986, she can lift 200.0kg, she has a Total: 13 PD (8 rPD) and a Total: 13 ED (8 rED), and she has Probability Manipulation: Elemental Control, 66-point powers. But not only do I not know what any of that means, I can't find who created her or what she's for.

9. Another Bananawoman

This time by @Sparky597 on Deviant Art. So her bum transforms first, then her chest. Yes, I can't see that going down well in The Beano. Or in the 21st century, come to think of it.

8. Lego Bananaman

There's a Lego Bananaman? (Actually, turns out there isn't yet. But this artist here has made it so there nearly is)

7. Banana Minion

Once you start scouring Deviant Art, you never stop finding stuff. I won't bore you with some of the Bananamen that are out there, but this is above average, by @sloth79

6. An American indie comic hero called Bananaman

Either the creators have never heard of the British original or they're pushing their luck big time. This is on its 5th issue at least, all available on Kindle.

5. The Japanese Bananaman

...which appears to be a comedy double act with a talkshow. You buy the DVD for £48, and you tell me all about them.

4. Stephen Hawking meets Bananaman

Professor Stephen Hawking and a stag party of nine Bananamen, a photo which went on to become a Bananaman strip, of course

3. Michael Doig's Bananaman

Concept artist Michael Doig's take on Bananaman, which is quite brilliant isn't it?

2. Matt Damon IS Bananaman

Matt Damon, starring in the Bananaman live action movie. I was really starting to wrap my head around this concept. Then I saw the date this story was posted.

1. Bananaman's very first appearance

Courtesy of John Freeman's Down The Tubes, (artwork copyright ©2014 DC Thomson & Co), here's the very first splash of the Man Of Peel from Nutty Comic No 1, February 1980, written by Steve Bright and Dave Donaldson, and drawn by the late great John Geering. Our hero's costume's changed since then, as has the look of young Eric, mostly under John Geering's hand - it was his style that was replicated for the TV cartoon, and reprints of his strips appeared in The Beano as recently as 2013 - but the essence of the strip remains the same. Very silly, steeped in parody, and encourages healthy eating. Long may he reign.