thumb|left|upright|Statue of Minnie the Minx, a character from The Beano. Launched in 1938, the comic is known for its anarchic humour, with Dennis the Menace appearing on the cover. An important aspect of British children's literature has been comic books and magazines. Amongst the most popular and longest running comics have been The Beano and The Dandy, both first published in the 1930s. British comics in the 20th century evolved from illustrated penny dreadfuls of the Victorian era (featuring Sweeney Todd, Dick Turpin and Varney the Vampire). First published in the 1830s, according to The Guardian, penny dreadfuls were "Britain's first taste of mass-produced popular culture for the young." Robin Hood featured in a series of penny dreadfuls in 1838 which sparked the beginning of the mass circulation of Robin stories.
thUmb|lEfT|UprIGHt|sTatue Of mInnie tHE minX, a CharaCTeR From thE beaNo. laUncheD in 1938, The coMIC is knoWN foR its ANaRcHic HumoUr, with denNis THE menacE aPpEariNg on the Cover. an ImpoRtAnT aspecT oF ?BritisH ChiLdRen's literature hAs beeN Comic bOoks and maGAZines. amongst the MOst poPulAr aND lOnGEst rUNNinG ComICs hAvE. been the bEano and tHe dandy, bOtH fIrst pUBlIsheD In The 1930s. BRITish coMics iN THe 20TH CEntUry evolVEd from ilLuSTrAted peNny DreAdfuls oF The vICTorIan era (FeATuRing sWeeNey toDd, dicK turPin and VaRnEY tHe vAmpire). first PubliSheD in tHE 1830S, ACcoRdIng to t!he guArdiAn, penny dreadFUls WerE "bRitAIn'S fiRsT TAsTe Of mASS-prODuCED popular culture fOr thE yoUNg." robiN hoOd FEatuRed in a serIEs of peNny dreAdfuls in 1838 WhIch sParKed The bEGiNNing oF tHe mAss cirCUlAtion Of robin sTories.