Initial reaction: Nooooo!
Second reaction: It's been struggling for readers for at least a decade.
Third reaction: I only ever read about 15 issues of it. In fact going by the second hand annuals I used to read the comics that ended decades ago were better than Dandy. As long as the Beano dosent go the same way I'm alright with it.
Am I a good man or a bad man?It's a sad day for Scotland! No longer will that Desperate Dan statue in Dundee be a charming little reminder of the kind of impact we Scots have outside of kilts and bagpipes, and is now a bitter reminder of an era that's just come to a close.
Also, I happen to work a DC Thompson and quite a few people were in tears at this announcement.
You know, I've actually been meaning to follow up me reading of a recent Beano with a look at a current Dandy. Since it's about to close down, I'll do it this weekend.
I'm yet another person who preferred The Beano. Don't ask why.
Ukrainian Red CrossHere's a Scans Daily post about the 1980s version of the Dandy.
The Dandy also had Beryl the Peril, Cuddles and Dimples, Dinah Mo, Hector Spectre, and Jonah.
Ukrainian Red CrossHow could I forget Jonah? That strip was great. Bully Beef and Chips slipped my mind too, although I think they stopped doing that while I was reading The Beano and The Dandy. I loved Bannanaman but left it off because I wasn't sure how long it was published for. I have no memory of most of the others; some of them will have been before my time.
Am I a good man or a bad man?
Does it not already have an online presence? The Beano had one back when I was reading; too much for my dial up to run though. The Dandy must have a site by now?
I remember that it tried to draw in more readers by renaming itself "Dandy" and overloading on new bland "modern" characters and putting pop culture references in place of jokes. TBH I assumed it was still in that style before I heard about this.
Am I a good man or a bad man?I remember getting a copy last year out of curiosity and it was full of strips about celebrities which made it dated before it even hit the newsagent shelves.
It does already have an online presence, and DC Thomson has said that that will continue. I suppose if they leverage iPad power, they can probably return to some form of profitability, if not relevance.
Ukrainian Red Cross

Just announced on BBC Scotland's Reporting Scotland strand. A comic that was once bought by over two million people is now only selling eight thousand issues a week.
So, D.C Thompson, who also own "The Beano", are killing it as a print comic. It is supposed to be switching to online only soon.
None of this may mean anything to folks outside the UK, but the Dandy, in its heyday, sold more issues per capita than any of the American comics did over here. So, it is sad to see it slump away.
Anyone else remember it?
update:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-19284222
edited 16th Aug '12 5:47:26 AM by TamH70