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The Dandy comic is going out of print.

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TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#1: Aug 16th 2012 at 5:45:00 AM

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

PurpleDalek Since: Sep, 2011
#2: Aug 16th 2012 at 6:26:52 AM

That's a real shame. Despite having not even entered my second decade yet, I still remember reading the Dandy as a kid.

But I preferred the Beano.tongue

C0mraid from Here and there Since: Aug, 2010
#3: Aug 16th 2012 at 9:17:50 AM

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?
TheConductor Since: Jan, 2011
#4: Aug 16th 2012 at 10:25:33 AM

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.

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#5: Aug 16th 2012 at 12:22:01 PM

I preferred the Beano as well, but some of the strips in the Dandy were just too good to ignore. Then again, I was a trollop as far as British comics go when I was younger. I read every one I could get my hands on. And I mean every one. Apart from the Eagle.

SKJAM Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Baby don't hurt me!
#6: Aug 16th 2012 at 6:47:21 PM

Living in the States as I do, I've only ever seen a handful of The Dandy comics. Still, they looked like fun. Godspeed, Desperate Dan. (Holy crap, I just teared up.)

VampireBuddha Calendar enthusiast from Ireland (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Calendar enthusiast
#7: Aug 17th 2012 at 6:48:15 AM

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 Cross
TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#8: Aug 18th 2012 at 9:39:57 AM

The Beano has the Bash Street Kids. The Dandy had Roger the Dodger. A whole school of psychopaths is far more entertaining than one wee cheeky boy. [down]Oops,oh yeah, you are right there. Shows how long it has been since I read the comic.

edited 19th Aug '12 11:08:10 AM by TamH70

C0mraid from Here and there Since: Aug, 2010
#9: Aug 18th 2012 at 10:08:05 AM

[up] Mate, Dodger is from the Beano too. The Dandy had Desperate Dan, Korky the Cat and .... other characters.

Am I a good man or a bad man?
InverurieJones '80s TV Action Hero from North of the Wall. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
'80s TV Action Hero
#10: Aug 19th 2012 at 3:12:48 AM

It hadn't been quite itself for a few years, but still sad to see it go.

'All he needs is for somebody to throw handgrenades at him for the rest of his life...'
Digifiend Since: Sep, 2009
#11: Aug 19th 2012 at 7:11:19 PM

Tam H 70, the company name is Thomson, not Thompson. The Conductor, I can't believe you made the same typo if you work there.

C0mraid, other Dandy characters include The Smasher, Winker Watson, Bully Beef and Chips, and Bananaman.

SKJAM Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Baby don't hurt me!
#12: Aug 19th 2012 at 7:47:50 PM

Here's a Scans Daily post about the 1980s version of the Dandy.

http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/1433755.html#cutid1

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#13: Aug 19th 2012 at 11:16:03 PM

I don't work for D.C Thomson. Perish the thought. The man was an arse of the highest order. smile

TheConductor Since: Jan, 2011
#14: Aug 20th 2012 at 2:47:48 AM

He was referring to me, Tam.

VampireBuddha Calendar enthusiast from Ireland (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Calendar enthusiast
#15: Aug 20th 2012 at 3:15:04 AM

The Dandy also had Beryl the Peril, Cuddles and Dimples, Dinah Mo, Hector Spectre, and Jonah.

Ukrainian Red Cross
TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#16: Aug 20th 2012 at 12:06:45 PM

[up][up]Oh ok, I got it wrong too, in my op.

C0mraid from Here and there Since: Aug, 2010
#17: Aug 20th 2012 at 12:33:43 PM

How 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?
TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#18: Aug 23rd 2012 at 9:43:59 PM

I think the online presence may end up getting more and more kids who didn't give a stuff about The Dandy as a print-comic hooked on the thing. Thoughts?

C0mraid from Here and there Since: Aug, 2010
#19: Aug 23rd 2012 at 9:56:53 PM

[up] 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?
VampireBuddha Calendar enthusiast from Ireland (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Calendar enthusiast
#20: Aug 24th 2012 at 6:50:27 AM

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
TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#21: Aug 24th 2012 at 1:05:13 PM

I know it has a website, but from what I have heard, DC Thomson are pushing the boat out a bit further than they used to.

Digifiend Since: Sep, 2009
#22: Nov 26th 2012 at 8:30:28 PM

As of next week, when the print edition closes, the website will be one of two places to find the new digital version of the comic - the other place is the iTunes store, where it's already been available for a couple of years.

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