DC Thomson confirm it is to cease printed publication of UK's oldest comic, The Dandy
DC Thomson has confirmed it is to cease printed publications of the UK’s oldest children’s comic, The Dandy.
Following on from Tuesday’s announcement that the magazine was at risk due to an internal review of all publications, the publishers have announced that as of 4 December 2012 the comic will go online only, and that “there are exciting plans in the pipeline to take the title in a different direction.”
Ellis Watson, chief executive officer of publishing (newspapers and magazines) at DC Thomson, has announced this is not the end of the comic as “all of The Dandy’s characters are just 110 days away from a new lease of life” on Dandy.com.
To mark The Dandy’s 75th anniversary at the end of this year, the Dundee-based company has decided to print a special issue on 4 December, which will include a reprint of the first ever edition of the comic.
DC Thomson has confirmed that this “will be the last printed edition.”
Watson added: ““Dan has certainly not eaten his last cow pie. It’s what comes online then that will set the tone for the next 75 years.”
The Dandy Annual will continue to be printed with the 2013 edition already on the shelves.
Fans on Twitter are already expressing their sadness over the closure with Oliver East (@olivereast) Tweeting: "I used to walk to the newsagents in Ladybarn with my 20p spends to buy The Dandy. Thanks for the memories. #thedandy", Ross Giles (@rossgiles) commented: "End of an era with The Dandy closing. Used to infuriate my newsagent & Dad swapping every other month with The Beano #ripdesperatedan", and Madeleine Cuff (@tinymaddie) simply Tweeted: "Very sad news about #thedandy. Loved that comic".