Thursday 23 August 2012

Blimey! It's a New-Look Beano!


In comparison to the Dandy's move as a digital comic, here's a optimistic review on The Beano's latest revamp by long-standing comic artist Lew Stringer (who has also drawn strips for both comics among many others over the years). Best part of it has to be Dennis reverting back to his old Menacing self rather than keeping in-link with the current animated series on CBBC. Oh rapture! :D

Sunday 19 August 2012

Keep the Dandy Handy - while you can

Back in November 2010, I shared my disdain thoughts about the Dandy's revamp - how it became far more celeb-centred and many old favourites (bar Desperate Dan, Korky and Bananaman) being dropped. And recently, I was rather saddened - but not surprised - to hear that DC Thomson are going to cease publishing the comic as of December this year.

The Dandy has been in competition with "rival" The Beano for decades, and its popularity since two years ago has declined by trying too hard to please today's generation with pop culture humour. More to the point, the characters they had already were strong enough to hold for themselves - Beryl the Peril, Cuddles and Dimples, Dinah Mo - and doing away with so many so soon has not done it any good.

However, it is not the end for the Dandy. "Exciting plans", according to The Sun, reveal that the comic will hopefully find new life online, similar to superstore Woolworths methinks. But the fact that the Beano has been reprinting the classic Bananaman comics in recent months is proof enough that the writing was on the wall for the Dandy's future.

It's a shame because I've kept in quiet range with some of the current Dandy artists on their upcoming works. And a few of them, including Andy Fanton - of George Vs. Dragon, Boo! and Carrotry Kid fame - have tried making a better effort of reintroducing some older characters back for today's generation, which have seen brief returns of Bully Beef and Chips, Harry and his Hippo, even Greedy Pigg.

And in honour of it's 75th anniversary, the 2013 Dandy Annual is going to pay host to a barrel-load of old faces including Smasher, Winker Watson and Julius Sneezer. So it's likely that this might be the last time we'll ever see the Dandy in full print - one thing for sure, I'm going to snap a copy while I can to ensure the oldies won't be forgotten again.


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