Dandy Relaunch THIS WEDNESDAY!!!

[Mr. Sheridan]

Am I right in thinking that Harry Hill is appearing at the Bluewater Shopping Centre tomorrow (Tuesday 26th October) to promote "something"...

[Raven]

Am I right in thinking that Harry Hill is appearing at the Bluewater Shopping Centre tomorrow (Tuesday 26th October) to promote "something"...

Yes, he's promoting and signing his new book 'Livin' the Dreem', a pretend showbiz diary. He's doing a short signing tour for the book.

[Mr. Sheridan]

Ah! I was rather hoping Harry was doing a Dandy promotion... perhaps he'll tie in the comic re-launch with his book!

I must say, as a long-standing British comic fan, and somebody who works in the publishing industry, I am absolutely baffled that less than 48 hours before The Dandy is being re-launched neither the DC Thomson website, nor The Dandy website have even the merest hint of the revamped title coming soon.

How about the fab new logo, a nice big pic of Jamie's Desperate Dan... something, ANYTHING! Please!

[MikeC]

It's all to easy to be armchair professionals, though, isn't it? It's like saying "I could have scored that" when a footballer misses an easy chance. The fact is: you couldn't because you're neither fit, talented or lucky enough to be on the pitch.

There are a million ways to do publicity/PR. Doing the same as everybody else just dilutes its impact. Interesting, though...

[Digifiend]

Looks like the website relaunches and adverts will appear tomorrow.

It's the start of an exciting week for us! All will be revealed tomorrow and then you can buy it on Wednesday! Let's get #newDandy trending!

[Lew Stringer]

Retweeted it.

[Raven]

It's all to easy to be armchair professionals, though, isn't it? It's like saying "I could have scored that" when a footballer misses an easy chance. The fact is: you couldn't because you're neither fit, talented or lucky enough to be on the pitch.

Before you insult too many people, Mike, it's not usually best to just assume what people you interact with on internet forums do, or have or haven't achieved. Mr. Sheridan above, for one, has just said he works in publishing.

There are a million ways to do publicity/PR. Doing the same as everybody else just dilutes its impact.

People presumably take certain approaches because they've been proven to be consistently effective. Ad campaigns for new kids' things - like new films - do usually tend to have a seven day lead-in, at least; Dandy's doing it very last minute, but it'll be interesting to see how they spread the word.

Perhaps they are thinking that kids will want to be able to get the new stuff almost immediately after they hear about it - but no promotion in the Beano remains a bit perplexing. The way comics are stacked in WHSmith, it's better if a kid is actively looking out for a title (as it may well be upside down, back to front, stuck behind lots of other comics, etc.).

[Lew Stringer]

Perhaps they are thinking that kids will want to be able to get the new stuff almost immediately after they hear about it.

If I remember correctly when comics were promoted on tv way back when they wouldn't be advertised until the comic was actually out in order to capitalize on that sense of urgency that got us to run up to the corner shop and buy it. Presumably this campaign is working to that same principle.

But nothing in the Beano remains a bit perplexing. The way comics are stacked in WHSmith, it's better if a kid is actively looking out for a title (as it may well be upside down, back to front, stuck behind lots of other comics, etc.).

True, but there's no point in him actively looking out for it until it's out. I understand the idea is to attract a brand new generation of readers. Eight year olds who haven't read The Dandy before, or perhaps haven't even read a comic before. (Kids who have been reading Dandy Xtreme will of course be looking out for it.)

How did we first discover comics? Not via an ad in another comic obviously. It'd be either by a parent/relative choosing one from the shop or via advertising on tv or in the media when the comic was actually ready to buy.

Eg:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_448y6kVhntg/S ... _first.jpg

Having said that, I'm hoping there'll be ads in The Beano, Sunday Post, Weekly News etc once the first new issue is launched.

[Digifiend]

True, I suppose, about discovering comics. I started getting the Beano after my older brother had got a few issues (in around 1993) but he decided to start buying football magazines instead. He'd still sometimes read my comics though!

[Raven]

I understand the idea is to attract a brand new generation of readers. Eight year olds who haven't read The Dandy before, or perhaps haven't even read a comic before. (Kids who have been reading Dandy Xtreme will of course be looking out for it.)

How did we first discover comics? Not via an ad in another comic obviously.

No, but in today's very difficult marketplace, with so much invasive marketing aimed at children, you ideally just want as many readers as you can possibly get, and to use every outlet available to you - and I'm sure the new Dandy wouldn't turn away Beano's already-established 46,000 comics fans. Maybe, as you hope, something will appear there after it's out.

It's an interesting question: whether it's more effective to appeal directly to the children themselves or the parents. I think it's probably most effective to aim at the children if possible, because of time honoured pester power; kids - even at 8 - usually like choosing for themselves what they get, and will pester parents for it. But if you are talking 8 year old first-time comic readers, there are only limited avenues of going about that without a big budget for kids' TV ads or website campaigns.

Hopefully it'll stand out in the racks for kids allowed to go and pick a comic.

[BeanoKev70]

Thomson's have comfirmed relaunch details will be released tomorrow, see their Twitter Page.......

[Raven]

Bleeding Cool now reports:

'Star of TV Burp, the surreal alternative-comedian-turned-major-mainstream-hit Harry Hill will see his own strip featured in the relaunch of Dandy as a weekly children’s comedy anthology of comics again. Harry hasn’t actually been involved with a strip, but I understand that his writers have been somewhat. In that David Quantick gets a name check in the comic itself. And Harry’s face will beam out from the cover.

He isn’t the only famous face to attach himself to The Dandy. I understand Top Gear‘s Jeremy Clarkson will also get cover featured. Despite using similar celebrity techniques, it’s a world away from CLiNT.'

[MikeC]

It's all too easy to be armchair professionals, though, isn't it? It's like saying "I could have scored that" when a footballer misses an easy chance. The fact is: you couldn't because you're neither fit, talented or lucky enough to be on the pitch.

Before you insult too many people, Mike, it's not usually best to just assume what people you interact with on internet forums do, or have or haven't achieved. Mr. Sheridan above, for one, has just said he works in publishing.

I didn't assume anything - and Mr Sheridan will be perfectly capable of understanding my point, if he is in publishing? If anyone were offended, it would be someone who isn't in publishing, surely? If that has happened, I apologise - the fit, talented, lucky bits were to do with the football analogy.

So are we all comic geniuses here, just about to take over the establishment with fresh ideas and flawless PR, distribution and retail skills (as well as unlimited pockets)? I know I'm not, which is why I prefer to watch and see what happens, rather than criticise - not that I'm anti-criticism, just putting the opposite view.

I was enjoying the positive mood of this topic, maybe that's why I felt the need to post what I did. The positivity's getting lost, which is a shame. Instead of comic fans chatting, it feels like a marketing department's hungover musings on a failed launch.

And the launch hasn't even happened yet!

[Digifiend]

Thomson's have comfirmed relaunch details will be released tomorrow, see their Twitter Page.......

Beat ya to it...

Bleeding Cool now reports:

'Star of TV Burp, the surreal alternative-comedian-turned-major-mainstream-hit Harry Hill will see his own strip featured in the relaunch of Dandy as a weekly children’s comedy anthology of comics again. Harry hasn’t actually been involved with a strip, but I understand that his writers have been somewhat. In that David Quantick gets a name check in the comic itself. And Harry’s face will beam out from the cover.

He isn’t the only famous face to attach himself to The Dandy. I understand Top Gear‘s Jeremy Clarkson will also get cover featured. Despite using similar celebrity techniques, it’s a world away from CLiNT.'

Don't believe what Bleeding Cool is saying, they're the ones who wrongly assumed Lew's strip was called Blurp...

[Raven]

Don't believe what Bleeding Cool is saying, they're the ones who wrongly assumed Lew's strip was called Blurp...

Oh, I know - just reporting. But the David Quantick bit is interesting (as would be the issue of writers being credited per se).