NEW! Dangerous Dan by Nigel P

[swirlythingy]

It's funny you mention Johnny Bean as an exception to the rule... I'd have said it was one of the best examples, myself! I remember it started in the same week as London B4 12, and I don't know whether my mind tarred it with the same brush, but I found myself thinking that if the latest characters were to be the standard bearers of the new revamp, then it was going to be a very bad one. (It was, but at least Johnny Bean got better and B4 12... well, at least it was put out of its misery swiftly.)

The main thing I didn't like about the first strip was the tone. If you're going to do a parody of little kiddies' books, but then sell it to those same little kiddies, then the appropriate tone to strike gets squeezed from both sides at once - it can't be too fierce or you can't print it, but it can't be too soft or it isn't a parody, it's just a little kiddies' book. I think the early Beans leant too far to the latter side. (Conversely, towards the end of its run I got the distinct feeling it had overcompensated, lost sight of its roots and was now too far to the former side. The best strips were in between. I have particularly fond memories of Mr. Butcher and Mr. Baker, and the annual strip with the train was genius.)

Anyway, so back to Dangerous Dan and Nigel Parkinson's very own instantly recognisable distinctive parallel universe depiction of the London Underground (sorry, but the combined forces of my pedantry and train geekery cannot allow that to pass). As I said, the strip's improving. They didn't feel the need to explain the SMIRK acronym for a fourth time, I observe. I think it's becoming clear that the correct premise is the 'paranoia' one, although there's still time for that to change. The first panel was a bit leaden, although with less emphasis on the 'coolness' in future (which has never ended happily for the Beano, cough, B4 12, cough) that should improve.

Overall, a consistent pattern of improvement so far, and let's hope it goes futher.

[Jonny Whizz]

Yeah, I agree about the train story in the 2009 annual. That was definitely in between the two extremes, because it was clearly a Thomas the Tank Engine parody, but without fiercely attacking it. What made it so good was that the style was very similar to the original Thomas stories. Also, I started reading the Beano after I stopped watching Thomas so I think the parody worked in that sense.

I must admit I wasn't totally sure about Johnny Bean after the first story, but within a couple of months I think they'd got the tone about right. What I think it did get right was going straight into stories without going through a laboured introduction (which was a good thing because the cast was so large!).

[swirlythingy]

The formal introduction approach can work - witness Pirates of the Caribeano, for example, one of the best new strips of the mixed 2007 bunch. Of course, the thing there was that Pirates initially had two full pages to devote to quite a large amount of exposition, whereas Super School, which later tried the same technique, was only permitted one. If you're going to set up a proper, believable, non-rushed backstory with potential for at least something resembling a punchline, eleven panels really isn't enough. Dangerous Dan's debut had a similar problem.

Of course, simply delving straight into stories can work as well, or usually better for pure humour strips such as Johnny Bean - just so long as the character introductions don't feel laboured or clunky, but at the same time effective at getting the readers to know them. Bean did OK in this regard - it was just the story itself which was subpar.

Look at me, sitting here, spouting opinions on the debut strips of relatively recent, but long since cancelled, stories. After they found their feet, they all developed into strong, recognisable, engaging members of the regular cast, but for whatever reason, they just didn't last the pace. Will Dangerous Dan ultimately follow the same trajectory? There hasn't really been a high rate of character creation in the Beano since that last burst in 2007, and so far the longest-serving character created in the 21st century has been Freddie Fear, from way back in the middle of the 1998-2003 'Golden Era'. Fred's Bed and Meebo and Zuky may yet last longer, but I'll repeat here what I've said elsewhere - the Beano may have a strong core cast, but that shouldn't make creativity a low priority.

[Digifiend]

Fred's Bed doesn't count, since it dates from the Beezer and Topper of 1990.

[Jonny Whizz]

Riot Squad shouldn't count either (the strips originally appeared as Hoot Squad in the eponymous 1980s DCT comic), although it didn't really need an introduction as it didn't have any recurring characters as such.

[Tin Can Tommy]

finally they have stopped explaining the SMIRK acronym every week in Dangerous Dan.

Is it just me or is this strip slightly inspired by the cartoon Codename Kids Next Door what with the acronyms (Dangerous Dan had SMIRK, Codename Kids Next Door used Acronyms for episode titles and names of vehicles), the kid spies and supposedly evil adults. Even though the last two didn't really start with the Codename Kids Next Door and are used in numerous other cartoons (and live action films such as Spy Kids) as well.

Also he stole a bag this week.

[Digifiend]

Sky Kids must be the inspiration. Guess what just came out in the cinemas? Spy Kids 4. That's no coincidence.

[Tin Can Tommy]

Sky Kids must be the inspiration. Guess what just came out in the cinemas? Spy Kids 4. That's no coincidence.

Thats what i thought as well, i said the exact same thing in an earlier post.

Also its a bit odd that Dangerous Dan started around the same time they released the movie Spy Kids 4.

I am surprised the Beano or a similiar comic hasnt done a spy kid strip before. But i wouldnt be surprised if i was mistaken.

[swirlythingy]

Although not in the Beano, the example which instantly springs to mind is "Eagle-Eye, Junior Spy".

The only other example I can think of off the top of my head is I-Spy, but he was (at least, probably) an adult. A formerly significant role for spies was as characters in adventure strips, but invariably adult and on the antagonists' side. (Then of course there was Agent Dog 2 Zero...)

Nigel Parkinson's previous strip, Snooty 3, did become a temporary spy for a story arc a year or two ago.

Possibly, the concept is more original than I thought it was - not that I really thought anything much, since I'm still not entirely certain what the strip actually is about!

I think it quite unlikely this strip was deliberately developed to cash in on Spy Kids 4. One, they appear to have nothing in common. Two, this concept would have been in development for months - nothing moves quickly at the Beano. Three, who would be dumb enough to see any kind of enormous potential success in a movie name which ends in the character "4"...?

[NP]

Nigel Parkinson's very own instantly recognisable distinctive parallel universe depiction of the London Underground.

Unlike everything else in The Beano which is photographic realism, eh? Good call, don't let them get away with it. Who do these cartoonists think they are, everyone knows the comics are totally true to life.

I am surprised the Beano or a similiar comic hasnt done a spy kid strip before. But i wouldnt be surprised if i was mistaken.

There are a lot. The 60's spy craze that began with the James Bond movies spawned 'Eagle Eye', 'The Man from BUNGLE', 'Wee Willie Haggis, the Spy From Skye', all the way up to The Dandy's 'Secret Agent Sally' in 2008.

...nothing moves quickly at the Beano.

I should point out that above quote is just someone's uninformed opinion, not fact. You would be surprised. Maybe shocked is the word I should use, just to be precise.

[Digifiend]

I think it quite unlikely this strip was deliberately developed to cash in on Spy Kids 4. One, they appear to have nothing in common. Two, this concept would have been in development for months - nothing moves quickly at the Beano. Three, who would be dumb enough to see any kind of enormous potential success in a movie name which ends in the character "4"...?

Well, it actually doesn't, the film's full name is Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D. The 4D apparently refers to a scratch and sniff card you get when you go to see it (I presume this will also be packaged with the DVD), but also refers to the fact it's the fourth film in the franchise - the third film was called Spy Kids 3D: Game Over (and used 3D glasses), so it's theme naming.

[felneymike]

The old film "Little spies" from (it looked like about) 1994 was way better anyway.

[swirlythingy]

Nigel Parkinson's very own instantly recognisable distinctive parallel universe depiction of the London Underground.

Unlike everything else in The Beano which is photographic realism, eh? Good call, don't let them get away with it. Who do these cartoonists think they are, everyone knows the comics are totally true to life.

That sentence wasn't intended to be taken entirely seriously...

The Dandy's 'Secret Agent Sally' in 2008.

Whoops, I forgot about her (although it was actually September 2005). Any more from the last decade or two? I keep thinking of kid detectives, but I'm surprised how few spies I've been able to come up with.

...nothing moves quickly at the Beano.

I should point out that above quote is just someone's uninformed opinion, not fact. You would be surprised. Maybe shocked is the word I should use, just to be precise.

"Respect other people’s views and respond constructively, not insultingly or antagonistically."

We are all most eager to hear anything you may be able to contribute to this discussion.

[Digifiend]

Wouldn't Nigel be a tad biased, since the topic happens to be a strip he draws?

[LauraH]

There hasn't really been a high rate of character creation in the Beano since that last burst in 2007, and so far the longest-serving character created in the 21st century has been Freddie Fear, from way back in the middle of the 1998-2003 'Golden Era'. Fred's Bed and Meebo and Zuky may yet last longer, but I'll repeat here what I've said elsewhere - the Beano may have a strong core cast, but that shouldn't make creativity a low priority.[/quote]

Don't forget Ratz - I think that might be the longest-running original "modern" strip after Freddie Fear, as it started in 2006.