Guardian article: The Dandy Faces Closure

[Raven]

In today's Guardian (13/8/12):


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/au ... CMP=twt_fd


"The Dandy, the UK's oldest children's comic and home to cartoon strip characters including Desperate Dan, the cow-pie eating cowboy, is facing closure after 75 years ... A spokeswoman for Dandy publisher DC Thomson confirmed that the closure of the print title was being considered as part of a review of the company's magazine business, but indicated that characters such as Desperate Dan would continue to exist online."

[Nigel Auchterlounie]

Ouch! I wish this hadn't happened 6 weeks after being made redundant.

[big bad bri]

If true why cant desperate dan still exist in print when the dandy merges with beano

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Very sad indeed to hear this [if indeed, this is the case--it seems to be going by this article] ---the end of an era , a part of British culture to disappear forever. Difficult to accept it won't be out there after a while, but doubtless there will be reprints and other retrospectives from DCT.

And who knows, maybe a new comic will spring up somewhere soon.

[Raven]

If true why cant desperate dan still exist in print when the dandy merges with beano

I doubt they'll merge.

[Digifiend]

Continue online? Yeah right, the Dandy's website is very basic compared to the Beano's. The only way Dan would survive if Dandy folds is by moving to the Beano.

But honestly, this is the Guardian. Or as some people like to call it, the Grundiad, due to their common errors. This story should've at least waited for the latest ABCs next week. Maybe the Dandy being absent from them is what makes them see doom.

Also, failing to make it to the anniversary makes a mockery of the front cover of the latest annual and the Art of History of the Dandy, which both mention the milestone.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Yes, this article said the Dandy cost '2p' in 1937----and here's me thinking that decimilization never started until 1971!

Ah well, the piece was probably written by a young whippersnapper.

[Raven]

Continue online? Yeah right, the Dandy's website is very basic compared to the Beano's. The only way Dan would survive if Dandy folds is by moving to the Beano.

But honestly, this is the Guardian. Or as some people like to call it, the Grundiad, due to their common errors.

The Grauniad. And that's due to their *typos*, i.e. misspellings.

This story should've at least waited for the latest ABCs next week. Maybe the Dandy being absent from them is what makes them see doom.

Or the DC Thomson spokeswoman confirming to them that the closure of the print title is being considered. What would be the point of waiting for the ABCs when Dandy is unregistered and won't show?

On BBC News, however: 'No decision' on Dandy's future

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-t ... l-19248459

But that's just till that "print review" is done, I suppose.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Phew! Hopefully there will be a reprieve----they should at least span it out until December for the 75th Anniversary, even if they run at a loss----similarly, BUSTER made it to 2000, just by the skin of it's teeth......

[Digifiend]

Now that BBC story is more like it. The Guardian are just looking for sensationalism. They jumped the gun.

ISPY, Buster is an example that shows a Dandy closure now would be history repeating itself. It stopped just short of it's 40th birthday. I definitely think they should give it another five months.

[Phoenix]

In today's Guardian (13/8/12)

No it wasn't. It only appeared online. If it had been in the newspaper I would have informed the forum this morning.

The Guardian are just looking for sensationalism.

The Guardian doesn't do sensationalism, Digi. It leaves that to the red tops........and hysteria to some comicsuk posters.

[Raven]

Phew! Hopefully there will be a reprieve----they should at least span it out until December for the 75th Anniversary, even if they run at a loss----similarly, BUSTER made it to 2000, just by the skin of it's teeth......

The point of view of a business, though, would be "Why would we run it at a loss?"

Anniversaries are things fans enjoy, but businesses want to make big profits, and wouldn't necessarily see things the same (although some individuals within the organisation might).

I expect a lot of companies will have to review their print publications as circulation figures continue to plummet.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

DCT have got millions, to keep the DANDY running 'til December would be the equivalent of me losing a fiver. I assumed that Buster only made it until 2000 [by one issue!] so it looked better in the History books.

[Raven]

DCT have got millions, to keep the DANDY running 'til December would be the equivalent of me losing a fiver.

Yes, but they presumably have millions because they're astute businessmen, not sentimental run-things-at-a-loss types!

Nobody's saying it'd go that immediately anyway, though, if they do decide they retire it. This print review may take a little while, and presumably there are always quite a few issues printed ahead of their release.

[Phoenix]

presumably there are always quite a few issues printed ahead of their release.

It always used to be five.