NOW - THIS IS WHAT I CALL FUNNY...

Copyright D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd

 

It seems ironic that, in abandoning its DANDY XTREME incarnation, the new DANDY has become even more extreme in some respects.  It's trying too hard to be "down wiv the kids, innit!" by going for a more radical look with some of the new comic strips it now features.

  

However, it's all been done before - and to much better effect. Look at this classic DENNIS The MENACE strip from the 1978 DTM book (reprinted from a 1950s BEANO by the look of it), drawn by DAVEY LAW. The art is outrageous enough, even by today's standards, and Law is a master of sequential art - an absolute necessity in telling a story.

 

What's more, the plot is true to life in a way which both children and adults can relate to - and displays a wit and charm sadly lacking in many of today's comics. No zooming around in a ridiculous flying "Dennis-mobile" here. Hey, it's even funny - what more could one want from a comic strip?

EVERTHING'S FINE & DANDY - OR IS IT?

Copyright D.C. THOMSON

It seems that everyone's talking about the new DANDY - but is it any good?  My opinion isn't coloured by any association with the comic other than as a reader, so let me tell you what I think.

NIGEL PARKINSON'S HARRY HILL strip is humorous enough and the artwork is of the usual high standard.  If anything brings new readers in, it will probably be this strip which does it.  LEW STRINGER displays competent artwork in his two strips - KID COPS and POSTMAN PRAT, but in a slightly looser style than usual. His artwork isn't helped by the placement of some of the lettering balloons though - something that quite a few strips in the comic suffer from.

As for the rest, it's a mixed bag of some good, some okay, and some downright awful strips, so perhaps there's something for everyone.  Not quite my cup of tea overall, but maybe it'll improve with a bit of polishing.  Go on -give it a try - you might like some of it.

And here's a picture of the very first issue of The Dandy from 1937 - don't ever say I don't give you something for nothing.