Comic favourite Dandy faces closure

The future of the UK's longest-running children's comic is being reviewed by its publisher.

The Dandy, best known for cartoon character Desperate Dan who can "lift a cow with one arm", could face closure following a huge drop in circulation.

Dundee-based DC Thomson said it was reviewing all of its magazine titles due to the "challenges" being faced by the publishing industry, but added that no final decision has been made.

It is understood The Dandy, which launched in 1937 and is now in its 75th year, will continue to be available online even if the hard copy of the comic is taken off shelves.

The review was prompted by falling circulation numbers, with only about 8,000 copies of The Dandy being sold a week, down from more than two million during its peak in the 1950s.

The Dandy has featured characters such as Bananaman, Korky the Cat, Cuddles and Dimples and Beryl the Peril.

Fans took to social networking site Twitter to air their concerns over the potential closure.

Robert Florence said: "Let's all buy The Dandy this week. You with me? You got kids? Buy The Dandy. Let's see if we can save something worth saving."

Graham Linehan posted: "Very sad. UK's longest-running comic, Dandy, to close."

A bronze statue of Desperate Dan stands in Dundee city centre, alongside Minnie the Minx, from The Dandy's sister title, The Beano.

A DC Thomson spokeswoman said: "We are carrying out a review of our magazines business to meet the challenges of the rapidly-changing publishing industry.

"Throughout 2012, DC Thomson is continuing to develop its magazines operation and portfolio to create an efficient business model that will build on the strength of our existing brands and products.

"There are many challenges within the industry at present but we're excited that the digital revolution has also given us an opportunity to innovate and develop.

"We're celebrating the fact that The Dandy has been in print for 75 years and we've a lot of planning to do to ensure that our brands and characters can live on in other platforms for future generations to enjoy.

PA