Digital Dandy comic launching today, on the title’s 75th birthday

ISSUE one of the digital successor to the print version of The Dandy comic is to be made available for free, from today – the exact 75th anniversary of the publication’s launch.

In actual fact, the digital edition – at www.Dandy.com – of the comic is being described by its publishers, Dundee-based DC Thomson, as ‘issue zero’, as the final print version of the title goes out today.

The digital edition of the weekly comic will be priced at £1.49 per issue or £29.99 for an annual subscription (compared to the print prices of £1.99 per issue, £85 per year).

The final print edition includes a ‘guest’ appearance by Sir Paul McCartney.

In a DC Thomson media release, editor of the ‘new’ Dandy, Craig Ferguson, is quoted, as saying: “We all know how popular digital devices have become with children so we’re drawing on our traditional heritage and updating our product to make it relevant for today’s children.

“With this weekly digital edition, The Dandy is once again blazing a trail by launching an unique, interactive, motion comic. We’re giving The Dandy a whole new dimension and bringing a new lease of life to our characters.”

The peak sale of 2,035,310 copies was achieved in April 1950. The first editor was Albert Barnes. The current editor of the print edition is Craig Graham. Celebrated artists have included Dudley D. Watkins, Charles ‘Chic’ Gordon, Fred Sturrock and Jamie Smart.

The Dandy went full colour in September 1993.