The Dandy - The Last Issue

This last ever print version of The Dandy is a pretty representative compendium of some 75 stories. The Dandy's humour was never particularly sophisticated, and even this last issue contains a lot of perfunctory slapstick and cheesy jokes put into cartoon form – the old ‘I dreamed I was eating a large meal, and when I woke up my pillow was gone’ line features in an early strip here. In a nice touch, a facsimile of The Dandy’s first issue is included, from December 1937.

The comic's longevity meant it was always a weird read, with long running strips produced in the same style for decades alongside more modern ones – see, for one of many examples, Big Head and Thick Head rubbing shoulders awkwardly with Owen Goal. The inclusion of the first issue allows a comparison between the first and last Desperate Dan strips – a vast difference in illustration style, because Dan did get a makeover on occasion, but much the same old jokes. This time, that’s a fine, nostalgic thing, and as Dan makes his last exit, appropriately strolling off into the sunset with his head held high, The Dandy goes out in much the same way. [Keir Hind]