Flashback to 15 Years Ago and Dandy day 2010

Life certainly passes by more quickly as you get older. I'm surprised to find that it's been 15 years today since The Dandy had its revamp, returning it to a comic format after the controversial Dandy Xtreme magazine era. 

That new look Dandy, published on Wednesday 27th October 2010, saw it drop all the magazine features from 'Xtreme' and return to being a comic from cover to cover, with all brand new material and a bunch of new characters.

I had the privilege of being invited onboard to do two of those new strips; Postman Prat (written by Craig Graham, Ally Bernard, and David Mason and drawn by me) and Kid Cops (written and drawn by me). The character concepts had been created by The Dandy staff and I designed them. Here's my first roughs for Postman Prat from back then that I doodled in my notebook before finalising the design...

After a while I also scripted Postman Prat. He was a good character to work on, and the concept of a halfwitted postman presented lots of scope. Kid Cops was a bit more of a challenge; two brothers who are convinced they're policemen, patrolling their neighbourhood (or sometimes just their own house) to clamp down on any crimes they find, real or imaginary. All good daft fun. 

The revamped Dandy put Harry Hill as the star of the comic, with barmy strips by Nigel Parkinson. The comic also saw the debut of Andy Fanton on George and the Dragon and had Jamie Smart doing Desperate Dan. It was a Dandy of the like never seen before, modern and experimental but still with lots of laffs. 

Sadly it was a revitalisation that came too late. Sales of The Dandy had been dwindling for decades, and the previous revamps had only given it a temporary reprieve. Sales on the 2010 revamp were good at the start, thanks to lots of publicity in the press and on TV, but afterwards sales fell again, shops cut down their orders, and the comic published its final issue in December 2012 on its 75th anniversary. 

Adult critics, who hadn't supported the comic in years anyway, blamed the content, but comics in general had suffered poor sales for a long time. The Dandy was one of the only two surviving "traditional" comics (the other being Beano) so we should celebrate its longevity rather than cast blame for its inevitable demise. Today, readers look back fondly on those final two years of the comic. Ironically, the last ever issue, a bumper size edition, sold so well it had to be reprinted! If only those extra readers had supported every issue.

The Dandy lives on of course in the form of a summer special and an all-new annual every year. It's been 13 years since the weekly ended so today's youngsters will only know of The Dandy as a special and annual. Let's hope they continue for a good while yet. 

I've been a contributor to The Dandy Annual since the 2012 dated edition, but I'm not in the latest (2026) one. I will be back in it next year though in The Dandy Annual 2027 with three Dinah Mo stories (and Postman Prat has a short guest appearance in one). The pages were completed a while ago so expect to see them when the book goes on sale in September next year.

 

Are you keeping a Dandy handy?

Just a reminder that The Dandy Annual 2025 is on sale now and, if you're quick, The Dandy Summer Special 2024 is also still on the shelves. 

Both contain stories of the all-new Dinah Mo, written and drawn by me. Hope you enjoy them!

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Currently in print...!

It's been a while since I listed all the comics, mags, and books that my work currently appears in. These aren't all freshly published... Most of these have been out for quite some time but at the moment they're still currently available so if you wanted to check out my work, here's where to find it...

 

The77 Annual No.1:

Published in 2021, this brand new hardback book includes a variety of stories from creators such as Steve Pugh, Glenn Fabry, Andrew Sawyers and many more, plus The Origin of Doctor Plank, the villain from my Sgt.Shouty strip. You can buy it directly from the publisher at the following link, along with back issues of The77 comic in which Sgt.Shouty also appears...

https://the77comic.bigcartel.com/

 

This Comic Is Haunted No.1:

A new horror comic from The77 Publications which includes my newest strip, Short Sharp Shocks, complete comedy-horror one pagers. This great new comic is also available directly from the publisher at this link:

https://the77comic.bigcartel.com/

Doctor Who Magazine No.584

A great jumping-on point for new or lapsed readers with the start of Alan Barnes' and Lee Sullivan's exclusive 13-part 14th Doctor comic strip, continuing directly from the TV show! Plus my Daft Dimension mini-strip every month with a comedy spin on the Doctor Who universe. Available from Smiths, supermarkets, and comic shops.

https://doctorwhomagazine.com/doctor-who-magazine/doctor-who-magazine-584/

Animal Planet Kids No.23

Every now and then, I'm asked to contribute a Bad Pets mini strip to this magazine with Nigel Auchterlounie on scripts. The strip doesn't appear every issue as it alternates with mini strips by other creators but it's in the one that's currently on sale (until tomorrow) so it made the list. Available from newsagents and supermarkets.

Liverpool Heartbeat comics:

An occassional publication that has a different focus every issue. Fun, educational comic strips for children. So far I've contributed four pages each to Statues of Liverpool, The Queen, and Everest 2022, with scripts by the editor Tim Quinn. Available directly from the publisher at this link:

https://www.liverpoolheartbeat.co.uk/shop/

 

 

 

The Most Important Comic Book on Earth:

That's quite a grand title but it's justified as the whole intention of the book is to raise awareness and provide information about our changing climate. We all contibuted our work for free on this one and my page was a revival of Pedantic Stan the Comics Fan with writer and co-creator John Freeman. This mighty 350 page book is published by DK/Random House and is available from bookshops or from the places at this link...

https://linktr.ee/mostimportantcomic

The Dandy Annual 2023:

It's always a pleasure to contribute to this long-running annual and in this year's edition I've written and drawn several Postman Prat pages and eight Keyhole Kate mini-strips. Available from bookshops everywhere.

 

Beano Annual 2023:

I'm not a frequent contributor to this annual but I am in this current one, with eight Biffo the Bear mini-strips I've scripted and drawn. A privilege to work on such a classic character! Available from bookshops everywhere.

 

Cor!! Buster Bumper Fun Book:

Published by Rebellion in 2020, this 100 page softback book is still available. Collecting stories from the two Cor!! Buster Specials of recent times, I had great fun drawing brand new Buster strips (reviving the character for the first time in decades) and filling the pages with guest appearances by characters from the history of UK comics, - plus I also drew one of the Gums strips. Buster was written by John Freeman, whlst Gums was witten by Lizzie Boyle. Currently available at a discounted price from the publisher at this link:

https://shop.treasuryofbritishcomics.com/catalogue/RCA-H0018

 

Derek the Troll and Combat Colin comics:

My own self-published comics that I did a few years ago. Issues still available are the Derek the Troll special (which also includes the complete Rock Solid saga), and issues 2 and 3 of Combat Colin, reprinting my strips from over 30 years ago. You can buy them as brand new signed editions exclusively from me at my eBay store here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/graphite47/m.html?item=203554298786

 

...and, yes, Combat Colin No.5 will finally be out next year, as will issue 6 hopefully! 

 

Monster Fun Halloween Spooktacular 2021:

The first special from Rebellion that revived the old Monster Fun Comic. For this I drew a two page strip written by Kek-W that brought back the 1960s Pow! strip, Wiz War for a new one-off story. Enjoyed that. Sadly I'm not involved with the ongoing Monster Fun comic for unknown reasons. You can buy this special from Rebellion's online shop:

https://shop.treasuryofbritishcomics.com/catalogue/RCS2152P

 

The Kirknewton Story:

The history of the Scottish town of Kirknewton, edited by Tony Foster and written by Colin Maxwell with chapters illustrated by various artists. I had the pleasure of drawing the two pager entitled Close Encounters! The comic was distributed free to every home in Kirknewton but you can buy a copy from the Shift Store at this link:

https://theshift.store/products/the-kirknewton-story

 

EXTRA: I should include digital comics too, and you'll find brand new Combat Colin three-pagers in the following issues of the digital anthology Aces Weekly published by David Lloyd. All issues of which are still available to read online...

You'll find the first one in Aces Weekly Volume 1 No.1. Colin and Semi-Automatic Steve encounter a new menace in the form of the Zombie-Yeds!



The second new complete story appeared in Aces Weekly Vol.8 No.7, with a guest appearance by The Giggly Sisters leading to Colin and Steve encountering their old enemy Madprof!



The third new Combat Colin strip appeared in Aces Weekly Vol.16 No.6, with our heroes flying into space to avert the Ass-teroid!



The fourth new strip appeared in Aces Weekly Vol.21 No.7, and saw Colin and Semi-Automatic Steve battle each other!
 

...and the fifth one in Vol.50, No.7.

https://www.acesweekly.co.uk/ 

If you're a professional publisher / editor and you're interested in commissioning me to contribute to your comics, books, or magazines please contact me at lew.stringer@BTinternet.com

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On this day in 2010...

It was on this day, 27th October, in 2010 that The Dandy had its final revamp, changing it from the magazine it had been for three years (Dandy Xtreme) back into a comic. Part of its new line-up was Postman Prat, a hapless postie conceived by the Dandy staff and designed and drawn by me.

The weekly Dandy is long gone, but Postman Prat is still around from time to time. You'll find eight new mini-strips featuring him and written/drawn by me in The Dandy Annual 2023 out now! 

I'm not sure where he'll turn up next. He won't be in The Dandy Annual 2024 but hopefully he'll be back again one day. He's a fun character to work on. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the current set of his strips in the latest annual. 

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Prat to the future

It's been 11 years this week since Postman Prat made his debut in The Dandy as part of the big revamp of 2010. Sadly that attempt to turn back declining sales (which had been falling for many years) only gave it a short reprieve and the weekly Dandy was cancelled at the end of 2012 after 75 years. Even so, a 75 year run is a phenominal feat considering many comics never even reached 12 months. The Dandy was the longest running comic, until The Beano took that crown a few years back.

BUT The Dandy Annual has continued, and Postman Prat has appeared there from time to time. There'll be several all new Postman Prat mini-strips in The Dandy Annual 2023, out next August! 

 

 

The Dandy Summer Special is here!

Everyone knows that summer really begins when the comic Summer Specials arrive! Well, although summer isn't scheduled until 21st June, this year's Dandy Summer Special just landed on my doormat so get the suncream and deckchairs out and soak up those rays! (Ah, it's just started to rain.) 

I'm very pleased to have been involved with this, drawing a new half page illustration for the comic. There are four other half page illos by other artists, Laura Howell, Nigel Parkinson, Nic Brennan, and Wayne Thompson. The rest of the 68 page package is comprised of classic seaside Dandy reprints plus a very funny new 6 pager by Nigel Auchterlounie and Steve Bright. (Steve Bright also drew the covers.) Bearing in mind that the staff were all working remotely due to the pandemic they've done a great job. It should be in the shops soon, or you can order it directly from the publisher at this link:
https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/dandy-summer-special-2021

It was a joy to be commissioned to put classic characters such as Bully Beef and Dirty Dick into the drawing. (Being ancient, I remember the day Bully Beef and Chips started in The Dandy back in 1967!) I hope I've done them justice. 

Here's how my artwork looked at the pencil stage. Note the pile of 1960s Dandys used for reference...

...and here's how it looked at the inking stage...

After inking was completed, I scanned it into my iMac, cleaned it up and coloured it in Photoshop. 

Although The Dandy weekly ended back in 2012 it's good to know the title still lives on as a Summer Special and all-new annual. Always keep a Dandy handy! 

Covers by Steve Bright.

It'd be remiss of me not to mention that there's the Beano Summer Activity Special available too, with all new content and free stickers! I'm not in that one but there's a ton of new pages by Nigel Parkinson and others so check that out.

 

Flashback 2010: The new-look DANDY makes its debut!

It's been exactly ten years today since The Dandy was revamped for a new generation of readers. Yes, 27th October 2010 was the day that The Dandy No.3508 arrived in newsagents, replacing its previous Dandy Xtreme format. 

Dandy Xtreme had been an attempt to turn the long-running weekly comic into a boys' fortnightly magazine in the style of Egmont's successful Toxic. It didn't really work, and so another major revamp was used to turn The Dandy back into what it did best; being a weekly funny comic full of strips, not "gross" themed features! However, it was always going to be difficult to win back the readers who had left and appeal to the kids of 2010.

The Dandy's sales had been declining for years, and even with the best intentions the Xtreme makeover hadn't helped. Turning it back into a comic was the best idea, but making it look exactly like it had before the Xtreme revamp would have been pointless, because the old "traditional" look is where the sales decline had begun. If it was going to be revamped, it needed a bold contemporary new look and a totally fresh start. 

The new-look Dandy that arrived ten years ago was practically a new comic in all but name. New logo, new design throughout, brand new characters and even printed on top quality paper. Old favourites Desperate Dan and Korky the Cat were still there, but had been completely updated by Jamie Smart and Phil Corbett. Other new artists and writers had been commissioned too. This was a radical revamp.

The cover star was now popular TV personality Harry Hill, thanks to popular cartoonist Nigel Parkinson, an artist who had contributed to The Dandy for years. You can read about the background to that over at Nigel's own blog here:

http://nigelparkinsoncartoons.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-dandy-go-get-it.html

As for me, I was one of the relative newcomers to the comic. I'd never worked for The Dandy before (apart from a few Fun-Size editions 20 years ago) so I was over the moon to be commissioned to draw two new pages; Kid Cops and Postman Prat. Originally, scripts were supplied to be by freelance writers or the Dandy staff but later I scripted my own. (I was used to writing my own material although I'm happy to work with writers too if the scripts are funny, and the ones for The Dandy were!)

Reactions to the new Dandy were mixed, as you'd expect with any major revamp. Some people struggle with changes, even to comics! However, the vicious abuse that some artists received was uncalled for. Grown men posting hate about artists of children's comics? Quite pathetic really. 

Other reactions were more calm and reasoned. Even if they didn't like what they saw, they understood that The Dandy wasn't aimed at 50 year old men. Pleasingly, a lot of people loved the revamp and the positive voices online certainly outnumbered the negative. See this link for more on that:

https://lewstringer.blogspot.com/2010/10/fine-and-dandy-reactions-to-relaunched.html

Sadly even changing The Dandy back into a comic couldn't halt the decline in sales for long. The first issue did well when it was getting media publicity but not so well when it was out of the limelight and shops rapidly decreased their orders. Society is different to how it was when we were younger and this generation of children just haven't developed the habit of buying a comic every week. They can't be blamed for it as it's just how it is. The Beano has always survived because it's always had the advantage of a regular solid base of characters that loyal readers knew would be in the comic every week. The Dandy, like most other comics, always tended to shake up its contents every now and then, which is great for variety but can also upset readers who prefer consistency and familiarity. The changes to The Dandy had come too late to save it, but it was a valiant try. 

The Dandy ended on its 75th anniversary in December 2012. Ironically that last issue completely sold out within days and had to go to a second printing to meet demand! Such is life in publishing. It was immediately relaunched as a digital comic but sadly it was somewhat "buggy" and folded after 13 weeks. 

Some people blamed the contribitors for the comic's end, forgetting that sales were plunging years before the revamp. They insisted that a more old-school look would have saved it... but that never saved Beezer, Topper, Whizzer and Chips and every other "traditional" comic did it? Fact is, everything has its day, and instead of pointing the finger of blame perhaps we should celebrate that The Dandy lasted for 75 years, making it the second-longest running UK comic in history!

I felt it was a privilege to be part of The Dandy's long history as it was the first comic I had regularly when I was a child. Although The Dandy ended as a weekly comic in 2012 it has continued as a summer special (mostly reprint) and as The Dandy Annual (all new). The Dandy Annual 2021 is in the shops now, with four new double-page Postman Prat stories by me, so make sure you grab a copy and remember the old slogan... Always Keep A Dandy Handy!

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Postman Prat: The origin

It's been ten years this autumn since The Dandy was revamped and I was invited to contribute. An exciting time, as the UK's longest-running comic was to be completely rebooted with a new look but taking it back to its roots as a comic. (It had previously been running as a magazine for a few years, titled Dandy Xtreme which didn't quite work.) 

The characters I did for the Dandy in 2010 were two concepts created in-house by the editors. Kid Cops, about two kids bringing justice to their neighbourhood in daft ways, and Postman Prat.  

I recently found a memory stick containing my Dandy strips so I thouyght I'd show you a couple of pieces. Above are my initial roughs for Postman Prat and his colleagues. I'm sure I must have submitted finished drawings too but I seem to have lost those. As you can see, Prat was originally a much shorter, chubbier character to the one he developed into. Not sure why I changed it. Perhaps I felt a leaner figure had more flexibility for slapstick. His proportions were a bit odd originally. Comic characters often evolve as time goes on, as you'll see if you look at early versions of Dennis the Menace or Buster for example.

Prat was still a fairly chubby character in the first episode, seen below. This is the art as I submitted it, with balloons and captions added later by the D.C. Thomson designers. Postman Prat was originally written by editor Craig Graham but he's had a few writers over the years. I write the stories myself these days for The Dandy Summer Special and Dandy Annual.

 

Sadly The Dandy didn't last too long in its final revamp. It had already lost many readers in previous years and never recovered from its declining sales. Ironically the final issue in 2012 sold so many copies it had to be reprinted to meet demand! Where were all those readers weeks before? Some said they weren't even aware it was still being published! Ah well, so it goes! 

Today, The Dandy survives in specials and annuals and Postman Prat appears in a new story in The Dandy Summer Special that's out now. He'll also be back in The Dandy Annual 2021, on sale in July! 
https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/dandy-summer-special-2020

Below: Postman Prat as he appears today, in the upcoming Dandy Annual 2021. 

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Festive Flashback: SNOWMAN IN A BOX (2012)

Here's a page I did that appeared in The Dandy back in 2012. A "Mad Ad" spoofing those adverts you see for expensive tat in the back of magazines. every home should have one! 

Festive Flashback: POSTMAN PRAT (2011)

I'm glad I had the chance to work for The Dandy during its final two years. It was a privilege to be involved with a comic that was a favourite of mine as a child. Here's the Postman Prat page I did for the Christmas issue in 2011. Script by David Mason, artwork by me. 

Postman Prat's Firework Fun

Firework themed comics don't happen these days, except... in 2011 a few of us were allowed to do firework stories for The Dandy. Here's Postman Prat in a story written by David Mason, drawn by me.

Have a safe Bonfire Night! 

Postman Prat in production (2010)

From 2010, a photo of a page of my original Postman Prat artwork and the colour version I was working on in Photoshop. No, I can't remember what the story was about either. Postman Prat appeared in The Dandy and was a real pleasure to draw. I later wrote episodes as well. He still appears in The Dandy Annual every year, but not next year I'm afraid. 

The Dark Newt!

Although I've been working full time in British comics for over 30 years, one of the standout moments for me was creating a brand new character for one of my all-time favourite comics, The Dandy. I'd drawn other strips for the comic but The Dark Newt was the only one created from scratch by myself. A pondlife parody of Batman, The Dark Newt ran as a six part series in the summer of 2012. This episode is from The Dandy No.3592.

Will The Dark Newt and his sidekick Sarcastic Tadpole ever return? I don't know, but I'd certainly be happy to bring him back. There are a million tales still to tell about life in the small pond. Well, one or two anyway. It is only a small pond after all. 

The Smasher returns

The Smasher is back in The Dandy Annual 2014, and here's a sneak preview of one of the three pages featuring the character that I've done for the book. The Smasher originated in The Dandy in 1957 as, I suppose, their answer to The Beano's Dennis the Menace. For many years The Smasher was illustrated by Hugh Morren, and later by Brian Walker. I wrote and drew three Smasher strips for last year's annual (and one for the final issue of The Dandy in December 2012) and was pleased to be asked to provide three more for this year's book.

If the logo looks familiar it's because I scanned it from a 1960s Dandy, cleaned up the scan, reduced it a little, and re-coloured it. D.C. Thomson have created some excellent, and timeless, logo designs over the years so it was ideal. 

The Dandy Annual 2014 will be published in just a few short weeks time, in early July. You can pre-order it now from Amazon.