The Dandy, 22 August 1970
Korky the Cat makes a splosh for The Dandy’s 1500th issue.
Charlie Grigg was the artist.
Although The Dandy ended in physical form in 2012, it still seems an important part of the contemporary comics’ landscape – in terms of cultural awareness, perhaps. So it feels odd seeing evidence that a massive 1500 issues were published before I was born.
Desperate Dan is as closely associated with the Dandy title as Korky – perhaps more so for some – although he wouldn’t replace the cat on the front cover until 1984. In 1970 the comic was running reprints of earlier Dudley Watkins strips such as this one on page 2 (Dan’s creator died 12 months previously).
On the back page is Bully Beef and Chips, drawn by Jimmy Hughes. It’s a colourful strip, full of action, but I have to admit Bully Beef always scared me whenever I read this as a child, with his violent ways, mad hair and unflattering clothes. I wasn’t a fan of bully beef (corned beef) either.
The rest of the comic is a good read – imaginative and very funny in places. Brassneck (artist Bill Holroyd), Dirty Dick (Eric Roberts), Corporal Clott (Jimmy Hughes) and Greedy Pigg (George Martin) all stand out for me. Great characters. Bring back The Dandy!
