TTHEHE BB EANOEANO && DD ANDYANDY CC OLLECTORSOLLECTORS ’’ CC LUBLUB

Founder Year 2006-7 October 2006 Issue 1

Contents

2 Editorial

3 Caption Competition

4 -Beano Story

6 Pets’ Corner

6 Day Dreams of Dundee…

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COLLECTORS ’ C LUB I NFORMATION & Dandy Collectors’ Club Annual Subscription Articles for publication will be gratefully PO Box 3433 received and should be sent to the PO UK £18.00 Brighton Box address as should any other corre- BN50 9JA Europe £21.00 spondence. United Kingdom Worldwide £24.00

Tel 01273 673462 Mob 07739 844703 Email [email protected] Web www.phil-comics.com

The BEANO and The DANDY logos are ®© DC Thomson & Co. Ltd., 2006. All associated characters are © DC Thomson & Co. Ltd.

Used By Kind Permission of DC Thomson & Co. Ltd.

EDITORIAL

Hello, and welcome to the very first old without a penny to his name af- You have probably heard of and may newsletter of ‘The Beano & Dandy ford them? To answer the latter point, have paid a visit to Hay-On-Wye, a Collectors’ Club’. My first editorial will paper rounds were the only option, small market town on the English- tell you my story which I hope will and some pocket money thrown in for Welsh border. Home to some thirty raise a few memories of similar ex- good measure. Come rain or shine, plus secondhand bookshops, it be- periences that you may have had. 6am alarm calls it was to be for the came an enjoyable annual trip and I next five years! To address the former distinctly remember the summer of It was in 1991 that I had my first en- issue I secretly hoped the publishers 1993 and parting with six weeks counter with The Beano and The kept back issues and a letter was sent hard-earned paper money (£63) on Dandy. On a visit to a ’s to the DC Thomson HQ in Dundee. nine books including a 1963 Beano house I was immediately struck by a Book, my then oldest annual and bookcase in his bedroom that was It turned out that they did keep back most prized possession. Trawling local bulging at the sides with Beano and issues, but only to 1987. Alas, I jumble and car boot sales, school Dandy annuals. Most were well loved wanted them back to 19 thirty 7! Nev- fetes, antique, collectors and book 1970s and 80s annuals which he had ertheless, they recommended a book fairs became the norm, but the big- amassed from school fetes and jum- search service and confirmed my sus- gest source of books came from fur- ble sales, but on the end was his picions that secondhand bookshops ther afield. The Book and Magazine prized item - a 1967 Dandy Book, were the most likely means of acquir- Collector significantly increased my albeit with half its spine missing. A big ing the early books and comics. list of dealer contacts, including sev- pile of comics lay beside his bed and It was around this time that my par- eral who specialised in children’s the 1991 Beano calendar hung on his ents told a couple of tales that felt like books and comics. My SAE was soon wall. a thorn in the side. Firstly, my father on their doorsteps and for the most For over 65 years The Beano and The described his weekly treat during the part that meant entering the world of Dandy have been cherished by mil- 1950s of the Beano and Dandy com- mail order. lions of children and adults the length ics, and compulsory gift of the annu- It soon became apparent that part of and breadth of the country. My pal als in his Christmas stocking. As was the excitement of collecting is the had clearly caught the comic bug and most usually the case, the comics seeking out of those elusive items. If I it was about to passed on. Sure were read several times, swapped had inherited a thirty year run of an- enough the weekly Beano comic was around the schoolyard and thrown nuals and comics in another foul soon being delivered to my door and out, but the annuals were all kept – in swoop, my collecting interest may not the Beano and Dandy annuals became tip-top condition. To this day, the have blossomed and the chances are as much a part of the Christmas fes- cupboard that housed them still you wouldn’t be reading this now. tivities as Santa Claus himself. stands in my grandmother’s living room, but alas, no precious Beano Despite having received the majority Like many others, I was keen to find and Dandy annuals - they were all of my collection courteous of Royal out where my comic heroes had their given to a young down the road in Mail, I believe the most exciting way roots. As luck would have it, D.C. the 1960s in one foul swoop, never to to buy is in person. Not only can you Thomson & Co., Ltd, the comics’ pub- be seen again. The second tale in- actually handle the item and let the lishers, had begun producing a series volves my grandfather from my sense of smell have its say too, you of special books celebrating the first mother’s side, who was a newsagent also get the personal touch. Be it with fifty years of the Beano and Dandy. from the late 1960s to early 1980s, a dealer, collector or general member The first title, ‘Fifty Golden Years’, and would have sold multiple (MINT) of the public, discussing one’s passion was an inspiration and provided a first copies of all the annuals and comics I is an enjoyable experience. In recent glimpse of the Number One Beano was now keen to acquire. Two tales of years I have been privileged to meet and Dandy annuals and comics. misfortune, or were they…? a handful of collectors and view their An immediate love of the earlier beloved collections. My collecting began proper in two styles of the comics and artwork led secondhand bookshops in Birmingham In the 21st Century collectors have to an eagerness to acquire the origi- city centre, both called Reader’s been increasingly using the internet, nal comics and annuals. But I was World. Sadly, neither shop still stands including online auction houses such faced with two problems; where do and consequently those early memo- as eBay, to source their books and you find old books and comics and, ries are particularly nostalgic. comics. I joined the rat race and have once found, how would an eleven year been buying and selling on eBay for

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over five years dealing with people all or two lucky members actually bought Gordon Tait and Bill McCloughlin of over the world. From Alnwick Hill to a copy of the very first editions in the DC Thomson with whom I have liased. Australia, Cambridge to Canada and late 1930s? If that was you, did you From day one I have bounced ideas Newport to New Mexico, the interest keep them?! My intention has always off my long term collector friend in the Beano and Dandy is phenome- been to make the club interactive with David Jones, so I am indebted to him. nal. Having contact with hundreds of its members, which is why I am seek- Other notable thanks go to Ray collectors gave me the idea of found- ing your help! If you have any com- Moore, who has kindly contributed an ing The Beano & Dandy Collectors’ pelling stories, newspaper articles article for this newsletter, Ian Downes Club, so we can all share our passion. about the comics over the years, un- of Start Licensing, John Swan, and I know of several people who have a usual or rare material or anything you Andy Oakley, whose company Coven- love of Rupert Bear and ‘The Follow- would like to share with other mem- try Silvercraft Ltd produced the ers of Rupert’, a society founded in bers, we would be delighted to hear badges. 1983, has catered well for their needs from you. Finally, a BIG thank you to you, the with over 1,000 members worldwide It has taken much planning and Founder Members, for joining the today. I hope that The Beano & preparation over the last twelve club. I hope you enjoy this first news- Dandy Collectors’ Club will be an months to get the club off the ground. letter. equal success. My thanks go to the publishers of the Best wishes, My first hand experiences of the Beano and Dandy, D.C. Thomson & comic date back only to the early 90s, Co., Ltd, for providing kind permission but already the club has a member to reproduce images for the club logo base who would have read the comics and newsletters. My special thanks go in all its eight decades. Perhaps one to Martin Lindsay, Roddie Watt, Phil Shrimpton

TEASER T IME

Part 1—Cross word Complete the crossword and then take the letters from those boxes marked * and rearrange them to form a name related to the comics that is mentioned in this newsletter.

1 2 3 ACROSS

4 * 5 6 7 4. The UK’s favourite comic 5. The Topper’s version of Minnie * 8. The first Beano cover star 9. Edible item with horns! * 10. The Dandy Wonder Dog 11. Home of DC Thomson 8 *

* 9 * DOWN 1. The first of DCT's 'Stable Four' * * 2. Comic with 10 * * * 3. The world's wildest boy! 4. Comic first published in 1956 11 * 6. DTM’s weapon of choice 7. Biffo's Pal

Part 2—Caption Competition We are seeking fun captions for the Collectors’ Club logo artwork, below. Competition Guide Please write, telephone or email with the name to Part 1 and your caption from Part 2. Entries to be received by Decem- ber 1st, 2006. Captions will be judged by an independent adjudicator. The name of the winner will be published in the next newsletter.

The prize! Dandy comic Coronation Issue 1953 Super cover artwork

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JUST THE T ICKET OR A S LAP -UP F EED ! THE STORY OF HOW THE D ANDY AND B EANO GOT THEIR NAMES

by Ray Moore

In ‘The DC Thomson Bumper Fun two comics? cluded ‘Chips’, ‘’, Book’ published by Paul Harris in ‘Crackers’, ‘’, ‘’, Hopefully the following legend, of the 1977, a volume devoted to various ‘Jester’, ‘’, ‘Jolly’, ‘Larks’, ‘Puck’, Thomson Meadowside building in essays on the firm and its literary ‘Sparkler’ and ‘Tip-Top’. The only Dundee and its editorial staff, will pro- output, historian Owen Dudley Ed- other competition of note came from vide the answer. wards contributes two pieces; the Target Publications in Bath who more first discussing the Thomson boys Before the arrival of the ‘Dandy’ and often than not favoured the agent papers and the second ‘Cow Pie and ‘Beano’ DC Thomson & Co had be- noun approach to the title choice All That’ devoted to the Dandy and come famous for the juvenile litera- ‘Chuckler’, ‘Dazzler’ and ‘Rattler’ and Beano. ture they published for boys, namely Willbank Publications who had had no their line of boy’s story papers dubbed trouble putting a name to their single The general tone of both these arti- ‘The Big Five’. The first of these, comic success as it featured an obvi- cles, it has to be said, seems to be ‘Adventure’, had appeared in Septem- ous star who deserved top billing, one of smug condescension and a ber 1921 and at the time any Mickey Mouse in Mickey Mouse desire to find fault by trying to ana- thoughts that it might be the start of Weekly. lyse the material under consideration a successful dynasty of such titles was with a high-minded intellectual ap- In the end the working title that secondary to the pragmatic considera- proach that simply isn’t appropriate. Thomsons chose for their new venture tion that it was a good way to fill But, having said that, when he virtually chose itself, as the project spare printing time on the Thomson comes to discussing the actual nam- that had initially been known simply presses. Still, dynasty forming it ing of the two comics and being per- as ‘the comic’ became, by a form of turned out to be and, in the next dec- plexed as to why two such ‘utterly editorial osmosis, ‘The Dandy Comic’. ade or so, it was followed by ‘The archaic’ words had been chosen, I do So why was the word dandy such a Rover’ and ‘The Wizard’ in 1922, ‘The think he is right in his assessment common coin around the Thomson Skipper’ in 1930 and ‘’ in that the titles ‘Dandy’ and ‘Beano’, editorial offices in the late 1930s? 1933. however they came about were, ulti- One red herring in this regard is mately, in relation to the fate of the By the late 1930s the continuing suc- Dandy McLean, the Scotland Yard de- comics themselves, ‘a matter of total cess of these papers and of the comic tective who had featured in stories in irrelevance to their success’. supplement ‘ Fun Thomsons magazine-cum-newspaper Section’, included in the paper of that Indeed, now that the ‘Dandy’ and ‘’ for a number of name since March 1936, encouraged ‘Beano’ have been with us for nearly years and had even had his own RD Low, the Managing Editor of seventy years, surely the opposite is pocket library running to ten issues in Thomson juvenile publications, to the case. The comics have become 1933. This Dandy was certainly suggest to the Thomson directors that so famous that they have endowed around but he is not the Dandy we it might be worthwhile taking the ex- the words they were given as titles are looking for. pertise that they had gained in pro- with a fame and a longevity far be- ducing these items and tentatively In the 1930s the staff at Thomsons yond anything their etymological branch out into the realm of comic Meadowside building instigated vari- obscurity in the 1930s would ever production. This project was duly ous gatherings and social events that have seemed likely to command. given the go-ahead and a dummy were graced with a variety of colourful This is true to such an extent that, comic paper was ordered into produc- names including a rather elegant din- today, the ‘Dandy’ and ‘Beano’ are tion with R D Low in overall charge of ner dubbed ‘The Roosters’, a hill- largely synonymous only of them- proceedings, supported by his lieuten- walking group called ‘The Prancers’ selves. Say the words dandy and ant Bill Blain, editor of ‘The Wizard’, and, what is of most interest to us beano to anyone the length and and several other up and coming re- here, something called ‘The DB Club’. breadth of Britain and you will almost cruits from the boys paper depart- ‘The DB Club’ was a tongue in cheek certainly conjure up images and ment, in particular a sub-editor on solemnization of the food and drink memories of DC Thomson’s comic ‘The Hotspur’ called Albert Barnes. fuelled jaunts in and around Dundee, duo rather than a Regency fop or In the summer of 1937, as the strips with the occasional game of golf something that is just the ticket, as and stories that the new comic would thrown in for good measure, of a in the phrase ‘fine and dandy’, or in contain were being assembled, it was dozen or so Thomson employees, the case of beano a beanfeast or natural, for reference purposes at mostly from the editorial department, slap-up feed. The comics’ success least, that it should be given a work- led by ‘Chairman’ Managing Editor R D has taken these two words, particu- ing title, something throw away that Low. The initials DB, standing for sev- larly beano, and virtually stripped might well be discarded for something eral things including ‘Dirty Bugger’, them of any other meaning. better before production was finalised. are an indication of the esteem in But pre-1937 this wasn’t the case. But what title to choose? which the club held itself and its Before the arrival of the two comic members and the equally descriptive One option for inspiration would be to papers that Thomson’s chose to but slightly more high tone Dandy check out the opposition. In the late christen ‘Dandy’ and ‘Beano’ these Beano. The ‘Dandy Beano Club’s’ 1930s most of the competition that two words were just that, two rather ‘beano’s’ or meetings were certainly Thomsons would face if they went into obscure, old-fashioned words. That ‘dandy’ and as a result the word comic production would come from being the case, this beggars the dandy became part of the general the , their adver- question what made these two words vocabulary of the Thomson offices, sary of old in the boys paper field. At so appealing to the creators of the where anything good might be de- the time its array of comic titles in- - 4 -

THE LAST SUPPER OF THE D. B. CLUB Belmont Arms, 25th January, 1936 PROGRAMME The Chairman will belch a few unnesheshary remarksh. Company will be upstanding (if able) to chant the D.B. Anthem. “KICK OFF 7.15” DARTS CONTEST—2d sweepstake. No STICKING darts in the wrong place. ANDY McHUNTER’S idea of a Humorous Reading.

LOUSY LIMERICKS—Sing up, you cads!

Key Notes The above are snippets from the Programme for the evening. Illustrations opposite were by John R. Mason. The Chairman was R.D. Low, the Managing Editor of the Thomson juvenile papers. He is in the kilt at the right hand end of the table. Andy McHunter refers to Andy Hunter, the editor of ‘The Skipper’. “Ambulances 11.45” scribed as dandy, including a pro- successfully launched a companion to them, at some suitable hospitable posed new comic. paper was immediately out into pro- location with special joke menus duction. As a talisman of good fortune printed for the occasion by cartoonist As time passed and the launch date it was, in turn, given the title ‘The John R Mason and the legendary for the new ‘dandy comic’ drew near it Beano Comic’ and published for the Dudley Watkins. The first of these, no dawned on R D Low, and the rest of first time in July 1938. The rest, as doubt convivial affairs, taking place the staff putting the new paper to- they say, is history. on Burns Night, January 25 th 1936, gether, that this makeshift title had a and the last, as far as can be ascer- certain ring to it and that it was, per- After nearly seven decades ‘The tained, eight years later, on March haps, as good as anything else they Dandy’ and ‘The Beano’ (the word 4th , 1943. might come up with. And so it was comic was dropped from each title in that when Thomsons first comic title 1950) are still going strong but And as the original members of the was launched in December 1937 it what of the DB club that provided DB Club might well have done here’s was christened ‘The Dandy Comic’, them with their names? Sadly, it is three cheers and lets raise a glass to with the main title Dandy still retained long gone and the men who were its ‘The Dandy Comic’, ‘The Beano as a descriptive adjective in the over- members with it. Its heyday was in Comic’ and the members of the brand all title just as it had been in the days the late 1930s and early 1940s when, new ‘Beano & Dandy Collectors’ Club’! of its preparation. as well as its regular meetings, its

members also organised a yearly din- Once ‘The Dandy Comic’ had been ner, or Last Supper as they referred

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by Phil Shrimpton A couple of years ago I listed a batch of Beano comics on scan of the original date stamped postal order and a pic- eBay from the mid 1970s. During the auction I received ture of the real Bruce on Blackpool beach in the 1960s. the following email: Pictured opposite is the infamous artist’s impression! “I don't know if you can be bothered to check this During my search for Bruce I found a few others which out, but I'm keen to know whether one of these were worth reproducing below. Could I do better? Proba- comics contains my drawing of 'Bruce', a dog, in bly not! The Pet’s Corner feature really captivated the the 'reader's pets' section. I won a 50p postal comic’s audience. As a child reader it must have been, order which I still have, but I lost the comic! It and still is, a real privilege to appear in the Beano comic in was in an April issue I think, possibly 12th or any capacity. 14th, something like that. Hope its not too much Now we aren’t going to invite our members to send us trouble. Many thanks, Glyn Hinchliffe.” pictures of their pets (although we’d happily accept them This was definitely worth checking out, not only to help and maybe publish the odd one!), but we would like to out the customer, but to replicate the Beano comics’ attempt to get its audience have a jolly good involved. In the next newsletter we intend to feature a chuckle at the readers’ ‘Letter to the Editor’ section with your questions, views pets. Fortunately Bruce was found and thoughts on the Beano & Dandy, its associated titles in issue 1603 and a scan was sent and any matters related to the Collectors’ Club, so please the same day. Glyn was delighted write or email. We aim to publish as many as possible but to be reunited with Bruce and kindly provided us with a if writing, please supply an SAE if you would like a reply.

“Albert” “Hatty” “Jimmy” (Another) “Bruce” “Micky” “Marcus”

DAY D REAMS OF D UNDEE , D ANDY & D ESPERATE D AN

by Phil Shrimpton

As revealed in the editorial, it be- in our Dundee Offices, I’m afraid we sue, with the classic football cover. came apparent at an early stage have no exhibition or showcase fa- Price wise it was out of my league, that DC Thomson’s pre-1987 back cility.” This was at a time when the but it provided hope that these issues were out-of-print. Never one only real source of annuals were early annuals were actually obtain- to give up, I sent another letter to bookfairs, the Book and Magazine able. Dundee, this time enquiring as to Collector and the odd specialist Around this time, and in the months whether there was a public display dealer. I recall a trip to a local book and years that followed, I would of comics and annuals. If I wasn’t fair where Cliff Fox (Eunice and Cliff often day dream about viewing DC able to buy them, the next best Fox, the then widely renowned Thomson’s collection deep in their thing would be to at least view, and Rupert Bear specialists) had a stall ‘vaults’, as I imagined them to be. hopefully handle, some early exam- with some fairly worn Dandy Mon- In July of this year I was invited to ples. Their reply read, “Though we ster Comic annuals. The one that attend a ‘Beano Event’ in Dundee as have a complete set of our annuals sticks in my mind was the 1944 is-

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part of the summer wide city festi- Bill McCloughlin, my ‘tour-guide’ for Moonie’s mind whilst thinking of val. Having been in recent discus- the afternoon and one of the three Baxendale’s crowded picture. In an sions with DC Thomson over the employees working in the archive. instant, The Bash Street Kids setting up of the Collectors’ Club, it We were soon on the second floor (originally ‘When the Bell Rings’) came as a genuine surprise and a and entering the ‘vault’ that was were created! real delight when I was granted the DCT archive. At first glance it Entering the archive, a series of permission to view the archive that appeared to be a large office but shelf units presented themselves had been mentioned in their letter with a door leading off at the far with large brown paper envelopes all those years ago. end. Instantly spotted was an open containing various colour separa- bound volume of early Beano com- You may yourself have visited Dun- tions, mainly from the 1970s. ics. They were well worn but that dee before, perhaps in recent years. could be excused – the top issue If so, you will have inevitably come was, afterall, number 6 from 1938! face to face with three imposing On another desk lay the two vol- bronze statues in City Square. Most striking is the ten foot masterpiece of the Dandy legend . He can be seen striding with his well-pronounced ‘Albert Barnes’ stubbled chin, back arched, chest puffed out and tightly grasping his copy of the Dandy. His faithful mutt ‘Dawg’ is close by, apparently star-

Much like an x-ray, they appeared umes of Ray Moore’s ‘The Beano as sheets of film with black areas Diaries’ next to original 1940 and positioned 1941 Beano Books. On a third desk according to were scattered a series of original the original pieces of artwork, including Dudley artwork. Watkins’ Biffo the Bear and Davey The number Law’s Corporal Clott. of film sheets In my mind, two things were clear. present de- Firstly, a lot of research went on in pended on this room and, secondly, I was in the number of for a real treat! colours in the original strip; Before we entered the far end door effectively, which was to be the archive proper, one for each colour. Imagine a clas- I glanced out of the office window. sic mid-50s Dennis the Menace strip Opposite Building lies tled by a crouching Minnie the Minx, with only black and red present – Dundee High School with a large catapult in hand aiming at his mas- one film would be used to produce playground and school gates. In ter’s rear! Much like the Robert Har- the red colour, another for the late 1952 had begun rop character figurines, the atten- black. working for DC Thomson but his tion to detail is highly impressive initial strips failed to galvanise. In- and the statues are a testament to spired by a Giles cartoon in the the comics’ popularity and success Daily Express, Baxendale drew and and a real pride of Dundee. sent George Moonie, the then A short distance away lies Albert Beano Editor, a crowded picture of Square, of dozens of school children scuffling which the about on the pavement outside most notable their school, bashing and thumping feature is a each other. He hoped the picture large sand- would inspire a new strip. Unfortu- stone build- nately nothing came of it but within ing. Named days, unrelated to this drawing, the Courier was created. Three Building, this months later Minnie the Minx ap- forms the DC peared and Thomsons, wanting to Thomson capitalise on their newly found ar- It quickly became apparent that this headquarters and the place of my tistic talent, required Baxendale to relatively small room could not pos- next visit. produce a third strip. But of what, sibly house the entire archive. In- or of whom? Looking down on the deed, Bill stated that there are vari- Just as I had imagined, as I entered antics of those youngsters in the ous locations throughout Dundee the building, the foyer area appears playground of Dundee High School housing the full collection. The task very old fashioned with marble from the editorial offices, something facing Bill and his colleagues has floor, which was to the liking of my must have triggered in George been, and still is, to record and col- ‘traditionalist’ nature. I was met by late the entire collection. In the - 7 -

early years no real attempt was used for reference purposes, some flick through the comics. Faces lit made to note which pieces of art- up, favourite childhood characters work led to which comic issues. The were quoted and some even spoke painstaking process continues… of their current and past employ- ment working on the comics’ at DC I enquired as to the whereabouts of Thomson, drawing odd strips and the original cover artwork of the completing speech bubbles. Ray’s 1963 Dandy-Beano Summer Spe- statement, ‘ say the words dandy cial, from which the Collectors’ Club and beano to anyone the length and logo art is breadth of Britain and you will al- derived. A most certainly conjure up images quick file and memories of DC Thomson’s check re- comic duo ’, was certainly being evi- vealed it denced here. was housed in The former Beano Editor, Euan a separate Kerr, was present and gave an in- location. teresting talk on the Beano, adding Not to some of his personal experiences worry, on working as the Editor. The highlight top of a for me though, apart from the com- filing cabi- with a white sticker to the spine net I no- depicting the year. Notoriously hard ticed a to find are the 1941 and 1944 large Dandy Monster Comic annuals, and loose pile of artwork. Hopefully you here were two of each! will recognise the item that was derived from the piece pictured. In case not, it is cover artwork from the 1979 Desperate Dan Book, complete with original tippex cor- rections! Unlocking a door off the main ar- chive revealed a small store room and the one I had been looking most forward to visiting. Yes, this contained the comics and annuals (1930s through 1970s) that I had plimentary full English breakfast, day-dreamt of viewing a decade was the presence of the Thomson earlier. In many ways it was similar The collecting world is opening its staff artist Jimmy Glen. He gave a to how I had imagined. Three nar- eyes and beginning to accept bound demonstration of how a comic strip row walkways with shelves literally volumes of comics in recent years. develops, using as one to the ceiling, packed with neatly Present were most years from the example. It was fascinating to filed bound comic volumes and the late 30s/early 40s although the watch - only when a couple of quick main Thomson annuals. Of most early issues, as mentioned above, lines were drawn beneath and be- interest were two shelves labelled were fairly worn. hind the hound was it that the ‘MAGIC – MAGIC FUN – DANDY ‘sprinting’ effect came to life. MONSTER’ and ‘BEANO – MAGIC An experience well worth waiting BEANO’. for and my sincere thanks go to The event had an exhibition of Martin Lindsay and Bill McCloughlin Beano and Dandy screenprints by It was quite surreal. I have spent for making it happen. John Patrick Reynolds years to date, and continue to ac- (www.thecomicartwebsite.com / The Beano Event itself was held at 07980 844906). John uses the the Apex Hotel, Quayside, close to original colour separations men- the city centre. I had taken a selec- tioned above, from DC Thomson, to tion of vintage Beano & Dandy com- produce the screenprints. Martin ics and annuals for sale and was and Susan Cleghorn of ‘Fine ‘n’ hoping that Scottish collectors Dandy’ were selling Beano mer- would arrive by the coach load to fill chandise gaps in their collections. It turned (www.fineanddandy.co.uk / 01382 out to be a fairly quiet affair, in- 778989) and David Brown of ‘Rugby deed, the vast majority of people Plus…’ showed off his rugby balls browsing were local Dundee resi- with Dennis the Menace designs quire my own collection of the an- dents but a couple of my eBay cus- (www.rugbyplus.com / 01382 nuals and here was the publishers tomers introduced themselves. It 226761). full set right before my eyes. There was the first time I had ‘exhibited’ were on average two copies of each at a live event, and what struck me A thoroughly enjoyable weekend annual and most in pretty nice most was the number of people was had, one which I hope can be shape, although they were clearly who stopped to either glance or replicated in the future.

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