Christmas Comics: The DANDY (1998)

Throughout its 75 year run The Dandy was a top class comic, and the Christmas issue of 1998 was no exception. A fantastic front cover by Keith Robson served as a perfect taster for an excellent edition. 

There was so much good material in this issue that it wasn't easy narrowing it down to a few to show here but here we go, starting with an Owen Goal page by Nigel Parkinson and a really nicely designed festive logo...

On page 10, Beryl the Peril by Robert Nixon, who excelled at Christmas scenes. Just look at that final panel, crammed with festive iconography...

Next, The Smasher drawn by Brian Walker. Just about as Christmas as it gets. Excellent stuff.

This issue had a number of special one-off strips, such as The Night Before Christmas by Ken Harrison...

There were three pages of jokes in this issue under the title Tis the Season to be Jolly, all by different illustrators. This one was by veteran artist Ken Hunter...

Finally, a text story, Bedtime Tales by Bradley Bedsock. Actually it was illustrated by Dave Sutherland...

Another Christmas treat soon. Which year will the Blimey-Timey Machine choose next? 

Cor! Wor Nicky joins The Sunday Post

Thanks to 'colcool007' on the Comics UK Forum for bringing this to my attention. Today's issue of The Sunday Post introduces a brand new regular comic strip; Wor Nicky, written by Morris Heggie and illustrated by Ken Harrison.

Billed as "Our first all-new cartoon since 1936" Wor Nicky is a community nurse and a "feisty lass from Geordieland". A non-Scot comics character in the Post? Yes indeed, as the paper acknowledges that one-third of its sales are in England, primarily in the North East.

Comic fans will recognise the name of Ken Harrison as the artist who has previously drawn The Broons and Oor Wullie for the paper, along with many pages for the DC Thomson comics over the years, including a long run on Desperate Dan for The Dandy. 

The Broons and Oor Wullie still continue every week of course, along with mini-strip Wee Harry, all drawn these days by Peter Davidson.

You can read all about the new strip over on the Sunday Post website.