Regional publisher DC Thomson has confirmed that children’s comic The Dandy will cease print publication later this year and go online only.

The Dandy will be printed for the final time on 4 December, which will be a special edition to mark its 75th anniversary and will include a reprint of the first ever edition.

But DC Thomson says the publication will live on in an online format and its characters, which include Desperate Dan, Korky the Cat and Bananaman will be given a new lease of life after the anniversary edition.

Ellis Watson, chief executive officer of publishing (newspapers and magazines), said: “Dan has certainly not eaten his last cow pie. All of The Dandy’s characters are just 110 days away from a new lease of life.
 
“On December 4th, we’ll publish our 75th anniversary edition – and now that the cat’s out of the bag – I can confirm that this will be our last print edition. It’s what comes online then that will set the tone for the next 75 years.”
 
The Dandy Annual will continue to be printed.