Pornographic material in the Dandy

Big Simon · Post by **Big Simon** » 09 Sep 2006, 09:18

I hate the way the Dandy editor imports cheap French cartoons to fill out his pages (obviously a cost-cutting exercise). First there was 'Tootuff 'and now 'Tony & Alberto' - both cartoon strips intended for a more adult audience in their home country, but stick out like sore thumbs in Britain's oldest comic. Can't we have more homegrown fare, please?

In the latest issue of the Dandy (# 3380) one character in 'Tony & Alberto' is seen drooling over pornographic magazines in bed - staring at drawings of bare breasts and bums. One magazine he's enjoying is called 'Fesse', which is French slang for 'arse'. I have no problem with fart jokes in kids comics - my children love them - but having to explain to small kids why a Dandy character is reading nude magazines isn't on. Kids notice everything!

Other Forum members may think this is just good fun, and I'm certainly no prude, BUT first and foremost the Dandy is for kids' enjoyment, not adult sniggers.

Why isn't the Dandy editor doing his job properly?

wilsia · Post by **wilsia** » 10 Sep 2006, 09:04

I havnt seen it Big Simon but I will check it out,

I agree thats its not on.Children should not be exposed to porn.I thought comics had guidelines to prevent this happening?

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 10 Sep 2006, 16:22

If you'll pardon the innuendo, get a grip! You're completely over-reacting to one small panel of a kid lying on his side in bed nonchalantly looking, (not drooling as you claim) at magazines that show images so abstractly that I doubt most readers would even notice what they were. There's a topless torso and a bikini-clad rear. Both minute images. Even if kids did figure out what the drawings were, they'd just giggle at him looking at "rude" pictures. Or maybe they'd just think he was looking at holiday snaps. Kids do see topless women on beaches now y'know.

No pornographic imagery is shown, so let's nip this rumour in the bud before more people get outraged over nothing.

Regarding the other point you raise, that of The Dandy using "cheap French cartoons". Using imported strips is nothing new for British comics; Lucky Luke, Asterix, Blueberry, and others appeared in Fleetway comics of the sixties, and DC Thomson ran "Big Billy Bigg" on the back of Sparky in 1969, it being a French (or Belgian) import.

Can I assume you're also against the mass exporting of British strips, which have appeared in European comics since the sixties? (Adam Eterno, Billy Bunter, Robot Archie, Roy of the Rovers, Sonic the Hedgehog, Team Toxic, etc...). Or do we just chill out and enjoy the variety each country has to offer?

Lew

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 13 Sep 2006, 13:11

I have to agree with Lew its hardly hard core porn - plus some of the overseas strips are excellent . Obviously as a father you have your concerns and its good to see you take an active part in your kids interests - but young children find these things funny and can laugh at them all the time theres much worse on advertising billboards and in seeing violence in TV etc.