This weeks Dandy

[Raven]

Ha ha, yes, you may be right about me using the kids as an excuse to buy the Dandy.
I wasn't expecting so much resistance to the idea of an all-ages comic (after all, the Dandy editor has stated in the interview I linked to that it is his aim), whilst I was expecting more reaction to my feeling that the old comics weren't funny (which I thought might be considered an heretical view point on a site like this!)

But you admitted you loved them as a child. It's no bad judgement on them that you "as an adult" don't like them; they weren't created for the adult you. Why do you think you loved them as a child if they're so bad?

Re: the Pixar thing - knowing you'll probably enjoy it yourself shouldn't really be an overriding condition for taking kids to a film; doesn't some pleasure come from seeing them enjoy it? If you have little 'uns, you have to be prepared to sit through many a Chipmunks and Smurf extravaganza.

[Ginger]

But you admitted you loved them as a child. It's no bad judgement on them that you "as an adult" don't like them; they weren't created for the adult you. Why do you think you loved them as a child if they're so bad?

I didn't say they were 'bad', I simply said they weren't very funny. Even as a child, I don't remember laughing that much reading comics.

Re: the Pixar thing - knowing you'll probably enjoy it yourself shouldn't really be an overriding condition for taking kids to a film; doesn't some pleasure come from seeing them enjoy it? If you have little 'uns, you have to be prepared to sit through many a Chipmunks and Smurf extravaganza.

Well, I must say it's nice to be receiving so much parenting advice on a comics forum!
I'm not just talking about myself and my own family here, I'm flagging up a trend in modern entertainment, and suggesting that if the Dandy, which needs to find new readers from somewhere, wants to be part of that trend, then I approve.

[Phoenix]

If you have little 'uns, you have to be prepared to sit through many a Chipmunks and Smurf extravaganza.

Don't you just! I'll be going to Cornwall again in the near future to stay with my little grandchildren. The price to pay for this great pleasure, however, is the mindnumbing Peppa Pig, who is beginning to metamorphose in my mind into her component parts - pork chops, pork loin, pork scratchings even, you get the picture? By the time I get there I will have imagined a similarly gruesome fate for Charlie and Lola and the entire cast of Balamory. Life will, nevertheless, proceed as per normal down there. The programmes will be watched and talked about, the comics will be bought in St. Ives or Truro, and then read, separately and together, attempts will be made to prevent the rascals from putting the stickers in inappropriate places. Mmm, yes, I just can't wait to get down there. As for Peppa Pig, I'm just about to put a couple of juicy pork steaks under the grill for my tea. Watch the next episode, she'll be wondering where George has got to.

[Phoenix]

Well, I must say it's nice to be receiving so much parenting advice on a comics forum!

You ain't seen nothing yet, Ginger, but at least the advice and guidance come free of charge.

[Raven]

Don't you just! I'll be going to Cornwall again in the near future to stay with my little grandchildren. The price to pay for this great pleasure, however, is the mindnumbing Peppa Pig, who is beginning to metamorphose in my mind into her component parts - pork chops, pork loin, pork scratchings even, you get the picture? By the time I get there I will have imagined a similarly gruesome fate for Charlie and Lola and the entire cast of Balamory.

And have you ever sat through Dora the Explorer?

[Phoenix]

And have you ever sat through Dora the Explorer?

Not really, Raven. I did watch a couple of episodes about three years ago when my younger son and his partner, Rachel, were still living on the Wirral. Rachel had got the idea into her head that I could teach Lois to speak Spanish. She was only two at the time. It was obviously a non-starter because I would have needed to live with them, or she would have had to live with me, if she was to have had any chance of becoming bilingual. However, an ex-pupil of mine, then, and now, a lecturer in Spanish and Linguistics at Liverpool University, was using Dora with her two daughters. I went over to watch some episodes, and some more cutting edge DVDs that she'd brought back from Madrid, to decide whether it would be worthwhile buying into some such material for Lois just to watch at home. However, within a couple of months they'd upped sticks and gone to Cornwall, and Rachel had gone off the idea anyway, so my money stayed in my pocket. I suppose I could spend some of it on a run of issues of Valiant!

[dishes]

Ha ha, yes, you may be right about me using the kids as an excuse to buy the Dandy.
I wasn't expecting so much resistance to the idea of an all-ages comic (after all, the Dandy editor has stated in the interview I linked to that it is his aim), whilst I was expecting more reaction to my feeling that the old comics weren't funny (which I thought might be considered an heretical view point on a site like this!)

Not heretical! I read comics throughout my childhood, both DCT and IPC, and they were very rarely actually funny, nor did I think they were at the time. I even used to get irritated when the characters were shown laughing at their own comics within the strips. I thought it so was so obviously not true to life, that anyone would laugh out loud at a comic.

[Peter Gray]

I see a reference to Byker Grove in the Ant and Dec fight this week..I'm blind!

I am enjoying Harry Hill and it does have lots of jokes..breakng the forth wall in each panel..very like Cheeky in that way..

[big bad bri]

I see a reference to Byker Grove in the Ant and Dec fight this week..I'm blind!
.

they reference it every week on Soccer AM & its funny every time

[Jonny Whizz]

Furthermore, it is quite possible, indeed probable, that the children might prefer to read on their own, especially if they have failed to tell you how much they actually enjoy some of the strips that they know you disapprove of.

Relating to the point you made there, my Dad read the Beano when he was a child and he told me that he found Little Plum boring, but when Plum reappeared after I started reading it I really liked him! He didn't disapprove of me liking it though, and we did agree on several other strips - he never rated Punch and Jimmy, and I don't like it much either.

Going off at a slight tangent, I do think that while adults shouldn't try to influence their childrens' tastes too much, some things aimed at children are definitely better for adults than others. For example, I watched both Thomas the Tank Engine and The Teletubbies when I was little. A couple of years ago I watched a few Thomas episodes from the first series and I could clearly see why I liked it so much, whereas if I saw the Teletubbies now I'd wonder why I ever bothered watching it.

[-MikeD-]

Going off at a slight tangent, I do think that while adults shouldn't try to influence their childrens' tastes too much...

Definitely, definitely not the forum to get into an indepth discussion on parent/child psychology…I seem to get wrapped up in off topic stuff a lot!

Except.. I've been asking my kids about The Dandy a lot recently, and they seem to like the same stuff as me. So there may be a lot of parental influence going on consciously and subconsciously. Maybe even the other way 'round - I'm attracted to stuff I think will amuse the kids.

Just for the record, their favourite strips at the moment are - Clown Wars, Pre-Skool Prime Minister, Yore!, The Bogies and Harry Hill.

[BeanoMark]

I caught a glimpse of a bogies strip earlier today and I snorted out loud. Very embarrassing, but it WAS good, I couldnt contain it.

[WizzKid97]

THE DANDY - ISSUE 3552

Not a bad issue really, after a day of bullying, destruction and hell at school getting this and the Beano made me a lot happier. This issue introduces us to two new mini strips called Watch this Space by Nick Brennan and Igg and Ook by Nik Holmes. As well as this we also so the return of Pre-Skool Prime Minister sadly now only being one page (but still just as funny (this replaced Yore's spot) and Mr T's Public Health Warnings or as it is called this time 'Mr T's Safety Tips', anyway, it wasn't funny at all and was very boring. Daybreak which took up the other half was okay, good artwork but I don't get why they were breakfast cereals, there was no point in it. Two Madvertisements in this week both supplied by Nigel Auchterlounie, the school one was okay not too funny, Buck Palace B&B on the other hand made me laugh.

NOTE: Last of the first series of Bear Behind this week! Also seems Snoop Dawg (yes!) and Fat Cat (no!) have also gone. D:

'NOTHER NOTE: Looks like Noel or No Noel is back next week, unless it's just stock art by Wayne and another artist is drawing something Noel related.

GOOD: Mr Meecher, the Uncool Teacher, Go Compare, 99 Genius Homework Excuses, Pre-Skool Prime Minister, Bananaman, My Own Genie, Bear Behind, Dave the Squirrel, Korky the Cat, Postman Prat, Desperate Dan

OKAY: Tiny's Temper, Watch this Space, Daybreak, Dino Vet, The Bogies, Nuke Noodle, Jibber & Steve, Igg and Ook

BAD: Harry Hill's Real Life Adventures in TV Land (Was his 'friend' Olly based off a celebrity because if it was I have no idea who!), Not the Greatest Wrestler, Mr. T's Safety Tips, Knock! Knock!

PAGE COUNT:

PAGES: 32
NEW COMICS: 16
REPRINTED COMICS: 2
ADVERTS: 2
CELEBRITY PAGES: 9
OTHER: 12

[Digifiend]

Not read it yet, but could Olly be singer and Xtra Factor presenter Olly Murs?

[WizzKid97]

Not read it yet, but could Olly be singer and Xtra Factor presenter Olly Murs?

That's what I thought but if it is it's an appalling attempt at drawing him. The hair's wrong and he looks really fat. That's the problem with Harry Hill, I don't know who half the celebrities are!