Desperately DULL Dan??

Desperately dull: The politically-correct Desperate Dan for the 21st century

By GRAHAM GRANT - More by this author » Last updated at 08:35am on 17th September 2007 Comments (11)

In his prime he used to shave with a blowtorch, part his hair with a pistol shot and munch cow pie - horns, tails and all.

But these days Desperate Dan is a mere shadow of his former dynamic self.

In fact he is nothing more than a politically-correct big softie, according to the daughter of the man who created the Dandy's best-loved character 70 years ago.

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Dan's favourite dish fell victim to the BSE scare

Dr Jennifer Barnes, whose father Albert Barnes edited the comic from 1937 to 1982, said her father would be horrified if he could see the modern Dan.

"It's completely ridiculous," said 69-yearold Dr Barnes in an interview following the rebranding of the comic last month when it was relaunched as Dandy Xtreme. "It does make me sad to see the changes."

Over the years the once-portly Dan has been slimmed down and his six-shooter replaced with a water pistol.

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No more Mr Tough Guy: The bumbling, unthreatening Dan of today

The dynamic Desperate Dan of old