THE final printed issue of the UK's longest-running comic will be released on its 75th birthday – but The Dandy could be saved by its biggest rival.
Reports say The Beano, which is published by the same firm, DC Thomson, could save Desperate Dan and the other heroes of the cult comic.
Meanwhile, the Dundee-based publisher says the comic will still be available online and there are "exciting plans in the pipeline" to take it in a "different direction".
Ellis Watson, chief executive of the company's newspaper and magazine publishing operations, said: "Dan has certainly not eaten his last cow pie. The Dandy's characters are just 110 days away from a new lease of life."