The Dandy's 75th anniversary – in pictures

Desperate Dan tucks into his beloved Cow Pie Photograph: DC Thomson

The first issue of The Dandy, featuring Korky the Cat, was published on 4 December 1937
Photograph: DC Thomson

An early Dandy comic strip in 1939 shows Desperate Dan as a rugged prospector Photograph: DC Thomson

A comic strip published on 18 January 1941, sees Desperate Dan bring down a Nazi plane Photograph: DC Thomson

As well as taking on the Luftwaffe, Desperate Dan did his bit for the war effort by telling the kids to recycle Photograph: DC Thomson

In 1952 Desperate Dan undertakes a difficult trip from Cactusville to attend the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Photograph: DC Thomson

The 1960s saw an experiment in typeface and a sleeker Desperate Dan Photograph: DC Thomson

Referencing the BSE outbreak in Britain, Desperate Dan contracts Mad Cowpie Disease Photograph: DC Thomson

In 1997 Desperate Dan disappeared, leaving a big Dan-shaped hole on the cover Photograph: DC Thomson

Many applied to fill Desperate Dan's huge boots, including Crocodile Dundee, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Bruno, John Major, Julian Clary and a host of others. All failed. Photograph: DC Thomson

However, Desperate Dan was finally tracked down to his luxury yacht, where he was being entertained by the Spice Girls and persuaded back into service Photograph: DC Thomson