11 Desperate Dans like you've never seen before

The 2015 Beano and Dandy annuals are coming out soon, with the Dandy proudly displaying Desperate Dan on the cover. He's been hiding away for a while, since his weekly comic folded, so it'll be good to see him again. Of course if you have a trawl around the internet, Dan's never far away. Here are just a few of the unusual versions you may have missed...

Dan as the perfect mascot for Movember, drawn by @paulshinndraws for @ProstrateUK

A Desperate Dan scarecrow which was robbed, getting just 3rd place at the Wray Scarecrow Festival. via @SpaceMonkey351

A Desperate Dan cutout that you can have yourself photographed in. These always work, you'd have thought. The trick is to have the character facing straight towards you, not in three-quarter profile, for future reference. Via @ruggerlad



Desperate Dan - CGI animation by @martinftierney

Dan seduces Diedre from Corrie, a drawing improvised around a coffee stain by the brilliantly named Bacardi Oakheart @Midgetgems26



How to Draw Desperate Dan - a video tutorial by Jamie Smart. Jamie gave Dan a revolutionary revamp in 2010 which saw Dan through to the Dandy's cancellation. A book compilation hopefully can't be far away.

The legendary Desperate Dan statue in the centre of Dundee. Photo via @Brackens1



Desperate Dan by Lieutenant Pigeon, their follow up single to the much more popular Mouldy Old Dough. It is, sadly, a little bit rubbish.

Dan's cow pie, recreated by the @unionagency to promote the National Libraries of Scotland in Glasgow @natlibscot

A Desperate Dan cookie jar, via @FurnishStudio54

The boss himself, Dudley D Watkins, the original artist of Desperate Dan, seen here with a page of artwork from the April Fools edition of the Dandy back in 1938. This page sold on Compal auctions in 2003 for £450, this shot of it courtesy of Nigel Parkinson's blog.

Do let me know if you find any more interesting Dans, Bananamans or any character, they're always fun to share.

See also 10 Bananamans like you never saw before - and 10 more Bananamans - and 10 yet more Bananamans



As well as writing Bananaman and drawing Pansy Potter in The Beano, Kev F Sutherland has worked for everyone from Marvel to Doctor Who & most points inbetween, and runs Comic Art Masterclasses in schools, libraries and art centres - email for details, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter. He's been writing and drawing comics for 25 years, he must know something.