DFC RIP

In case you don't already know...

"The DFC, a weekly comic (launched May 2008) for boys and girls is up for sale, following a decision by The Random House Group to cease publication.

Philippa Dickinson, MD RHCB, said: “We are very proud of the DFC and the reaction it received from families, schools and especially the children who have enjoyed reading it. It is an innovative concept which we have been very happy to back. There can be no successes without taking risks, after all. Unfortunately, in the current economic climate, we have decided that the DFC is not commercially viable within our organisation.

“David Fickling, the staff at the DFC, and all the comic’s contributors have worked tirelessly to produce what is an amazing weekly publication and we would be delighted if a buyer could be found who would like to take the DFC on as a going concern”

If no buyer is found, the title will close on March 27th."

I've been meaning to blog about this since the news broke yesterday (although technically we creators were given a heads-up a few days ago... not that it really helped it sink in).

So that's that. Despite the best efforts of all concerned the DFC will be bowing out with issue 43, wrestled into submission by the Economy From Hell. Reactions so far seem overwhelmingly positive and sympathetic, with even the most cynical of commentators commending this admittedly flawed but incredibly noble venture. And that's what we have to hold on to, really - like the demise of DC's MINX line last year after a huge fanfare the year before, speculating on what went wrong may offer some insights to any publisher thinking of picking up where David Fickling left off, but it won't allow anyone to hop back in time and do things differently. For the moment I'll be holding on to the things that went right - the wealth of amazing new comic material it launched into the world, the opportunities and alliances it offered to so many creators, and just the sheer bloody BALLS it took to do what it did. Truly a Dream Followed Courageously.