The Purple Cloud

&nbsp THE PURPLE CLOUD was a thrilling melodrama that featured within Dandy comic twice at either end of the Swinging Sixties, as it enjoyed a repeat run after initially running from issue numbers 1006-1048 [March 4, 1961-Dec 23, 1961.] The rerun occurred between issues 1268-1445 [Oct. 20, 1968-Aug 2, 1969].

Beautifully rendered by Korky the cat artist Charlie Grigg, [ who adapted his stle to that of a more 'realistic' rendition to the point where casual readers may not have recognized this was the work of the same artist], this thrilling chapter play recounted the mayhem unleashed by an American Master Criminal, the PURPLE MASK, who inflicts untold terror on that nation by spraying his lethal purple cloud gas, which decimates buildings and structures, laying waste to entire towns in some cases. The Purple Mask has access to an impressive Private Army who obey his devious bidding, and also very impressive advanced technology, including functioning flying-saucer styled craft [operated by his lackeys] that usually whisk himto safety as the authorities close in on him.

Hero of this piece is the splendidly [and ironically] named DANDY JIM BREWSTER, who pursues the fiend tirelessly throughout the saga. Jim has the antidote black cloud gasinvented by a civilian scientist-which Jim disperses in pistol form, etc, to counteract the deadly effects of the purple cloud gas [sometimes to no avail]. Much effective use of large 'splash'-type panels within this tale illustrate vividly the scenes of total destruction, and though undoubtedly spectacular, it is debatable if the subject-matter would be acceptable within a juvenile comic in today's sometimes over-cautious post-9/11 society. A fascinating and worthy period-piece however, with many dated but fascinating elements of the early 60s US on view [gas-guzzling cars, etc]. Alongside the Island of Monsters, which also occupied the Page 3 spot within DANDY later on in the year-this was one of the visual highpoints of the 1969 period within this comic.