The first issue, under the name "The Dandy Comic", was published on 4 December 1937. The most notable difference between this and other comics of the day was the use of speech balloons instead of captions under the . It was published weekly until 6 September 1941, when wartime paper shortages forced it to change to fortnightly, alternating with "The Beano". It returned to weekly publication on 30 July 1949. From 17 July 1950 the magazine changed its name to "The Dandy." One of those involved in the comic in its early days was George Thomson, who served as deputy editor, and briefly - when aged 18 - as editor. Thomson would later serve as a cabinet minister under Harold Wilson and as European Commissioner.