A LEADING expert in comics has argued that, despite declining readership and growing competition from television, computer games and the internet, there will always be a place for the genre in Scottish culture.

Dr Chris Murray, who lectures in Comic Studies at Dundee University, spoke out after it emerged the UK's oldest children's comic, the Dandy, is facing closure.

The academic said fans of the 75-year-old comic, published by Dundee-based DC Thomson, should not give up hope as it could survive online or be merged with sister title the Beano.

That would mean famous Dandy characters such as Desperate Dan and Korky the Cat would still have a future.

Mr Murray said: "Print comics may never retain the dominance they once had but they will always be around. Film and television didn't kill off the novel as many feared.

"It is always sad if we lose a printed comic but there is the possibility of new things being developed for digital technology that could be exciting.

"We've already seen this happen with music, going from vinyl to CD to MP3, and in publishing with ebooks."

He said purists may throw their hands in the air at the thought of the Dandy and Beano merging as there has always been a friendly rivalry.

But he added: "I am sure if Desperate Dan was to move to the Beano he could more than hold his own."

In its heyday the Dandy sold more than two million copies a week but recently circulation has dwindled to below 8000, prompting owner DC Thomson to review the comic's future.

By comparison the Beano, home to the likes of Dennis the Menace, had a circulation of 38,000 in the six months to the end of December.

The Dandy first went on sale in 1937 costing 2p, with a free whistle. While it has outlasted titles such as the Topper and the Beezer by some two decades, a series of relaunches in the past five years, including a switch to a fortnightly called Dandy Xtreme and a move in 2010 to introduce celebrity-themed comic strips, have failed to halt its falling circulation.

Mr Murray believes changes in comic publishing and rising competition for children's time and attention had all contributed to the Dandy's demise.

An online format, he said, would not only be a way for beloved characters to survive, but potentially develop. He said: "Digital comics and print comics are slightly different beasts. Print comics have been with us for around 100 years and are sophisticated in their storytelling techniques. Web comics are still very much in the early stages of development. I don't think anyone has really cracked it yet, so there is the opportunity to be innovative and produce something new."

Such is Desperate Dan's fame, the character was immortalised as an 8ft bronze statue in Dundee.

A DC Thomson spokeswoman said the closure of the print title was being considered as part of a review of the magazine business but indicated characters could continue to exist online.

She said: "We are carrying out a review of our magazines business to meet the challenges of the rapidly-changing publishing industry. There are many challenges within the industry but we're excited the digital revolution has also given us an opportunity to innovate and develop."