Paul McCartney to Appear in Last Printed Issue of His Favorite Childhood Comic Book

Mary McCartney/MPL Communications Ltd.This week, Paul McCartney will realize a "personal ambition" he's had since he was young when his likeness appears in the final weekly print version of the long-running U.K. comic book The Dandy. According to BBC News, the rock legend will be featured getting a crushing handshake from the burly cowboy Desperate Dan, and then will lead Dan and a bunch of the comic's other famed characters in a group sing-along of the Beatles classic "Hey Jude."

The Daily Mail reports that after The Dandy's publishers announced plans to discontinue the cartoon's print edition a few months ago, McCartney sent a letter to them asking if they would consider including him in an issue.

"The Dandy was a favorite comic of mine when growing up in Liverpool and each week I would look forward to the exploits of Desperate Dan and his other comic book colleagues," he wrote. "In 1963, in the NME, when asked what my personal ambition was, I replied -- to have my picture in The Dandy! I hope it's not too late!"

The last printed issue of The Dandy goes on sale on Tuesday, and coincides with the 75th anniversary of the comic's debut. A digital edition of the magazine will launch the same day, at Dandy.com.