Retain comic - not Hogan (4,4)

I believe the answer is:

hang onto

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'retain' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'comic not hogan' is the wordplay.
'comic' is an anagram indicator.
'not'+'hogan'='nothogan'
'nothogan' with letters rearranged gives 'HANG ONTO'.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app