There will be celebrations to mark 90 years of Oor Wullie and The Broons this month as the National Library of Scotland teams up with DC Thomson for the commemoration.
Pop-up displays will run in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee over the weekend of 24 to 26 July, giving fans the chance to see rare items from the national collections up close, including first-edition annuals of both comic strips.
The free events will also feature costumed characters, giveaways and activities aimed at all ages.
Oor Wullie and The Broons made their debut in The Sunday Post’s “Fun Section” on 8 March 1936, created by writer RD Low and artist Dudley D Watkins.
The pair went on to create Desperate Dan for The Dandy in 1937 and contributed to the launch of The Beano the following year.
The National Library’s Director of Engagement, Peggy Hughes, said: “I’m especially excited to see the first edition annuals. When I was growing up, I got the annuals every year without fail – it was a much-anticipated occasion.
“The Broons are unique to Scotland. They are also unique in the sense that they move with the times, but only just – they remain a comforting, consistent presence in family households throughout the country and beyond because, in many ways, they haven’t changed since their debut in the 1930s.
“Even internationally, there are few comparable cultural icons that have enjoyed such endurance.”
She added: “It was as recent as 2023 when we managed to get our hands on the first edition of ‘The Broons’ annual, and it has taken its rightful place alongside all the other treasures we have in the national collections.
“We will be delighted to help communities around Scotland get up close to these publications over that July weekend – and most importantly, have lots of fun!”
The first Broons annual followed in 1939, with the first Oor Wullie annual arriving a year later. The two titles have alternated publication ever since, aside from a two-year gap during the Second World War caused by paper rationing.
Both first editions will be on display at all events, complemented by a reel of comic strips from the past 90 years which chart how these famous characters – from Paw Broon to Wee Eck – have changed over time.
The National Library only added a first edition Broons annual to its collection in 2023, after decades of not actively adding the books to their collection.
Thomas Hawkins, Editor of The Sunday Post, added: “Very few fictional characters have lived as vividly in Scotland’s imagination as Oor Wullie and The Broons.
“From boosting morale during the Second World War to putting a smile on readers’ faces during the Covid pandemic, Oor Wullie and The Broons have been a reassuring constant in a world in flux.
“We’re delighted to be working with the National Library of Scotland to showcase the remarkable history and origins of Scotland’s favourite ‘schoolboy’ and best-loved family.
“Whether you’ve grown up reading the annuals or are discovering them for the first time, we hope families will enjoy celebrating this special anniversary with us.”
Edinburgh — National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Friday 24 July, 10am-4pm
https://www.nls.uk/whats-on/the-broons-and-oor-wullies-braw-weekend
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