Oor Wullie and the Broons 90th Anniversary Marked by New Exhibition

The National Library of Scotland and publishers DC Thomson are celebrating the 90th anniversary of Scotland’s popular longstanding comic strip icons Oor Wullie and The Broons this weekend with pop-up displays showcasing rare items from the national collections.

The Broons first appeared on March 8 1936 in ‘The Fun Section’ of The Sunday Post, a newspaper by DC Thomson. Oor Wullie made his debut in the same week. In 1939, DC Thomson realised they had enough for a book and gathered the comic strips together into an annual.

“I’m especially excited to see the first edition annuals," said The National Library’s Director of Engagement, Peggy Hughes. "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.”

For much of the 20th century, the National Library of Scotland didn’t actively collect the annuals, but this century’s Library curators have been plugging the gaps, with the first edition annual added in 2023.
 
The first annual edition of The Broons was published in 1939 and the first edition of Oor Wullie was published in 1940. The annuals alternated publication ever since, except for a two-year break during the Second World War due to 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.

“Very few fictional characters have lived as vividly in Scotland's imagination as Oor Wullie and The Broons," said Thomas Hawkins, Editor of The Sunday Post. "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."

The Broons and Oor Wullie’s Braw Weekend will take place in Edinburgh at the National Library of Scotland (July 24, 10am–4pm), the National Library of Scotland at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow (July 25, 10am–4pm) and DC Thomson HQ in Dundee (July 26, 10am–4pm). Entry for all pop-up displays and activities is free.