National Library to celebrate 90 years of comic strip classic The Broons

The National Library of Scotland is partnering with DC Thomson to mark the 90th anniversary of the comic strip The Broons. Activities are planned across Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee over the weekend of 24 to 26 July, featuring pop-up displays with rare items from national collections, costumed guests, giveaways, and family activities. The Broons first appeared on 8 March 1936 in The Sunday Post, and the Scottish character Oor Wullie also debuted that week. In 1939, DC Thomson compiled strips into an album and created the first annual, which will be among the items shown. Library engagement director Peggy Hughes highlighted the importance of seeing the first-edition annuals and said the strip remains a consistent presence in Scottish households. Curators have been filling gaps, including acquiring the first Broons annual in 2023. The first annual was published in 1939 and Oor Wullie’s in 1940, with annuals continuing except for a two-year wartime paper rationing break.