City hosts major comic conference

The Dandy is one of the world's most famous comics

A major international conference looking at the role of the comic in society is to be staged in Dundee.

The city is home to comics giant DC Thomson, with titles including The Dandy and Oor Wullie.

The event is being held at the University of Dundee as part of the Scotland-wide Six Cities Design Festival on 25 and 26 of May.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of The Dandy, widely recognised as the world's longest running comic.

Event organisers believe the continued popularity of comic greats, including Spiderman, Superman and Dare Devil at the box office in recent years is a testament to their influence on our culture.

Comic heritage

Dr Chris Murray, who is helping to stage the conference, said it would celebrate Dundee's comic heritage, explore topical and controversial comics and their interaction with other media.

He said: "Comics are an important and vital part of popular culture, shaping the early reading experience of many children, as well as commanding an increasing number of adult readers.

"They can offer slapstick fun or serious literary themes and have spread into every imaginable genre with huge influence."

The Dundee programme for Six Cities will also include the publication of a comic published by DC Thomson highlighting design and innovation in Dundee.

To accompany the conference there will be an exhibition of comic artwork and a reading by Alan Bisset from his novel The Incredible Adam Spark.