Famous children’s comic characters, created by newspaper and magazine publishers, DC Thomson, are set to appear on brand new buses in the company's home city of Dundee.
Thanks to a tie-up between the publisher and the bus company, National Express Dundee, two bus routes are to feature the characters, Dennis and Gnasher and Oor Wullie.
Oor Wullie was 75 and Dennis the Menace was 60 in March. The newly-liveried routes also carry the branding of the characters’ newspaper and comic titles, The Sunday Post and The Beano.
In a statment issued by DC Thomson, Phil Smith, managing director of National Express Dundee, is quoted as saying: “These buses are a multi-million pound investment in the future of the bus network in Dundee. We are delighted that characters that are an international symbol of pride to Dundee will be on the city’s new buses. We’re proud to be working with DC Thomson to promote their great comics and, importantly, the heritage they have created in Dundee. We hope that local people feel a sense of pride when they see the Dennis and Gnasher and Oor Wullie routes travelling around town.”
Head of brand marketing (consumer entertainment) at DC Thomson, John-Paul Murphy, is also quoted, as saying: “We were more than happy to co-operate when this opportunity arose. It really seals the link between both companies and the City of Dundee – where some of the most famous comic creations have been devised, developed and made truly famous by our talented comic artists and writers. We look forward to working with National Express on branding more routes in the coming months.”
