Wee Peem
Wee Peem ("He's a Proper Scream") was a British comic strip, created by James Jewell.[1] It ran in The Beano from 1938 on and ceased publication in 1957.
| Wee Peem | |
|---|---|
| Comic strip character(s) from The Beano | |
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Stars in | Wee Peem (1938-40) Wee Peem's Magic Pills (1951-52) |
| Other names | Wee Peem (He's a Proper Scream) |
| Creator(s) | James Jewell |
| Other contributors | James Malcom Charles Grigg |
| First appearance | Issue 1 (30 July 1938) |
| Last appearance | Issue 765 (16 March 1957) |
| Also appeared in | The Beano Annual |
| Current status | Discontinued |
| Main Character | |
| Name | Peem |
| Alias(es) | Wee Peem |
History
The series was first published in the first issue of the comic book magazine The Beano, dated July 30, 1938, and ran until the 89th issue, dated April 6, 1940. This first incarnation also appeared in the 1940 and 1941 Beano Books.
The central character "Wee Peem" was a young boy who gets up to various forms of mischief in a similar way to later Beano strips such as Dennis the Menace and Minnie the Minx. The name "Peem" is commonly a diminutive form of "James" in North East Scotland.
Publication history
These first Wee Peem strips were later reprinted in D.C. Thomson's magazine-cum-newspaper The People's Journal which were followed by new Wee Peem strips in The People's Journal this time drawn by James Malcolm.[1] The character then reappeared in issue 486, dated 10 November 1951, this time drawn by Charles Grigg, in a new strip entitled Wee Peem's Magic Pills[2] in this new strip the character was redesigned to have a massive head and took pills which gave him magic powers. This new strip lasted until issue 507, dated 5 April 1952, and appeared in the 1953 Beano Book.[2] The character then reappeared for a third and final time in 1956 in a new strip this time simply entitled Wee Peem.[3] In this final Wee Peem strip, drawn by Hugh Morren, the character was redesigned yet again and this final Wee Peem comic strip lasted until 1957.[3]
He reappeared in 2018 for the 80th anniversary in both the 2019 Beano Annual[4] and the 80th-anniversary issue.
Dipper the Dodger
A similar character in both appearance and mannerisms appeared in the first Dandy Monster Comic under the name Dipper the Dodger.[5]
References
- The History of the Beano. Dundee, Scotland: D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. 2008. p. 305. ISBN 978-1-902407-73-9.
- The History of the Beano. Dundee, Scotland: D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. 2008. p. 317. ISBN 978-1-902407-73-9.
- The History of the Beano. Dundee, Scotland: D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. 2008. p. 323. ISBN 978-1-902407-73-9.
- Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Annual 2019 Beano. DC Thomson.
- Dandy Monster Comic No. 1. Dundee, Scotland: D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. in conjunction with Aurum Press Ltd. 2006. pp. 54, 86, 127. ISBN 1-84513-217-3.