The first graphic novel adaptation of Peter Pan will be released by Scottish publishers next week.
Celebrated Kirriemuir playwright JM Barrie first wrote about “the boy who never grew up” in 1902, creating an icon of children’s literature.
And Stephen White, who draws DC Thomson character Oor Wullie as part of his day job, has been given permission by the Great Ormond Street children’s hospital to draw the story in comic form.
Mr White, 44, said the first-of-its-kind offering from Birlinn’s new children’s imprint BC Books offers an opportunity for “de-Disneyfication” of Barrie’s classic tale.
He said: “A lot of people think they know the story but there’s so much more under the surface of Peter Pan that they’re often not aware of that Neverland is also so dark and full of death.
“At first, I drew it in a brasher, more modern style, but I scrapped that in favour of making it as authentic and as true to JM Barrie’s life as I possibly could.”
Mr White has worked on the novel for the last six years, and last year took six months off from his normal job as a freelance illustrator for DC Thomson to finish.
He was so hooked by Pan as a child, he was convinced he could fly and his mother had to put bars on the windows of their house.
“That happened back in 1904 too,” he added.
“So many children were injuring themselves trying to fly that Barrie had to add that children could only do this after they’d been sprinkled with magic fairy dust.
“Windows in Peter Pan are like doors in the imagination.”
Another launch title, Sixteen String Jack by poet Tom Pow, is also about Barrie’s life in Dumfries with friends at Moat Brae House.
Newport author Joan Lennon’s Young Adult novel Silver Skin is another of the books selected to launch the young person’s imprint.
The novel is set in the world-famous Neolithic village of Skara Brae on Orkney and is a tale of time travel.
Rab, a teenager from the distant future, gets a present from his mother to help him with his ancient history homework.
Ms Lennon said: “I’ve been fascinated by Skara Brae for years, and I’ve tried to show why.
“I’ve done a lot of research, but in the end, this is just a story a work of the imagination.”