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| The first-ever Dennis book. Art by Davey Law |
Readers who bought
THE BEANO #452,
issue dated March
17th, 1951, could
never have guessed
exactly what impact
the new character they
encountered on page 5
of the 12 page comic
(priced 2d) would
eventually have, not
only on the comic
itself, but also the
country at large.
However, his initial appearance (without the famous hooped jersey,
which didn't show up until a few strips down the line) is rather standard
fare, and displays only a faint hint of the madcap anarchy which
established his reader popularity in subsequent escapades.
THE BEANO #452,
issue dated March
17th, 1951, could
never have guessed
exactly what impact
the new character they
encountered on page 5
of the 12 page comic
(priced 2d) would
eventually have, not
only on the comic
itself, but also the
country at large.
Today, DENNIS
THE MENACE is
a British icon, and
there can't be a kid
(or adult, come to that)
in the land who doesn't
know who the spiky-
haired scamp is. Created by GEORGE MOONIE (who lifted the name from
a popular song), IAN CHISHOLM, and artist DAVEY LAW, the lovable
menace has been the comic's cover star since 1974.
THE MENACE is
a British icon, and
there can't be a kid
(or adult, come to that)
in the land who doesn't
know who the spiky-
haired scamp is. Created by GEORGE MOONIE (who lifted the name from
a popular song), IAN CHISHOLM, and artist DAVEY LAW, the lovable
menace has been the comic's cover star since 1974.
However, his initial appearance (without the famous hooped jersey,
which didn't show up until a few strips down the line) is rather standard
fare, and displays only a faint hint of the madcap anarchy which
established his reader popularity in subsequent escapades.
 |
| Dennis's very first appearance. Art by Davey Law |
So successful did the strip become that, if not for Dennis, LEO
BAXENDALE might never have been inspired to contact the Dundee "fun
factory" looking for work. After a few false starts, things were not looking
good for him until, copying Dennis's face, he created LITTLE PLUM (or
BOOSTER, as he was originally provisionally called), the strip which
secured his place in the world of D.C. THOMSON's children's comics. (It
wasn't too long before Plum developed his own distinct facial features.)
It's no exaggeration to say that, without Dennis, Thomson's may
well have had no Leo to produce not only Little Plum, but also THE
BASH STREET KIDS and THE THREE BEARS, who - along with
DUDLEY D. WATKIN's LORD SNOOTY and KEN REID's ROGER
HE DODGER - were destined to become some of the comic's other
most iconic characters.
Interestingly, in what
factory" looking for work. After a few false starts, things were not looking
good for him until, copying Dennis's face, he created LITTLE PLUM (or
BOOSTER, as he was originally provisionally called), the strip which
secured his place in the world of D.C. THOMSON's children's comics. (It
wasn't too long before Plum developed his own distinct facial features.)
It's no exaggeration to say that, without Dennis, Thomson's may
well have had no Leo to produce not only Little Plum, but also THE
BASH STREET KIDS and THE THREE BEARS, who - along with
DUDLEY D. WATKIN's LORD SNOOTY and KEN REID's ROGER
HE DODGER - were destined to become some of the comic's other
most iconic characters.
 |
| The issue in which Dennis first appeared. Artwork by Dudley D. Watkins |
can only be described as an
amazing coincidence, another
DENNIS THE MENACE - by
HANK KETCHAM - debuted in
his own newspaper strip in
America on March
12th 1951.
HANK KETCHAM - debuted in
his own newspaper strip in
America on March
12th 1951.
It should be remembered,
however, that British comics
are traditionally released up
to seven days before the cover
date to give them a full week's
shelf life until the next issue, so
that means our Dennis hit the
shops well in advance of the
17th. (Some sources say the
12th, the same day as the U.S. version.)
However, as current Dennis artist NIGEL PARKINSON points
out, U.K. comics are usually printed up to a week before going on sale,
so regardless of which character had the longer lead-in to publication (which
is anybody's guess), the British Dennis definitely saw print first - by several
days. (Consider also that UK weekly comics are prepared about two
months before publication.)
however, that British comics
are traditionally released up
to seven days before the cover
date to give them a full week's
shelf life until the next issue, so
that means our Dennis hit the
shops well in advance of the
17th. (Some sources say the
12th, the same day as the U.S. version.)
However, as current Dennis artist NIGEL PARKINSON points
out, U.K. comics are usually printed up to a week before going on sale,
so regardless of which character had the longer lead-in to publication (which
is anybody's guess), the British Dennis definitely saw print first - by several
days. (Consider also that UK weekly comics are prepared about two
months before publication.)
Although known in this country, the U.S. version does not enjoy the
same level (or anywhere near it) of popularity as our own home-grown
rascal, but is big in the States, and no doubt our Dennis is just a minor
footnote over there. The two are completely different types of strips
however, and aren't really comparable.
same level (or anywhere near it) of popularity as our own home-grown
rascal, but is big in the States, and no doubt our Dennis is just a minor
footnote over there. The two are completely different types of strips
however, and aren't really comparable.
 |
| Classic Dennis from the 1978 Dennis book. Art by Davey Law |
Today, Dennis is
everywhere: books,
stationery, stamps, toys,
 |
| Back cover of the first-ever Dennis book. Art by Davey Law |
everywhere: books,
stationery, stamps, toys,
figurines, DVDs, TV,
and, of course, comics.
Given the disappointing
circulation figures that
afflict traditional kids'
comics nowadays, let's
hope that Dennis will still
be around in another 60
years. All together now -
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
DENNIS! (The one who
isn't the gay gondolier
from Venice, that is -
because it's not his
birthday.)
and, of course, comics.
Given the disappointing
circulation figures that
afflict traditional kids'
comics nowadays, let's
hope that Dennis will still
be around in another 60
years. All together now -
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
DENNIS! (The one who
isn't the gay gondolier
from Venice, that is -
because it's not his
birthday.)
(All images on this post are
copyright of D.C. Thomson
& Co., Ltd.)
copyright of D.C. Thomson
& Co., Ltd.)
(FOOTNOTE: When the U.S. strips were reprinted in Britain many
years ago, the title was renamed after the character's live-action '60s
TV show, JUST DENNIS (THE PICKLE), to avoid confusion with the
Thomson's character. In 1976 or '77, DENIS GIFFORD, the late British
comics historian and collector, made mention of this fact in the pages of an
issue of his ALLY SLOPER magazine, and received an irate letter from
a young American reader who had mistakenly assumed that Denis was
saying the strip's name-change had occurred in the USA - so it seems
our Stateside cousins are just as enthusiastic about their version of
Dennis as we are of ours.)
years ago, the title was renamed after the character's live-action '60s
TV show, JUST DENNIS (THE PICKLE), to avoid confusion with the
Thomson's character. In 1976 or '77, DENIS GIFFORD, the late British
comics historian and collector, made mention of this fact in the pages of an
issue of his ALLY SLOPER magazine, and received an irate letter from
a young American reader who had mistakenly assumed that Denis was
saying the strip's name-change had occurred in the USA - so it seems
our Stateside cousins are just as enthusiastic about their version of
Dennis as we are of ours.)
6 comments:
Roy Thomas's Alter Ego magazine, in about 2004, mentioned the coincidence of the two Dennis the Menace debuts with the words "apparently an English Dennis the Menace also started that month and ran for a short while." I did put them straight, especially over the use of the word 'English'!
Apparently there was also a world war back in the '30s and '40s which America won mostly by itself - though I understand that "England" lent some mild support. (They're in their own little world, aren't they?)
The way I see it, Dennis is British - that way he belongs to all of us. You must be fair chuffed, NP, being the current Dennis artist, eh? There's not many who could pull off that gig successfully. Fan as I was of the late, great Bob Nixon, his style just didn't suit Oor Wullie and The Broons. Dennis is in the same category - he needs the right artist and you're one of the few who are up to the job. (It's a shame that Thomson's have lumbered you with the "TV look" instead of the "classic" one 'though.)
Damn, Dennis had long legs in the early days...
He was tiny initially. He stretched as a consequence of Davey Law trying to get the strip drawn in a decent time. Eventually he shrunk back down a bit.
In 1976 or '77, DENIS GIFFORD, the late British comics historian and collector, made mention of this fact in the pages of an issue of his ALLY SLOPER magazine, and received an irate letter from a young American reader who had mistakenly assumed that Denis was saying the strip's name-change had occurred in the USA - so it seems our Stateside cousins are just as enthusiastic about their version of Dennis as we are of ours.)
I don't, our Dennis sucks! We really needed THIS kid instead!
I think you could live without the current incarnation of the character, Chris (well-drawn as it is).
The 'classic' Dennis is the one to go for.
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