The Cellar - please identify Dennis the Menace

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- - please identify Dennis the Menace (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=21694)

I didn't even know there was an American Dennis the Menace. I certainly didn't think of it as an American icon. I think of him as quintessentially English.

I used to Get Dandy and beano comics as a kid, so Dennis the Menace, and Beryl the Peril are etched onto my memories of childhood: Fridays were pocket money and comic days :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC (Post 619742)

I didn't even know there was an American Dennis the Menace. I certainly didn't think of it as an American icon. I think of him as quintessentially English.

I used to Gandy and beano comics as a kid, so Dennis the Menace, and Beryl the Peril are etched onto my memories of childhood: Fridays were pocket money and comic days :)

She doesn't mean Gandhi, she means The Dandy (and The Beano) ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim (Post 619664)

we were talking to monster last night, and learned that our Dennis is NOT the original.

Dennis the menace was actually an English creation in 1951(choice A). Our Black and white TV show didn't appear until 1966(C).

Are you saying that, in 1951, Hank Ketcham stole Dennis from a Brit? Because Dennis started Stateside that year as a cartoon strip.

UK

Dennis the Menace (known as Dennis the Menace and Gnasher since 1970) is a long-running comic strip featured in The Beano children's comic, published by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd, Dundee, Scotland, in the United Kingdom.
The strip first appeared in issue 452, released on 15 March 1951 (cover dated for the off-sale date of 17 March), and is the longest running strip in the comic. From issue 1678 onwards (dated 14 September 1974) Dennis the Menace replaced Biffo the Bear on the front cover, and has been there ever since.
Three days earlier, on 12 March 1951, another Dennis the Menace debuted in the United States. The two strips should not be confused — as a result of this the US series has been retitled Dennis for UK consumption, while the British character's appearances are often titled "Dennis and Gnasher" outside the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_the_Menace_%28UK%29

US
Dennis the Menace is a daily syndicated newspaper comic strip originally created, written and illustrated by Hank Ketcham. It debuted on March 12, 1951 in 16 newspapers[1] and was originally distributed by Post-Hall Syndicate.[2] It is now written and drawn by Ketcham's former assistants, Marcus Hamilton and Ron Ferdinand, and distributed to at least 1,000 newspapers in 48 countries and 19 languages by King Features Syndicate.[3] The comic strip usually runs for a single panel on weekdays and a full strip on Sundays.

American version
Inspiration

The inspiration for the comic strip came from Dennis Ketcham, the real life son of Hank Ketcham,[4] who was only four years old when he refused to take a nap and somehow messed up his whole room. Hank tried many possible names for the character, and translated them into rough pencil sketches. But when his studio door flew open and his then-wife Alice, in utter exasperation, exclaimed, "Your son is a menace!",[5] the "Dennis the Menace" name stuck. The character of Henry Mitchell bore a striking resemblance to Ketcham. The Mitchell family of Dennis, Hank/Henry and Alice were all named after the Ketchams.

UK version

History

The main recurring storyline throughout the years features Dennis's campaign of terror against a gang of 'softies' (effeminate, well-behaved boys), particularly Walter. Walter finds himself in unfavourable circumstances on many occasions; although he sometimes gets the "last laugh".

strange coincidence

Quote:

Originally Posted by skysidhe (Post 619750)

strange coincidence

Nope.
Just that many evil boys are called Dennis.
Some grow up evil too.

Dennis Nielson

Quote:

Dennis Andrew Nilsen (born 23 November 1945, Fraserburgh, Scotland) also known as the Muswell Hill Murderer and the Kindly Killer is a British serial killer who lived in London.

He killed at least fifteen men and boys in gruesome circumstances between 1978 and 1983 and was eventually caught after his disposal of dismembered human entrails blocked his household drains: the drain cleaning company found that the drains were congested with human flesh and contacted the police.

Due to the similarities between their crimes, sexuality and lifestyle, Nilsen has been referred to as the "British Jeffrey Dahmer."[1]

Nom, nom, nom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudcon (Post 619590)

The comic Dennis was decapitated.

No, he was de-neck-itated.

Our Dennis was a menace alright, but only in the most innocent of ways. Sure, he might put your eye out with his slingshot, but he was really just an all american rascally boy.

Great Uncle Harold at the family reunion: "Sling-shot?" Why, in my day, we called that a n---er shooter.
My 8-year-old brother: *sound of jaw cracking as it hits the floor*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble (Post 620996)

Great Uncle Harold at the family reunion: "Sling-shot?" Why, in my day, we called that a n---er shooter.
My 8-year-old brother: *sound of jaw cracking as it hits the floor*

:lol:

Mon, thanks so much for the Beano, the kids love it! Your Dennis is a little prick bastard though...

You're welcome -I had Banana Lady grab one at the airport. Our Dennis is a true menace. Not so keen on the new artwork, though. And that Minnie the Minx cartoon is positively lame. But hey ho, kids these days have it easy, don't know they're born......

Maybe one day I'll unearth my Menace fan club badges from way back when......

do they actually refer to him as 'Dennis the Menace' at any point?

I only see Dennis and Gnasher mentioned

it's taken as read these days. yes they do, sometimes, but Gnasher has as many fans as Dennis....

taken as read = forfeit the Dennis the Menace meme.

America wins again.

HIGHFIVE