Dennis the Menace (UK)

Dennis the Menace is a long-running comic strip featured in the Beano children's comic in the United Kingdom. It should not be confused with the newspaper strip Dennis the Menace in the United States. The strip first appeared in Beano #452 under the date 17 March, 1951.

Dennis the Menace and Gnasher (as it has been known since the early 1970s) was first drawn by David Law (1951 - 1970), then David Sutherland (1970 - 1998) and currently, David Parkins (1998 - ). The storylines mainly feature Dennis' campaign of terror against a gang of Softies, particularly Walter. Bad things tend to happen to Walter quite regularly.

Dennis usually used to get away with his mischief for a while before ending up getting a spanking from his father. This involved striking the buttocks, for which Dennis' father used a slipper.Dennis' best defence involved sticking a thick book down his shorts. Despite the fact that a book is a markedly different shape from buttocks, his dad never noticed. Dennis' grandma also had a slipper, except it was made of elephant skin and called 'The Demon Whacker'. Since the 1980s, however, the slipper is no longer used.

A few weeks after the strip's launch, Dennis started wearing a striped red-and-black jumper, which along with his spiky hair has become his trademark. He uses his faithful pea shooter, catapult and water pistol.

In 1974 Dennis managed to grab the front cover, replacing Biffo the Bear, and has been there ever since.

A Dennis the Menace animated cartoon began being shown on BBC ONE, as part of CBBC, in 1996.

Characters

Over the years a variety of subsidiary characters have arisen.

Dennis' Father, along with Dennis himself, appeared in the first strip. His hair loss is down to Dennis' menacing. He also appears in both Bea and Gnasher and Gnipper.

Gnasher is a small black fluffy dog owned by Dennis, who first appeared in issue 1363 dated 31 August 1968. He loves biting postal workers. Since 1986 Gnasher has had a son (Gnipper) who appears with him in the strip Gnasher and Gnipper. Gnasher also has several daughters, although these tend not to be seen much. Their names are Gnatasha, Gnaomi, Gnanette, Gnorah, and Gnancy. He also used to have another strip, Gnasher's Tale, which began in 1977.

Rasher is a pig (hence the name) and is Dennis' other loyal pet, first seen in issue 1920 dated 5 May 1979. He loves to eat swill and was rescued by Dennis. Rasher also has children, their names being Oink, Snort, Grunt, Squeal, and Squeak. He also used to have his own strip called Rasher, which started in 1984.

Dennis has also been seen with his pet spider, called Dasher.

Bea is Dennis' little sister, born in issue 2931 dated 19 September 1998. She has her own strip (Bea) and sometimes appears in Dennis the Menace and Gnasher.

Dennis also has several friends, including Pie-Face and Curly.

See also

• Dennis The Menace Annuals