Dennis the Menace (US)

::This page is about the United States comic strip Dennis the Menace. For information about the British comic strip of the same name, see Dennis the Menace (UK).

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Dennis the Menace is a comic strip (single panel on weekdays, full strip on Sundays) originally created by Hank Ketcham. Dennis, who originally appeared as "The Pickle", was later made into a live-action 1960s television sitcom, a 1980s television cartoon, a 1987 movie, a 1993 live-action film, and another animated series based on that film. Originally, Dennis spent most of his time making life miserable for his parents. In recent years he has spent nearly all his time disturbing the serenity of the grumpy Mr. Wilson, and being coddled by Wilson's engaging wife Martha. In tone, Dennis is most like an escapee from a 1930s movie, such as an Our Gang film.

Related Topics:
Comic strip - Sunday - Hank Ketcham - 1960s - Television - Sitcom - 1980s - 1987 - 1993 - Film - 1930s - Our Gang

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On March 12, 1951 the Dennis the Menace comic strip appeared in newspapers across the US for the first time. Coincidentally, another cartoon strip titled Dennis the Menace was published in the United Kingdom on March 15 (cover dated March 17 - the "off sale" date) of the same year. In the UK, the US cartoon series is known simply as Dennis.

Related Topics:
March 12 - 1951 - Comic strip - Newspaper - Dennis the Menace - United Kingdom - March 15 - March 17

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Ketcham gradually turned the production of the strip over to his assistants, who continued it after his death in 2001.

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Dennis has been the subject of a number of animated adaptations, as well as a CBS sitcom from 1959 to 1963 starring Jay North as Dennis. A 1993 live-action film starred Walter Matthau as Mr. Wilson. This was followed up with Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! in 1998 starring Don Rickles as Mr. Wilson.

Related Topics:
CBS - 1959 - 1963 - Jay North - 1993 - Live-action - Walter Matthau - 1998 - Don Rickles

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Dennis the Menace was the "spokestoon" for Dairy Queen for many years until recently being supplanted by other cartoon characters.

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In 2005, comics publisher Fantagraphics announced that they would reprint Ketcham's entire run on Dennis the Menace in a 25-volume series over 11 years.

Related Topics:
2005 - Fantagraphics

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• Hank Ketcham's Complete Dennis the Menace (1951-52) ISBN 1560976802
• Hank Ketcham's Complete Dennis the Menace (1953-54?) ISBN
 
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