The United States version of Dennis the Menace is a comic strip (single panel on weekdays, full strip on Sundays) originally drawn by Hank Ketcham. Ketcham's Dennis, who originally appeared as "The Pickle", was later made into a live-action 1960s television sitcom, a 1980s television cartoon, 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 his engaging wife Martha. In tone, Dennis is most like an escapee from a 1930s movie, such as an Our Gang film.

On March 12, 1951 the Dennis the Menace comic strip appeared in newspapers across the country for the first time. Coincidentally, another cartoon strip titled Dennis the Menace was published in the United Kingdom on March17 of the same year. In the UK, the US cartoon series is known simply as Dennis.

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

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 film starred Walter Matthau as Mr. Wilson.

Dennis the Menace is the "spokestoon" for Dairy Queen.

List of characters

• Dennis Mitchell
• Mom (Alice Mitchell)
• Dad (Henry Mitchell)
• Grandpa
• Ruff the dog
• Hotdog the cat
• Mr. (George) Wilson
• Mrs. (Martha) Wilson
• Joey
• Margaret
• Gina

See also

• Dennis the Menace (UK)

External link

• Dennis the Menace at King Features
• List and short bios of the strip's characters
• Toonopedia: Dennis the Menace