75 YEARS OF MENACE!

Beano fans young and old pay tribute to comic icon Dennis as the striped jumper wearing bad boy celebrates a major milestone of mayhem

- BY SUE LEE

HE MIGHT have reached the grand old age of 75 but Dennis the Menace, the forever-young agent of childish chaos, still dominates the world of comic books.

With a “year of mischief” planned to mark his anniversary and The Beano continuing to sell tens of thousands of copies each week, the spiky-haired prankster shows no sign of losing fans.

According to Steve Marchant at The Cartoon Museum in London, the reason for Dennis’s longevity is simple.

“I think even as an adult there is a part of you that wants to be a bit naughty,” he says. “People like to live out their slight criminal tendencies vicariously and Dennis fits the bill.”

Steve, 62, who is one of the UK’s foremost tutors in comic and cartoon skills, adds: “He’s as relevant and relatable to 10-year-olds today as he was decades ago — and, of course, youngsters love the fart jokes.

“Mums and dads appreciate the brilliant artwork and clever writing. Plus, there is often a comeuppance at the end, which is satisfying.”

For Chris Murray, Professor of Comics Studies at the University of Dundee — home of Beano publisher DC Thomson — Dennis’s big birthday is a “remarkable achievement”.

He says: “There are lots of characters in popular culture who have been around as long, or longer. What is striking is that Dennis is still starring in the comic where he first appeared.

“The Beano is one of the great survivors of what was once a vibrant British comics industry.

“Dennis is a rebellious child who often gets the better of the adults too, and that will always strike a chord with young readers.”

Both men have loved comics since childhood. Steve, who is originally from Wolverhampton, says: “My nan had a cupboard full of old Beano annuals from the 1950s and I used to read them all the time.

“Comics were my thing as a kid; they entranced me. I had mates who liked climbing and football, with me it was cartoon strips.