- He didn't appear in Beano issue 1 - he didn't show up until issue 452.
- Inspiration for the character came when Beano editor George Moonie heard a music hall song with the lyric, "I'm Dennis the Menace from Venice". He passed the idea to his sub editor Ian Chisholm and artist Davey Law. Law struggled to come up with an image of the character at first. Chisholm drew what he thought Dennis might look like on the back of a cigarette packet and the rest is history.
- The first Dennis story featured him going for a walk in the park with his father and his Dog. Dennis is determined to walk on the grass despite (or perhaps because of) a "Keep off the grass" sign. In the end, Dennis's dad takes the lead off the dog and puts it on Dennis.
- The first three artists to draw him were all called David (David Law, David Sutherland and David Parkins).
- His dog, Gnasher, is an "Abyssinian wire-haired tripehound". Gnasher has a son called Gnipper and daughters called Gnatasha, Gnaomi, Gnanette, Gnorah and Gnancy. Gnasher made his debut in August 1968, when Dennis found him on the street.
- Dennis also has a pet Pig called Rasher (since 1979). Rasher has a family, too - Oink, Snort, Grunt, Squeal, and Squeak. In 1987, he acquired a Spider as well, named Dasher. Orinially acquired to scare his neighbour, Walter, Dasher is now Red and Black to match Dennis's jersey.
- Talking of which, the trademark red and white jumper was knitted for him by his granny in 1951.
- He has a sister called Bea. At first, Dennis thought having a little sister would make him seem less tough, but she turned out to be as much of a menace as him and got her own comic strip. He also has a cousin called Denise. Denise has a Cat called Santa Claws.
- Dennis had a fan club with over a million members, who'd all receive a coveted Gnasher badge with "hair".
- Also on March 12 1951, a comic strip, also called Dennis the Menace was launched in America. This comic was by Hank Ketcham and was based on his son, Dennis. The US Dennis was a good-natured kid who'd get into trouble by accident rather than the UK's Dennis who got into trouble on purpose. The American Dennis is blond. There was no connection between the two creators - it was purely and simply a coincidence. I imagine if something like that happened today, the two authors would be taking each other to court, demanding money from each other and/or that the other comic be discontinued. Things were more relaxed in the 1950s. The creators both recognised this was pure coincidence and agreed not to sue each other! There were name tweaks in order that the two aren't confused internationally (The UK version is "Dennis the Menace and Gnasher" while the US version is simply "Dennis") but that was it. Today, money-grabbing corporations no longer believe in coincidences!
My Books
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The Ultraheroes series
Several new groups of superheroes, mostly British, living and working (mostly) in British cities like London and Birmingham. People discovering they have, and learning to live with, superpowers. Each book is complete in itself although there is some overlap of characters.
The Raiders series
A tale of two dimensions, and worm hole travel between the two. People displaced in both time and space, learning to get along and work together to find a way home while getting used to the superpowers wormhole travel gave them. A trilogy.
Golden Thread
A superhero tale with a difference. Five heroes from another dimension keep returning - whenever they return, they have a job to do and are a well-meshed team in order to do it. Until one time, something goes wrong...
Tabitha Drake series
A different kind of power - the ability to talk to dead people. Tabitha has it, and murder victims seek her out to make sure justice is done. Tabitha has this and a disastrous love life to cope with.
Short story collections
Some feature characters from the above novels, others don't. They're not all about superheroes. Some are creepy, romantic, funny.
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