Comics UK

Apart from his latest incarnation the visual appearance of Dennis the Menace has undergone many changes. This applies even to the period when he was being drawn by David Law, who experimented with a variety of styles over the years. Bearing in mind that opinions frequently differ on which image was the best (often depending on the period in which people first encountered the strip, no doubt) I thought it would be interesting to see which version is most popular amongst Comics UK posters.

To start the ball rolling here is my own favourite look, from the year 1961 when David Law was drawing with a lovely wire-thin line and producing layouts which frequently used surprisingly sophisticated perspectival effects:



...in fact it may well have been a bit too sophisticated for the editor's taste as it wasn't long before the style changed again, ready for Dennis's promotion to the back page.

- Phil Rushton

Dave Sutherland's 1980s version was great, though Davy Law's Dennis was great of course, and somehow more evocative than Sutherland's version. David Parkins' Dennis was excellent, and I've always liked NP's (old style) version as well. Ultimately, I think it's hard to say anyone other than Davy Law - he made Dennis who he was. I liked his Dennis best in the 60s.

The new look Dennis is my least favourite easily. The appearance of the strip is very flat and dull compared to the old style, and the changes just haven't worked for me in the comic.

philcom55 wrote:it wasn't long before the style changed again, ready for Dennis's promotion to the back page.

Second promotion to the back page - he was on the back before Jonah (1954-58), and when Jonah finished in 1962, Dennis got the back cover again - where he stayed until 1993.

I like most versions, but the current one is definitely inferior to the three styles which had previously co-existed (despite being drawn by the same artists!), let alone the work of the three Davids. I mean, since when did Dennis have visible teeth? Law didn't draw him like that.

I've never seen that Bruno strip before, so thanks for that Phil.

When Dennis shrunk and gained a pair of trainers in the early nineties I was gutted! and so kept a liking for the dennis from my childhood the Bulky 'Sutherland' design. Now that we have a brand new one its made me realise how much Nigel Parkinsons and Tom Patersons old Dennis's (old being up to a few weeks ago, before the relaunch) managed to capture some of the manic actions of Davey Laws originals which I have a liking for. Shame the new design (which NP and TP are not responsible for) has so much restriction that eliminates this aspect of Dennis, still works well in animation though.

I compared the 'favourite Dennis' to 'favourite Doctor' from Doctor Who to Alan Digby when I met him last year and he (and the rest of the kind staff) helped me with my dissertatio., He agreed that a similar thing happens, people tend to connect with the Dennis from their childhood.

Yeah I like the lanky perspective Dennis as well..my favourite of Davy Law's period.

and as an Eighties Beano fan I do like that era as well..
Gnasher going missing was a real highlight..

As said before in another post change Dennis back in the comics to a few weeks ago..or have one strip in new style and one in old style..not two the same..

I don't like Dave Sutherland's Dennis. 1951 - 1963 for me. with all the variations therein. I do like Nigel's, but can't even be bothered to read Tom Paterson's, whose pages all look so alike now that it's difficult to tell them apart.