BEANO is celebrating Dennis the Menace’s 75th anniversary this year with a special issue, on sale now, featuring 75 of the world’s greatest creative mischief makers, voted for entirely by children in the UK.
First drawn by David Law, appearing in The Beano No. 452, cover dated Saturday 17th March 1951, today Dennis is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the character’s arrival in the weekly comic with a star-studded issue, featuring Angry Ginge, Ozzy Osbourne, Harry Styles, Romesh Ranganathan, KSI, Dua Lipa, Elton John and even King Charles, reimagined as their 10-year-old selves.
(For those who came in late, the current Dennis in BEANO today is the son of the 1980s Dennis, who’s the son of the original. Do keep up).
BEANO No. 4328, The special commemorative issue features 75 of the world’s most legendary creative mischief makers, as voted for by kids across the UK. Research commissioned by Beano shows that kids and adults agree that great mischief makers share three core traits: humour, creativity and imagination, with humour leading at an average of nearly 60%.
Over half of children believe being mischievous is an important part of being a kid, while 42% of parents think too many rules can stifle creativity and 71% say they have joined in on their child’s prank.
Mike Stirling, Director of Mischief at Beano, said: “Dennis is forever 10, and for 75 years he’s reminded us that being a kid is the best thing ever. He has sparked mischief, laughter and a love of reading for fun in every generation since 1951. Childhood can feel quite serious these days, and this celebration is all about reminding us all that a bit of creative mischief superpowers childhood at its best.”
To mark his anniversary, Dennis is throwing the ultimate birthday bash and inviting 75 of the world’s biggest creative mischief makers, as voted for by kids across the UK. When Walter convinces Mayor Wilbur to pass a law declaring that only ten-year-olds can attend, Dennis and his friends must think fast and mischievously to make the party happen.
In a Beano first, all 75 mini mischief makers appear together on an eight-page fold-out cover, bringing to life an epic birthday street party. All thanks to the amazing work of regular Dennis artist, Nigel Parkinson, who will be appearing at Northwich Comic Con on 25th April.
(A very busy Nigel also designed the Dennis on the commemorative 50p coin of Dennis the Menace, recently released by the Royal Mint).
As part of the celebrations, 2026 has been declared Beano’s Year of Mischief. It’s a year of live experiences, partnerships and initiatives that encourage families to bring the spirit of creative mischief, fun and imagination into everyday life. As part of this, Beano supports the National Year of Reading, championing reading for fun as the ultimate act of creative mischief.
Let’s hear it for all those who have brought us Dennis the Menace and Gnasher as regular contributors down the years! He was first drawn by David Law (1951–1971), followed David Sutherland (1970–1998). David Parkins took over from 1998 until 2006, although Nigel Parkinson drew most of the strips after 2002, and Jimmy Hansen alternated with him in 2005–06. Thanks also to Tom Paterson and Barrie Appleby, current writer Nigel Auchterlounie – and many others who have written and drawn the character for BEANO, in other strips and other places!
• The Dennis the Menace 75th Anniversary issue of Beano is available in selected supermarkets and newsagents now | Beano is at beano.com online | Subscribe here
DID YOU KNOW… The American “Dennis the Menace” appeared on Monday 12th March 1951 – the same week that saw the debut of Britain’s Dennis, first appearing in The Beano on Wednesday 14th March! You’re welcome!
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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