Photo: DC Thomson/National Museums Scotland

One of The Beano’s most popular and well-known characters, Gnasher, appears to have disappeared following the discovery that a rare dinosaur bone has gone missing from the National Museum of Scotland.

The dinosaur thigh bone went missing from the Museum during a visit by Dennis the Menace and his family yesterday. The museum’s CCTV footage shows an unusually bristly animal removing the bone from its stand before making off with it.

Photo-fits of the animal are being circulated and it seems likely that Dennis’s dog, Gnasher, is the culprit.

The bone, housed at the National Museum of Scotland for the last 75 years, is believed to have been a significant scientific find. Research done on the bone prior to its disappearance, shows that the bone contains the DNA of the Abyssinian Wire Haired Tripe Hound.

Photo: DC Thomson/National Museums Scotland

Photo: DC Thomson/National Museums Scotland

Photo: DC Thomson/National Museums Scotland

Photo: DC Thomson/National Museums Scotland

Photo: DC Thomson/National Museums Scotland

The Beano Editor-in-Chief Mike Stirling said, “I’d like to issue a plea for people around the country to help find Gnasher. It’s true, the photo-fit does bear a striking resemblance to him, however, I’m sure he wouldn’t have taken the bone without good reason.

“There have been a number of sightings of Gnasher,” Mike added. “He appears to be photo-bombing his way around the UK, and Dennis has been hunting high and low for him. If you spot Gnasher please email us at findgnasher@beano.com or let us know on Twitter @beanocomic or #gnashtag.

“It’s a complete mystery as to why Gnasher would take the Museum’s bone. We’re worried that, this time, he’s bitten off more than he can chew.”

National Museums Scotland Keeper of Natural Science Dr Nick Fraser added, “One of our rarest dinosaur bones has gone missing. We have our suspicions that it was Gnasher who took it but we can’t understand how he managed to steal it or why. We’re appealing to Gnasher to return our dinosaur bone soon. Please keep a look out everyone.”

• For full details on exactly what happened prior to Gnasher disappearing pick up the next issue of The Beano on Wednesday 2nd April 2014.

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Explorer (previously known as Star Trek Magazine) and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War and “Dan Dare”. He’s the writer of "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.

Categories: British Comics

Tags: Dennis the Menace, Gnasher, National Museum of Scotland, The Beano