History ComicStrip / DennisTheMenaceUS

''Dennis the Menace'' is a long-running [[NewspaperComics newspaper comic]] created by Hank Ketcham that first appeared in March 1951. It features the adventures of mischievous blond boy Dennis Mitchell, often at the expense of his parents or of his neighbor, Mr. Wilson.

It has inspired [[Series/{{Dennis The Menace}} a live-action series]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Dennis The Menace}} an animated Saturday Morning Series]], and [[Film/{{Dennis The Menace}} a live-action film]].

* PantyShot: Margaret had a couple of these early on.

!! The movie provides examples of:

* AsideGlance: It looks like Dennis is staring at us while playing dead so he won't be in Margaret's house.
* AskAStupidQuestion
--->'''George:''' I think the little rat put mouthwash in my nasal spray and toilet cleanser in my mouthwash.
--->'''Martha:''' Why would he do something like that?
--->'''George:''' Must you ask?
* CanonForeigner: Gunther
* DeathGlare: "''Don't embarrass me.''"
* DramaticThunder
--->'''Dennis:''' I bet I know what it is.
--->'''George:''' I doubt that.
--->'''Dennis:''' I bet it's your address.
--->* Booom* (George freezes in shock)
* FantasticSlur: "Cheek-pinchers!"
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Dennis talked to Mrs. Wilson about the time his parents "wrestled".
** While Dennis and Margaret are arguing over the merits of men over women and vice-versa, they start to debate on how babies are made. This ends when Joey starts [[EvilLaugh laughing evilly]], saying: "You want to know ''how''?"
* GoshDangItToHeck: George says "G.D." a lot.
* GroinAttack: Averted, as a canoe fell from the ceiling of Mr. Wilson's attic, barely missed his groin.
* HeyItsThatGuy: [[TopCat Arnold Stang]] played the photographer.
** And [[ChristopherLloyd Doc Brown]] as the villain, Switchblade Sam.
** [[TheOddCouple Oscar Madison]] is George Wilson.
** [[{{Back To The Future}} Lorraine McFly]], [[{{SpaceCamp}} Kathryn Fairly]] and [[Film/{{Howard The Duck}} Beverly Switzer]] are Mrs. Alice Mitchell.
* IAmBigBoned:
--->'''Martha:''' Weren't you a fat boy?
--->'''George:''' I was husky.
* KickTheDog:
--->'''George''' (after Dennis tried to warn him that a wanted burglar was in his house, but said criminal had already gotten away): You're a pest. A menace. A spoiled, selfish little brat and I got no use of you. You took something from me that I could never get back. Something that means more to me than ''you'' ever will. I don't wanna know you, and I don't wanna see you. Get out of my way!
** Although he ''does'' end up regretting it, and – upon learning that Dennis has run away and may be in the company of said burglar – even joins in the search.
* LaserGuidedKarma: Towards a bitchy coworker of Alice Mitchell. She forces the latter into going on a business trip in her stead, despite the fact that Alice has a kid to watch over, on the basis that she "[has] a life." The movie ends with said kid, Dennis, getting her stuck in a copier machine.
* LifesWorkRuined: The flower that took 40 years to grow and flowers for a few seconds... and no one sees it because of Dennis yelling at ''just'' the right moment.
--->'''George:''' Forty years down the drain!
* {{Montage}}: "Don't Hang Up"
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: George is guilt-stricken when he learns that Dennis ran away because of his tirade.
* NotSoInnocentWhistle: Dennis when he accidentally spilled some mothballs, on which George accidentally slipped.
* ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish: Switchblade Sam apparently knows George's combination is his address.
* SarcasmMode
-->'''Dennis:''' You know, Mr. Wilson, you wonder why I'm not crying? If I'm not gonna be around my mom and dad, the only other person I wanna be around is you.
-->'''George:''' I can't tell you how deeply moved I am.
* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: Dennis, when his hair is sucked in the leaf blower.
* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: Both Mr. Wilson and one of Dennis' friends use their address as their combination for their safe and bike, respectively.
* {{Thief}}: Switchblade Sam
-->'''Dennis:''' You're a robber!?
-->'''Sam:''' I'm a thief.
* TooSpicyForYogSothoth
* WhyDoYouHateTheDog: Poor George.

It has inspired a [[Series/{{Dennis The Menace}} live-action series]], a [[WesternAnimation/{{Dennis The Menace}} an animated Saturday Morning Series]], and a [[Film/{{Dennis The Menace}} live-action film]].

!! The 1950s live-action TV series provides examples of:

* see the ''Series/DennisTheMenace'' page

!! The 1980s animated series provides examples of:

* BanisterSlide
* BlamEpisode: The episode ''Trembly Assembly''.
* CanadaEh: However, this plays up to stereotypes.
* CanonForeigner: Jay, [=PeeBee=], Lars and Mr. Cavallini.
* CrossDressingVoices: [=PeeBee=] and Joey
* FiveTokenBand: Dennis, Joey, [=PeeBee=], Jay and Gina
* HeadlessHorseman: There was an episode where Dennis scared some people by pretending to be a headless horseman.
* OffModel: This is a DiC cartoon after all.
* {{Revival}}: Brought back in 2003.
** Before that, there was one in 1993.
* SecondPlaceIsForWinners: Mr. Wilson enters a contest for a vacation. He wins first prize, but the vacation package is second prize. First prize is... a pet goose or duck.
* TheTonsillitisEpisode: One episode had Dennis in the hospital for a "tonsil-neck-tummy".
* ThroughAFaceFullOfFur: At times with Mr. Wilson, whenever Dennis and his friends mean well in helping him but unintentionally doing more harm, which aroused enough anger in him to turn red in the face.
* {{Zeerust}} / [[ThreeDMovie 3D Movie]]: Dennis sneaks out to see ''The Future in [=3D=]''.

It has inspired a [[{{Series/{{Dennis The Menace}} live-action series]], a [[WesternAnimation/{{Dennis The Menace}} an animated Saturday Morning Series]], and a [[Film/{{Dennis The Menace}} live-action film]].

It has inspired several television series (live-action and animated) and films.

* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: Dennis, when his hair is sucked in the leaf blower on reverse.

** [[{{SpaceCamp}} Kathryn Fairly]] and [[Film/{{Howard The Duck}} Beverly Switzer]] are Mrs. Alice Mitchell.

** [[{{SpaceCamp}} Kathryn Fairly]] and [[{{Howard The Duck}} Beverly Switzer]] are Mrs. Alice Mitchell.

* [=~Hey, It's That Guy!~=]: [[TopCat Arnold Stang]] played the photographer.

* OneHeadTaller: In recent installments of the comic strip Margaret has been drawn as noticeably taller than Dennis or Joey, even in flats.

* InnocentPanties: Margaret had these early on.

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Without a doubt, pizza ... to the point where (he thinks) he practically can live on it. On the exact opposite of the spectrum: vegetables, especially of said meal they were served as part of had no pizza in sight.

--->'''George:''' You're a pest. A menace. A spoiled, selfish little brat and I got no use of you. You took something from me that I could never get back. Something that means more to me than ''you'' ever will. I don't wanna know you, and I don't wanna see you. Get out of my way.
** Although he ''does'' end up regretting it, and even joins in the search.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: George is guilt-stricken when he learns that Dennis ran away because of him.

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Tomboy Gina and Girly Girl Margaret.

* [[BanisterSlide Bannister Slide]]
* [[BlamEpisode Blam Episode]]: The episode ''Trembly Assembly''.
* [[CanadaEh Canada Eh]]: However, this plays up to stereotypes.
* [[CanonForeigner Canon Foreigner]]: Jay, [=PeeBee=], Lars and Mr. Cavallini.
* [[CrossDressingVoices Cross Dressing Voices]]: [=PeeBee=] and Joey
* [[FiveTokenBand Five Token Band]]: Dennis, Joey, [=PeeBee=], Jay and Gina
* [[HeadlessHorseman Headless Horseman]]: There was an episode where Dennis scared some people by pretending to be a headless horseman.
* [=~Hey, It's That Voice!~=]: PhilHartman [[ActingForTwo played all of]] [[TalkingToHimself the adult males]].
** In Season 2, all of Hartman's roles were replaced by {{Maurice LaMarche}}.
* [[{{Revival}} Revival]]: Brought back in 2003.

* FridgeLogic: see Headscratchers/DennisTheMenaceUS

* [[BlamEpisode Blam Episode]]: The episode ''Trembly Assembly'', which is considered to be out of canon with the rest of the series [[YourMileageMayVary by some fans]].