1959-60
We are proud to present the fifth volume of Hank Ketcham's phenomenal panel covering the end of the Postwar Era, 1959-1960. Ketcham captured the mischievousness, rambunctiousness, and anarchy of a kid's world better than any other cartoonist. The strip appeals to both parents and children — while parents shake their head ruefully at how accurately Ketcham caught the essence of children's natural zest for mayhem, children identify with Dennis and the chaos that he leaves in his wake. Ketcham's gags are funny, subtle and touching, and executed with a vivacious, exquisite line.
Ketcham drew Dennis the Menace from 1951 to 1994, when he retired and let his assistant take over the strip. This fifth volume of Hank Ketcham's Complete Dennis the Menace publishes every single panel strip from 1959 and 1960 in one handsome brick of a hardcover. Ketcham's legendary pen and ink work is in full flower in this volume as are the various situations and themes that Ketcham would return to again and again, featuring Dennis and his regular group of supporting players: his long-suffering parents, the even longer-suffering neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Dennis's dog Ruff and his best pal Joey, the annoying Margaret, the adorable Gina, and more.
"Dennis the Menace stands out for both its chronicling of Baby Boom-generation society and its highly sophisticated humor. Ketcham's grace and economy of both art and punch line are superb, telling a complete story with a single line of dialogue. This beautifully produced series will delight for years to come." – Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"When I was a kid, Hank Ketcham's work made me afraid of even attempting to be a cartoonist since I figured (correctly) that I'd never come close to matching his skill no matter how hard I tried. His art is accomplished and complex while being at the same time simple and accessible." – Peter Bagge
"How can comics devotees resist Ketcham's sleek drawing line and the way his technique contrasts so beautifully with the idea of his sloppy bad-boy character?" – Entertainment Weekly