We are proud to present the fourth volume of Hank Ketcham's phenomenal panel covering the years 1957 and 1958. 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 fourth volume of Hank Ketcham's Complete Dennis the Menace publishes every single panel strip from 1957 and 1958 in one handsome and thick hardcover volume. Ketcham's legendary pen and ink work achieves its full flowering in this volume as do the various situations and themes that Ketcham would return to again and again. In addition to spotlighting Dennis's regular group of supporting players — his long suffering parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Dennis's dog Ruff and his best pal Joey — this volume adds one new permanent cast member: the flirtatious Italian tomboy Gina, who immediately becomes a thorn in the side of the other major girl in Dennis's life, the prissy and insufferable Margaret.
"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
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