​No More ASBO Risk As Dennis The Menace’s Menacing Days Are Over

Dennis the Menace; the figure of cartoons - comics or TV shows - and pretty much all childhood memories. We probably all have some recollection of experiencing Dennis when we were kids.

In fact, you probably still get the throwbacks anytime you wear a striped t-shirt and one mate or colleague decides to hand out some... classic... burns by calling you Dennis the Menace. Banter.

Well, that name is set to change as apparently Beano bosses are dropping the iconic anti-hero title and Dennis will no longer be referred to as a Menace. What a schoolboy redemption.

Nope, no more attacks with peashooters and catapults. To be honest, DtM was risking an ASBO.

Credit: PA

DC Thomson, the publisher of The Beano since 1938, has said Dennis had 'made mistakes in the past' but has now 'moved away from his 'menacing' ways'. That sounds like a confession on The Jeremy Kyle Show.

The head honchos at The Beano say the move - which comes along with a new kids' TV series, Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed, aimed towards incorporating difference and diversity - is character evolution rather than any sort of political correctness.

That gets us thinking - what other cartoon characters could soon be experiencing the sort of redemption that would make any hoodie-wearing, gloves-in-July enthusiast proud?

MR BURNS

After years of tyranny and dictatorship at the local nuclear plant, Charles Montgomery Burns finally sees the light. He accepts the advances of the long-suffering Smithers, decides to open several environmental charities and overhauls his entire employment HR process.

WILE E. COYOTE

Let's face it, after decades of attempting to turn a bird into road kill, Wile E. Coyote is lucky he hasn't had DEFRA knocking on his door. Perhaps Wile could see the errors of his ways and drop the constant attacks of the Roadrunner, which, admittedly, were not usually the most effective. Instead, Wile opens a nature reserve for birds and runs reasonably-priced tours.

CRUELLA DE VIL

Here's another from the rogues gallery. Cruella flew in the face of RSPCA Christmas adverts everywhere with a penchant for cruelty to dalmatians - 101 of them if we're being specific for the charge sheet. Cruella, who has a love for a wardrobe that would Edward Scissorhands blush, was not shy about her intentions and loved a cackle or two. Her redemption would probably need a name change along with taking up some work as a vet down the kennels.

Featured Image Credit: Dennis The Menace / The Beano

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from the University of East Anglia with degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing before completing his NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. Chris has previously written for the independent culture magazine The Skinny, among other publications.

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