Pondering Dennis the Menace

Dennis the Menace, 2013-05-29.

You know, there's a weird thing about Dennis the Menace. Dennis isn't actually even slightly menacing at all these days, but most of the adults in the strip still act like he is. What possible reason could Dennis's teacher have for wanting to get rid of him? He's polite, respectful, cheerful, obedient and just generally the least troublesome student a teacher could possibly have.

She's not alone in her opinions though. Dennis's parents have the same bizarre attitude, that this perfect child is somehow a handful. Mr. Wilson is the worst by far though, because he's openly hostile to Dennis. And further evidence of Dennis's complete lack of menace, he is still friendly and polite to Mr. Wilson despite that.

Only Mrs. Wilson seems to see Dennis as he actually is. I think maybe she was just always nice to him even when he was menacing though, it's just the one thing that makes more sense now than it originally did.

Dennis the Menace, 2013-05-30.

Ooh, menacing!