Return of Dennis the Menace and Desperate Dan...

Dennis the Menace and Desperate Dan to feature in Glasgow's Art Auction later this month.

For years, Dennis the Menace and Desperate Dan have battled for the affections of British children. Soon the comic book icons will be competing in the sale room as they go under the hammer at McTear's Fine & Contemporary Paintings Sale on 27th March. 

When both the Beano and Dandy promotional panels were discovered in an old DC Thomson warehouse in Dundee seven years ago, their importance was not realised. However, with an expert valuation of £2,000, these original pieces are sure to be popular.

The Beano and The Dandy Promotional Panels

The Beano and The Dandy are comics that have been favoured and loved for decades. 

We thought we would have a look at where the iconic Dennis the Menace character came from. Hank Ketchum - creator of Dennis the menace - started his animation career in 1938 at the Walter Lanz Studio in Hollywood. To pursue his career further, Hank and his family moved to New York where his cartoons sold successfully. Due to his son misbehaving, he was referred as 'The Menace' by his wife and in 1950 Dennis the Menace was born. The name produced a great response and in 1965 it was at the top of most leadership polls with hundreds of copies in many countries.

Hank Ketchum 1920-2001 (Source: http://www.peoplequiz.com/biographies-33679-Hank_Ketcham.html)

Today, the comics provide collectors with a sense of nostalgia with the icons taking them back to their childhoods. They caught the eyes of specialists at the BBC's Antiques Roadshow and both promotional panels were featured on the 26th February show in St Andrews. Like the BBC, we have no doubt that both pieces will be extremely popular and are excited to have the unique panels in our Fine & Contemporary Paintings sale. 

The McTear's Fine & Contemporary Paintings sale will take place in McTears on Tuesday 27th March at 6.00pm.

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