Editing Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics) (section)

===The Mitchell family===
* '''Dennis Roger Mitchell''' is a [[freckle]]-faced five-year-old<ref>Dennis the Menace cartoon march-14-2014</ref> boy with a troublesome but soft-hearted and helpful personality. His long-suffering parents, Henry and Alice Mitchell, can only shake their heads and try to explain their son's antics to others, yet they very much love and care for him. The comic efficacy of Dennis's personality lies within how his genuine attempts to help those in need, combined with his youthful energy and enthusiasm, frequently lead to trouble wherever he goes (usually at Mr. Wilson's expense). He wears a black T-shirt with blue stripes, red [[overalls]], and white [[sneakers]]. He hates [[carrot]]s and baths, loves [[root beer]] (especially with [[cookie]]s or [[Chocolate brownie|brownies]]), [[ketchup]], [[sandwich]]es, [[Water gun|water pistols]], playing with other boys his age, mud puddles, [[camping]], and [[Western (genre)|Westerns]] (especially those starring Cowboy Bob, the comic's take on the [[Lone Ranger]]), and has occasionally been depicted wearing a [[cowboy]] costume.<ref>Dennis the Menace comic June 2, 2014</ref> Dennis has a Cowboy Bob Deputy Badge,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_050_Hallden-Fawcett/page/n37 Dennis the Menace 050]</ref> poster, and an autographed picture of Cowboy Bob, as well. Among the [[running gag]]s: Dennis has a soft spot for animals such as [[kitten]]s and [[Puppy|puppies]], which he is always taking home to feed; he loves loud instruments, such as [[Horn (instrument)|horns]] and [[Drum kit|drums]], and he ruins [[Christmas music|Christmas songs]] with shouts of cowboy songs or annoys adults by shouting out loud.<ref name="Dennis the Menace Fawcett comic 3">[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_Giant_003_Pines_Hallden_Dennis_The_Menace_Giant_Christmas_I/page/n7 Dennis the Menace Fawcett comic 3]</ref> When Dennis is in the local [[department store]] trying out toys, such as [[tricycle]]s, he often ends up breaking them and making his parents buy them. In fact, Dennis nearly causes [[Portrait photography|portrait photographers]], [[hairdresser]]s,<ref name="Dennis the Menace Fawcett Comic #18">[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_018_Pines/page/n11 Dennis the Menace Fawcett Comic #18]</ref> bank presidents,<ref>Dennis the Menace 28</ref> grocery-store personnel,<ref name="Dennis the Menace 42">[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_042_Hallden-Fawcett/page/n23 Dennis the Menace 42]</ref> [[kindergarten]] teachers,<ref>Dennis the Menace comic march-27-2014</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_The_Menace_094_1968 Dennis the Menace 94]</ref> restaurant [[Waiting staff|waiters]], [[librarian]]s,<ref>Dennis the Menace Comic strip Nov 13, 1987</ref> museum [[security guard]]s, [[police officer]]s, [[bus driver]]s,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_025_Pines/page/n35 Dennis the Menace 25]</ref> house heating equipment repairmen,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_034_Hallden-Fawcett_1958/page/n13 Dennis the Menace 34]</ref> the town [[mayor]],<ref name="Dennis the Menace Fawcett comic 3"/> department-store Christmas Santa Clauses and saleswomen, [[Pharmacy (shop)|drug store]] salesmen, [[hardware store]] salesmen, shoe salesmen, [[barber]]s,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_039_Hallden-Fawcett_1959/page/n31 Dennis the Menace # 39]</ref> and the local [[post office]] workers<ref name="Dennis the Menace Fawcett COMIC 61">[[iarchive:fawcett Dennis the Menace Giant 061 Hallden-Fawcett 1968/page/n1|Dennis the Menace Fawcett Comic 61]]</ref> to have nervous breakdowns when he comes around.<ref>For an example of Dennis the Menace chaos in a department store, see "Dennis Goes Christmas Shopping" in ''Dennis the Menace Pocket Full of Fun'' #2.</ref> A running gag is that Dennis causes chaos wherever he visits, such as the [[Urban park|city park]],<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_018_Pines Dennis the Menace 18]</ref> a Marineland Aquarium,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_Bonus_Magazine_Series_165_1977/page/n25 Dennis the Menace 165]</ref> [[United States Army|the US Army]],<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_037_Hallden-Fawcett/page/n5 Dennis the Menace 37]</ref> and even on vacation trips to [[Mexico]]<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_Giant_008_Hallden-Fawcett Dennis the Menace in Mexico]</ref> and [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]].<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_Giant_007_Hallden-Fawcett_1959/page/n47 Dennis the Menace 007]</ref> Despite all this, he is a "popular kid" with his peers, having countless friends both at his school and around the neighborhood, who are taken with his very fun-loving demeanor. Dennis also believes in the [[Easter Bunny]] and [[Santa Claus]]. Another running gag is Dennis dreaming that he meets Santa Claus on [[Christmas Eve]] and causing chaos for everyone else.<ref name="Dennis the Menace Fawcett COMIC 61"/>
* '''Henry Mitchell''', age 32,<ref name="dennis.kingfeatures.org">[http://dennis.kingfeatures.org/cast-and-crew/ Cast and Crew]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504140343/http://dennis.kingfeatures.org/cast-and-crew/|date=May 4, 2014}}</ref> is Dennis' father, an aeronautical engineer.<ref>{{cite web |title=About: Dennis The Menace |url=https://comicskingdom.com/dennis-the-menace/about |website=Comics Kingdom |access-date=10 April 2023}}</ref> Henry seems to understand Dennis more than his wife does, especially in affairs of the heart. One example was when a furious Dennis stormed in, saying, "Woman can say some of the stupidest things!" Henry knowingly said to Alice, "Margaret." Another time, while Dennis was watching Gina, he confided to his dad, "There's somethin' about Gina that I can't figure out." Henry wisely advised his son, "Wait." Again, Henry and Alice overhear Dennis tell Gina that she "smelled better than a plateful of peanut butter [[sandwich]]es." Henry remarks, "The ultimate compliment." Like his creator Hank Ketcham, Henry served in the [[United States Navy]]; starting position as a quartermaster (helmsman) second class on a US Navy ship,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_105_Hallden-Fawcett_1969/page/n13 Dennis the Menace # 105 1969]</ref> he ended up on an aircraft carrier<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_The_Menace_155_1978/page/n9 Dennis the Menace 155]</ref> and rose to the rank of [[chief petty officer]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}} Among his hobbies are playing [[card games]] such as [[poker]],<ref>''Dennis the Menace'' 34</ref> [[Birdwatching|bird watching]],<ref>''Dennis the Menace'' 43</ref> and playing the [[ukulele]] and singing old songs. A running gag is that Henry often plays the [[straight man]] dupe—either resulting from Dennis's "helpfulness," or because of his foolishness; once, he tried to save money on a Christmas tree by cutting one down in the country—and ended up paying $20.00 ($10.00 for a fine and $10.00 for the owner charging him for the tree).<ref>''Dennis the Menace Pocket Full of Fun'' #2, "Up a tree"</ref>
* '''Alice Mitchell, née Aberdeen''' is Dennis' [[Housewife|stay-at-home mother]], who is usually the reassuring figure to whom Dennis can run when things get too overwhelming, ready to greet him with a warm [[hug]]. Although she grew up among animals on a [[Poultry farming|chicken ranch]], a [[running gag]] is that Alice is [[Ophidiophobia|Ophidiophobic]]. (She also dislikes mice and white rats, implying she is [[Fear of mice and rats|musiphobic]] as well.)<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_050_Hallden-Fawcett/page/n13 Dennis_the_Menace_050]</ref> {{citation needed|date=April 2021}} She is the president of a local [[Bridge (card game)|bridge]] club.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_021_Pines/page/n25 Dennis the Menace Fawcett Comics 21]</ref> Another running gag involves Dennis's ever-changing parade of new [[Babysitting|babysitters]];<ref>Dennis the Menace comic June 28, 2019</ref> no one will take the job twice, much to Alice's annoyance.<ref>Dennis the Menace comic June 13, 1958</ref><ref>Dennis the Menace December 9, 1959</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_Bonus_Magazine_Series_165_1977/page/n25 Dennis the Menace Bonus Magazine Series 165]</ref> Alice is the disciplinarian in the Mitchell household; for example, she punishes Dennis for his misbehavior by having him sit in the corner in a [[rocking chair]] for timeout.<ref>Dennis the Menace comic february-28-2014</ref><ref>Dennis the Menace march-16-2014</ref><ref>Dennis the Menace march-18-2014</ref> 
* '''Ruff''' is Dennis's [[dog]] (a [[Newfoundland dog|Newfoundland]] mix{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}) and best friend. He is always eagerly following him around, accompanying him while Dennis is [[running]], or riding his [[Bicycle|bike]] or [[skateboard]]. Another [[running gag]] is that although Ruff chases cats, he is afraid of them.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_114_Hallden-Fawcett_1971/page/n13 Dennis the Menace 114]</ref>
* '''Hot Dog''' is Dennis's rarely seen [[cat]], which usually commiserates with him while he sits in the corner and reflects on his wrongdoings. Dennis gave the cat its name after the cat ate a package of [[hot dog]]s.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_143_Hallden-Fawcett_1976/page/n23 Dennis the Menace No 143]</ref>
* '''Barney''' is another cat of the Mitchells.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
* '''Grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell'''<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_037_Hallden-Fawcett/page/n5 Dennis the Meanace 37]</ref>
* '''Grampa''' (Arnold "Swede" Aberdeen) is Alice's father, who spoils Dennis often. He evokes the unintentional jealousy of Mr. Wilson, for he gets to see Dennis occasionally, but Mr. Wilson sees him all the time. Because they are so much alike, Dennis and Grampa Johnson get along well. Mr. Wilson and Grampa have different perspectives on life and how to live it. While Mr. Wilson believes in acting one's age, Grampa encourages Dennis to enjoy life to the fullest. His wife's status is unknown; she is never seen in the comics, although she is mentioned four times—twice when, thanks to Dennis, Alice finds out Henry destroyed his Christmas gift (a tie) from his mother-in-law;<ref>[https://archive.org/details/fawcett_Dennis_the_Menace_Giant_003_Pines_Hallden_Dennis_The_Menace_Giant_Christmas_I/page/n97 Dennis the Menace giant Christmas]</ref> another time a furious Alice finds out that Henry had thrown his mother-in-law's gift (a tie) into the trash.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Another time, Alice wished her mother a Happy Mother's Day by telephone.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Grandpa mentions his wife to Dennis but not her status{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
* '''Uncle Fred and Aunt Mollie'''<ref>''Dennis the Menace Pocket Full of Fun'' #2 "Too Many Santas"</ref>
* '''Uncle Richard and Aunt Ginny'''<ref>''Dennis the Menace Pocket Full of Fun'' #2</ref>
* '''Uncle John''' lives in [[Florida]]. The Mitchells visited him once for a vacation.<ref name="ReferenceA">''Dennis the Menace Pocket Full of Fun'' #8</ref>
* '''Uncle Al''' lives in [[Texas]] and works in the "oil business." He runs a small oil and [[Filling station|gas station]].<ref>Dennis the menace #15</ref>
* '''Uncle Charlie'''<ref name="Dennis the Menace Fawcett Comic #18"/>
* '''Uncle Ernie and Aunt Blanche'''
*'''Aunt Betty'''<ref name="ReferenceA" />
* '''Aunt Hetty'''<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* '''Aunt Sue'''<ref name="ReferenceA"/>