It can be interesting to compare an original story with the reprinted one, to see what changed. In the 2003 Dennis the Menace annual they reprinted the Christmas story from Beano #2475 from December 23rd 1989, that year's Christmas issue. Originally just called Dennis the Menace and Gnasher, the annual renamed it to 'Dennis the Menace and Gnasher in a Christmas Chortle', adding Santa in his sleigh and moon to the panel.
The colour scheme also changed, the original version is generally darker with a nice purple sky. I personally prefer the original version, the reprint just doesn't seem as festive. Even the bells that read 'Dennis the Menace and Gnasher' aren't as nicely coloured.
Here's the full strip, the original next to the reprint. Art is by David Sutherland. As always click on the images and then again to view in full size.
And here's the book the reprint appeared in, the 2003 Dennis the Menace annual.
Many thanks to Phil Creighton for informing me of this reprint! Cheers Phil!
4 comments:
Aw, I feel all festive now - it might be winter where you are, but the sun's just getting its gear together over here!
It's Autumn here - but still as hot as it was in summer! *Phew!*
The original colouring is far better. It has much more 'atmosphere' than the recoloured reprints.
I think I know why it was recoloured.
Jimmy Glen was the staff artist who recaptioned all the Dennis and Kids artwork for the annuals, and this story is no exception. Dave still sends hard copy artwork to the office every week, and it’s more than likely that after Jimmy did the required cutting and pasting (eg the Santa from the final panel) and added the moon to fill the empty space, the black and white work went to a colourist who wasn’t given the original Beano to work from - and that’s why the new work isn’t in the same league.
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