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The Ultimate Dennis the Menace Thread
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Started by ComicBookGuy,

1,762 posts in this topic

Wiseguy-migration

Wiseguy-migration

Posted
Posted

I mentioned Bill Alger before, and all the work and research he has done on Al Wiseman.

Bill has been most helpful in filling in blanks in my fathers work.

Bill even started this:

http://www.alwiseman.com/

Bow tie, short sleeve shirt, Buddy Holly glasses, yup that's Al.

 

Thanks again Bill.

 

I was just going through some of the items Bill sent me, and came across a

piece of tracing paper in red and blue pencil.

It was for the cover of Standard Comics DTM #6

The cover shows Dennis running on the steering wheel of a naval ship.

The final cover differs from the tracing a little, but not much.

 

Scans coming son I hope.

 

Jim

Wiseguy-migration

Wiseguy-migration

Posted
Posted

DTM in Mexico. There is a story that shows Dennis with a large mask.

see at : http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/995866/dennismasklg.JPG

 

My Ex Step-Mother just gave that mask to me a few weeks ago.

Here is the original:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/995866/mask.JPG

 

 

Also, here is a photo of my only tatoo:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/995866/jimsarm.JPG

Done in Holland a few years ago.

My salute to the old man.

 

Jim

Gutterflower-migration

Gutterflower-migration

Posted
Posted (edited)

Jim,I just have to say that gaining insight into your father's work and personal life via your memories is fascinating. Thanks again to you for sharing them, and to Teresa for the scans. Your tattoo is an amazingly good likeness of our beloved DTM.

 

I wish I had something to contribute in the way of questions or scans, but unfortunately I don't. Reading this thread as it grows is a real treat to all of the Dennis collectors/fans. Your father will never be forgotten.

 

~Linda

Edited by Gutterflower
Wiseguy-migration

Wiseguy-migration

Posted
Posted
Jim,I just have to say that gaining insight into your father's work and personal life via your memories is fascinating. Thanks again to you for sharing them, and to Teresa for the scans. Your tattoo is an amazingly good likeness of our beloved DTM.

 

I wish I had something to contribute in the way of questions or scans, but unfortunately I don't. Reading this thread as it grows is a real treat to all of the Dennis collectors/fans. Your father will never be forgotten.

 

~Linda

 

Thanks Linda.

It is an experience for me also.

 

Ok, so what was your first DTM comic?

 

 

 

Jim

BillyBatson4360

BillyBatson4360

Posted
Posted

First, the reversal of colors on Dennis' clothes. If you look at a number of the Dennis covers you'll find that that reversal pops up every now and again. I have to assume it was an artistic decision. (For eaxmple, just check my avatar.)

 

Second, I've already gone to Bill Alger's site. We should all drop by and e-mail the man some encouragement. I'm very hopeful that it could be the start of the long overdue recognition that Al Wiseman has coming.

 

Third, I really want to thank Jim for the memories he's sharing with us here. For the longest part of my life, I've just known Al Wiseman as a name and by the outsanding examples of his art I've had in my collection (and believe me, assembling a full set of Wiseman Dennis comics was harder than any run of a Marvel Comic title I ever put together - and at one time, I had 'em all).

 

Now, I've finally been able to get answers to some of the questions that have plagued me for a long time (I've been wondering why Al stopped doing Dennis ever since the day I picked up Dennis Giant # 9 "Dennis Goes to Camp" as a kid and it wasn't done by "the good artist.")

 

More than that, I've started to get an idea of who Wiseman was as a man. Ketchum got to write his autobiography. Until just a few days ago, all I knew about Al Wiseman's life came from a single brief article in Robin Synder's "The Comics." Heck, today I even know what brand of cigarettes he smoked.

 

So, Jim, thanks for sharing your dad with us.

 

I've got a lot more questions, but they can wait for another time.

 

BTW, I read a plug Fred Hembeck gave this thread on his website. With Fred and now Bill Alger's site - together with this thread - maybe we can finally make Wiseman a known commodity in comic book circles (after all, even Carl Barks was a "ghoster" once upon time).

ComicBookGuy

ComicBookGuy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Second, I've already gone to Bill Alger's site. We should all drop by and e-mail the man some encouragement. I'm very hopeful that it could be the start of the long overdue recognition that Al Wiseman has coming.

Third, I really want to thank Jim for the memories he's sharing with us here.

 

Well said, Bill! thumbsup2.gif

 

Jim's arrival on this thread has been a blast. Already the expectations I had for this thread when I began it have been far and away exceeded, and I cannot believe how lucky we are to have Jim here.

 

I've emailed about 10 Dennis bidders on eBay about this thread and will continue to do that in the future. I've also emailed a person who I believe is the biggest Dennis collector in the world. If you guys think I'm hardcore, just look out when - if - this guy arrives! At some point I hope to get just about every Dennis collector here before launching a full-blown website, perhaps within the coming year.

 

I cannot wait for Bill Alger's site to be launched. I emailed him several days ago but haven't heard back yet. If anyone hears anything, please let us know. I would like to see what he is going to do before setting mine up so there isn't much repetition between the two. I do know I want to have a complete index of all Dennis comic books with cover scans. I want to have the index work in such a way that stories can be found by title, artist, and all issues they appear in. I also want a collection of homages, all tv shows with sypnoses & ratings, all books, movies, toys, etc., along with a chat room, polls, and links.

 

Jim, the tattoo, the mask, the pics, everything -- keep it coming! We're all loving it. I love that #6 sketch and noticed it was different from the actual cover. I wonder who has all your dad's art work. It's got to be out there somewhere!

 

Joe

Wiseguy-migration

Wiseguy-migration

Posted
Posted

You asked about other DTM artists.

The only other ones I sorta remember were Robert (Bob) Paplow and Bruce Ariss.

 

I maybe met Lee Holley once, so I don't remember him, other than he was not as smooth as the old man.

I guess Lee didn't get along with Al.

 

I found a faded newspaper article from the Monterey Peninsula Herald.

Dated Nov. 14, 1959.

The article mentions that my father and Fred Toole worked for Bob Barnes who ran an advertising agency in Santa Cruz, Ca.

Bob went on to create his own strip, "The Better Half", leaving Fred and Al to the agency.

 

 

I think my dad did some advertising work for Borden's Dairys. There was an "Elsie the Cow" character.

And some covers for the Monarch Match Company.

 

 

I am doing a search now for the photographer who took the photos of the Wiseman's and the Toole's in Hawaii in Aug of 1956.

The name on the back of the photo reads," Walts Photo Service"

2709-A Kalakaua Ave.

Queen Surf Grounds

Honolulu, Hi

If we have any readers who live over in Honolulu, does this place still exist?

 

 

I found some more goodies, that I will try and post in the coming days.

 

 

Jim

ComicBookGuy

ComicBookGuy

Posted
  • Author
Posted
In keeping with this thread, I am curious which DTM you read (re-read) the most?

Mexico (obviously) and Hawaii are my personal favorites.

Which is your favorite?

Jim

 

I have to say I love them all. But since you're asking, I would have to say the ones I keep going back to are the Hawaii, Mexico, California, Hollywood, Washington DC, and the Christmas specials. I've always been amazed that these comics have not been kept in print, and not only that, that they were edited down in later editions. The publishers were very smart to reprint these for a decade so new fans could read them and get hooked on the title.

 

By the way, I heard back from Bill Alger, and he said he is going to join into the conversation here in a bit, so this party is about to get bigger and better!

 

Joe

Wiseguy-migration

Wiseguy-migration

Posted
Posted

When Bill Alger shows up, I think he will have a few surprises.

I just went thru some more of the things he sent me.

I found the copy of issue #1, April 1975 of Cartoonews.

Nice photo of my dad and a bunch of DTM folks.

 

Round 'em up Joe!

 

 

Jim

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