Dennis the Menace. Dennis the Menace is a daily syndicated newspaper comic strip originally created, written and illustrated by Hank Ketcham (1920-2001), debuting in 1951, in 16 newspapers. It is now written and drawn by Ketcham's former assistants, Marcus Hamilton and Ron Ferdinand (1951- ), and distributed to at least 1,000 newspapers in 48 countries. Four signed items: 8 ½†x 11†typed letter, January 27, 1956, signed by Ketcham, with a 6†x 4†Dennis sketch signed, “For Richey! Hank Ketcham 7-27-93†and a 5 ¼†x 6†page from a Dennis book with a printed image signed by Ketchem. 8 ½†x 11†color original sketch of Dennis signed by Ron Ferdinand, “For Doug….â€