What if Dennis the Menace had superpowers?

[strannik01]

When the U.S. version of Dennis the Menace became popular, many comic companies jumped on the bandwagon. But Toby Press, the publisher that brought you Jon Juan, the Super Lover, decided to take it one step beyond.

Ollie Orwell was a 6-year-old kid from an unnamed Midwestern city. He was a perfectly ordinary kid until he discovered a tattered magical cape in his attic. The cape gave him all of Superman's powers. Now, if he was older and more responsible, Ollie probably would have become a superhero. But Ollie wasn't mature enough to think through on the consequences of his actions, so he became known as the Super-Brat.

That's right - Ollie Orwell was Dennis the Menace - with Superpowers.

He appeared in four issues of Super-Brat comic. Toby Press went under before the 5th issue could be published. Charlton Comics (out of all companies) bought the rights to some of Toby's titles, including Super-Brat. Charlton published the 5th issue as Li'l Genius #1. In the next issue of Li'l Genius, the writers revamped Ollie and took away his magic cape and made him just plain old Dennis the Menace proxy.

But those stories are boring, so I'm going to post scans from the Super-Brat era.

The following story was originally published in Super-Brat #2. Writer unknown, art by Harry Betancourt.







 

Comments

[auggie18]

That's a heck of a lot more menacing then I've ever seen Dennis be.

It'd be neat to see a character be named something like Stoneheart and have to overcome everyone assuming he's an ass just because of his evil name.

It's a really cute story.

[fungo_squiggly]

Wow, Silver Age Superboy could take lessons in dickery from this kid.

Also, while I admire Jeffrey Stoneheart's ingenuity, the man is clearly insane.

[blackruzsa]

That is... incredibly scary.

[leoboiko]

As a parent, I agree.

[blackruzsa]

I really really hate brats D: Really. Use the "they're too young to know better" excuse on me and I may hurt something. I looooooove and adore kids, but brats are nyeeegh.

[strannik01]

Thing is, there were stories when Ollie did try to use his powers for good, but they almost never worked out quite the way he intended, because he was impulsive and didn't think things through. Of course, there were just as many stories where he used his powers selfishly - most notably, the time he changed the course of the river just to mess with the older kids who wouldn't let him play with them.

And I agree - this whole concept is scary. I am not sure the writer realized that.

[daningram.insanejournal.com]

Ah, kid sociopaths, always fun. He's not as bad as Cal from Weapon Brown, though...

[althechi]

Oh, good. I thought for a moment there you mean the British Dennis the Menace.



Now that would be really terrifying.

[espanolbot]

Indeed, he already invented and built a car that is essentially the Batmobile, if he had actual superpowers the town he lives in would most likely be reduced to ruins.

[ogrebear]

I have to agree..... but possibly more fun somehow....

[drmcninja]

Zounds man, must thou be such a tool?

[mcity]

I love that the dogcatcher apparently has a dog costume for just such an occasion.

Alternately, he's a furry.

Or a bestialist.

Or both.

This comic just got a lot more disturbing.

[tsunamiwombat]

"Now, if he was older and more responsible, Ollie probably would have become a superhero. But Ollie wasn't mature enough to think through on the consequences of his actions, so he became known as the Super-Brat."

I thought this was about Green Arrow at first.

[halloweenjack]

Christ, what an asshole.