Minnie the Minx

Story

Hermione Makepeace aka Minnie the Minx is a British comic strip and comic strip character published in the comic magazine The Beano. She has five older brothers and her cousin is Dennis the Menace. Minnie is depicted as a typical “tomboy”, preferring mischievous and violent antics and a more impish style of causing trouble which she refers to as ‘minxing’.

Why we chose it

Minnie is one of the longest running Beano characters and was created by Leo Baxendale, one of the greats of British comics.

Where it came from

Joseph Leo Baxendale (1930 - 2017) first discovered comics in the 1930’s when "an older boy rushed up to me and shoved the first issue of The Beano into my hands.” Leo drew the Minnie the Minx strips from 1953-62. Most of Minnie's earlier strips consisted of six-panel boxes but, as her popularity grew, she was given her own full page with added colour. This introduced her trademark flaming red hair and red and black jersey.

In 2013 Baxendale was the second person inducted into the British Comic Awards Hall of Fame.

Where it went next

In 1962, when Baxendale left D C Thomson, a new artist, Jim Petrie, was taken on to continue Minnie's adventures. She was given her own statue in Dundee and in 2001 and was also featured in the line-up of McDonald's happy meal toys in Britain. As well as featuring on much of the Beano Merchandise, such as T-shirts and figures, Minnie is often featured in the comic's countless spin-offs such as videos, annuals and video games. In 2018 Minnie The Minx starred in a live action TV series.

Associated stories

Leo Baxendale illustrated Minnie as well as the Bash Street Kids and The Three Bears. Minnie also featured in The Beano Annual and Dennis the Menace and Gnasher. In 2018 a 68 page special Beano Bookazine celebrating 65 Years of Minnie the Minx was published.