Krazy Kat

Krazy Kat is a celebrated American newspaper comic strip created by George Herriman.

The strip ran for over three decades, from 1913 to 1944. It first appeared in the New York Evening Journal. The owner of that paper, William Randolph Hearst, was a major supporter of the work. Hearst helped the strip continue throughout its long run. While many comics focus on simple jokes, Krazy Kat is known for its surrealism and poetic language. It is treated by many as a serious work of art.

The core of the strip is a curious relationship between three main characters. Krazy is a guileless and carefree cat who lives in Coconino County, Arizona. Krazy harbors an unrequited love for a short-tempered mouse named Ignatz. Ignatz does not return this affection. Instead, he constantly schemes to throw bricks at Krazy's head.

Krazy interprets these bricks as signs of love. Krazy often responds with grateful phrases like "Li'l ainjil." A third character, Officer Bull Pupp, tries to protect Krazy. He often thwarts Ignatz's plans and sends the mouse to jail. Later in the strip, Officer Pupp even falls in love with Krazy.

Herriman used a very specific visual style to build this world. The setting is a dreamlike version of the Arizona desert. He filled the pages with caricatured plants and rock formations similar to the Painted Desert.

The backgrounds often change dramatically between panels. This happens even when the characters stay in the same place. Certain locations remained iconic, such as the jailhouse and Kolin Kelly's brickyard. The art includes clay-shingled rooftops and trees in pots decorated like Navajo art. Herriman also included many references to Mexican-American culture. He even used theatrical elements like curtains and floor lights to frame his panels.

The language in Krazy Kat is just as unique as the drawings. Herriman used a highly stylized argot, which is a special way of speaking. This dialogue uses phonetic spelling to evoke many different dialects. It mixes elements of English, French, Spanish, and Yiddish. It also reflects a dialect similar to Herriman's native New Orleans accent. The text often features whimsical and alliterative descriptions. For example, he described a volcano with the phrase "supreme suavity of a vagabond volcano." This poetic approach helped set the strip apart from standard gag comics.

History shows that Krazy Kat evolved from Herriman's earlier work. He first created characters in a strip called The Dingbat Family. This strip began in June 1910. Later, he used these characters in a strip called Baron Bean. The name "Krazy Kat" actually came from a mouse describing the cat in those early stories.

Although the strip had modest success initially, it gained a massive reputation later. Intellectuals and art critics began to praise its complexity. This helped move the comic strip from simple entertainment into the realm of fine art.

Many notable figures helped establish the strip's importance. In 1924, art critic Gilbert Seldes wrote a long praise of the work. He called it the most fantastic and satisfactory art produced in America. The famous poet E. E. Cummings also admired Herriman. Cummings wrote the introduction to the first book collection of the strip. These high-level reviews were very influential. They helped the public see the strip as a work of genius. Even today, many modern cartoonists cite the strip as a major influence on their own work.

Beyond the main trio, Coconino County is full of interesting residents. Joe Stork is a character who delivers babies to various people. Kolin Kelly is a dog who works as a brickmaker. He uses a kiln to bake his bricks, which Ignatz often uses for his schemes. Mrs. Kwakk Wakk is a duck who acts as a busybody. She often notices Ignatz's plots and tells Officer Pupp. Other characters include Mimi, a French poodle teacher, and Don Kiyote, a Mexican coyote. This wide cast of characters makes the world feel lived-in and complex.