Krazy Kat: The Coconino County Home Page: ''Coconino County is the home of Krazy Kat, Ignatz Mouse, Offissa Pupp and an assortment of other individuals," writes ''obsessed'' ''Krazy Kat'' lover, Peter Campbell. ''These cartoon characters were created in 1913 by George Herriman, a cartoonist for Hearst papers. The strip ran until the mid-1940's.
"In the cartoon, Krazy Kat, a cat of indeterminate sex, was in love with Ignatz Mouse. Ignatz, in turn, had a somewhat antagonistic attitude toward Krazy, which he demonstrated by tossing bricks at her head. Alas, Krazy took the hard knocks as a sign that Ignatz truly loved him.
"Meanwhile, Offissa Pupp, the local canine constable, also loved Krazy, and tried to protect her by attempting to catch Ignatz at his various criminal activities and throw him in jail. The eternal love triangle, with all the confusion, humor, violence and pathos, played out against the surrealistic setting of Coconino County, Arizona, land of the Grand Canyon."
Largely unknown today, "Krazy Kat" is recognized by cartoonists as one of the truly great (with all the power that word musters) and influential comic strips of all time. Fans include Bill Watterson ("Calvin and Hobbes''), Charles Schulz ("Peanuts"), Pablo Picasso, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac, and Frank Capra -- and, um, not name dropping here: me. I fell into Herriman's strange world in my thirties and consumed his comics with vigor.
Because of changes in contemporary stylings, "Krazy Kat" may be an acquired taste, but the resulting feast provides meals for years.
Go: Krazy Kat: The Coconino County Home Page
At this beautiful tribute, read articles, including "The Evolution of the Kat," and e.e. cummings' salute, plus learn about George Herriman and the latest Krazy Kat news. More importantly, discover enough wonderful comic strip reprints to hit you like a brick.
At this beautiful tribute, read articles, including "The Evolution of the Kat," and e.e. cummings' salute, plus learn about George Herriman and the latest Krazy Kat news. More importantly, discover enough wonderful comic strip reprints to hit you like a brick.
