Adafruit’s comic book reading list: Krazy Kat by George Herriman #adafruitcomics

from Adafruit’s comic book reading list: Krazy Kat by George Herriman #adafruitcomics
by Zay

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A new edition of Adafruit’s Comic Reading List — this week it’s Krazy Kat from Adafruit pal Karen!

Krazy Kat was a newspaper comic created by George Herriman that ran from 1913 to 1944. The setting is the Southwest, and the characters speak in a very stylized dialect that reflects Herriman’s Creole roots.

There are three main characters:

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Krazy Kat: a black cat, sometimes “he” and sometimes “she” – but always sporting a ribbon around his/her neck. Krazy is ditzy, but sweet and kind. He/she is hopelessly, unconditionally in love with Ignatz Mouse. He is his/her “L’il Ainjil.”

Ignatz Mouse: A high-strung mouse, annoyed by Krazy’s adoration -– so much that he throws bricks at his/her head. Krazy takes this as an expression of his love.

Offissa Pup: A dog policeman in love with Krazy, who doesn’t realize it. He sees Ignatz as a rival and is ever chasing after Igantz to stop him from throwing bricks. Krazy, being a Kat, thinks Officer Pup is playing with her L’il Ainjil, and has no idea about Pup’s feelings.

Upon this triangle hangs the various shenanigans among the denizens of Coconino County. The stories are often surrealistic, always linguistically and intellectually playful and way ahead of their time in their “meta”-ness.

In the 60’s there was a Krazy Kat cartoon, but it was watered down in every way and bore little resemblance to the original strip.

Here’s the real thing — enjoy!

Check out our previous posts Bee and the Puppycat, Spacetrawler by Christopher Baldwin, & Grrl Power — a webcomic about superheroines

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