I’ve introduced a new character to my crew – Krazy Kat.
He’s more than 100 years ago (the strip ran from 1913 to 1944, to be precise) but his influence is still being felt.
Krazy – and his tormentor-cum-mate Ignatz the mouse – was drawn by a bloke called George Harriman. The strips appeared in American newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst (who apparently was so convinced of Harriman’s genius that he gave him a lifetime contract and carte blanche to draw whatever he liked).
They have an often-baffling, surreal quality which takes a bit of getting used to – but maybe it’s this which gives them a fascinating appeal.
It was one of the first comic strips to be taken seriously as ‘art’. Fans include the poets EE Cummings and (one of my heros) Don Marquis, of Archie & Mehitabel fame.
Anyway, I’ve chosen a four-panel strip featuring Krazy, in which he’s outwitted by a worm.
Let me know if you like him and I’ll print some more.
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