The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

The Telegraph has an edited version of Sarah Boxner’s article on George Herriman and Krazy Kat reproduced from the original New York Review of Books article. It’s good stuff, touching on elements of gender and race issues (including the fact that Herriman’s own birth certificate had him down as ‘coloured’ and his death certificate as ‘caucasian’) which can be read into Krazy and Ignatz: “Krazy goes to a beauty salon and when she emerges, all white, Ignatz falls in love with her, not realising who she is. She coyly drops her handkerchief, with the initials “KK” on it (just one K short of the Klan), and Ignatz looks surprised. Krazy turns and explains: “My initchils – mins Krazy Ket – y’know that dunt you dollin?” Ignatz runs for a brick and Krazy wanders off, saying: “L’il tutsi-wutsi thinks because I change my kimplection Ishould change my name.”” You just know there is a potentially fascinating essay-length article in there waiting to be written. (thanks to Matthew Badham for the link, which came via Pete Ashton’s blog)

(panel from a 1919 Krazy and Ignatz strip by George Herriman)