Week #3

Little Nemo and Krazy Kat

For this week, I read multiple comic strips made in 20th century. I especially would like to compare two comics, Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo and George Herriman’s Krazy Kat. Even though they are both highly regarded comic strips in the same time period, they have very different characteristics.

Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo is a full-color comic strips started in 1905. The section I read is Little Nemo in the Palace of Ice. First of all, I was impressed by its beautiful use of color and detail. It is interesting that the whole story in Little Nemo is actually Nemo’s dream. The final panel in which Nemo wakes up is always very simple (white bed, gray wall, etc.); it gives a great contrast between Nemo’s real world and his colorful dream world. Little Nemo uses a lot of action-to-action transition and thus it is easy to read what is happening in the scene. I feel that the gags in Little Nemo tend to be soft, not really emphasized; it is because the characters’ expression is not obvious in Little Nemo although their action is clearly portrayed. The background in Little Nemo is complicated and beautifully drawn. Especially its drawing of architectures is very precise and detailed. Although I love Little Nemo’s imagination and beautiful artworks, the racism in this comic is obvious. African American character, Impie is over-exaggerated based on a stereotype; and he is almost mute and always used as a gag. In addition, there is a part that African American characters are portrayed as Little Nemo’s danger, “cannibals”. It again made me aware of the history of racism in comics.

On the other hand, George Herriman’s Krazy Kat is black and white comic (although some of them are colored) and its panels are very simple. Especially the early comic strips created in 1911-1912 use five same sized panels every time. However, by reading its story and looking at its simplified characters, I understand why this comic is loved by many people. The story is straightforward; an simple-minded Kat loves a mouse named Ignatz, but Ignatz does not accept Kat’s love and often throw a brick to Kat. The tension in Krazy Kat reminds me of Tom and Jerry, (although Kat loves Ignatz unlike Tom!) but the gag and exaggeration are softer than Tom and Jerry. Later on, the comic strips become more detailed, especially its background (however, the characters stay simple). My favorite episode is one strip from the section, Music Hath Cherms. Kat is sailing a boat and Ignatz is waiting for Kat’s boat on the bridge to throw him a brick; another mouse asks Ignatz “date?” and he answers “almost”, but while he is answering, Kat’s boat already pass under the bridge. I love the fact that Ignatz even delays his date to throw a brick to Kat. As Kat takes his brick as Ignatz’s “love”, it might be is. I like how Herriman keeps a brick, which is introduced in 1911, as an important element for whole run.

Little Nemo and Krazy Kat have almost opposite style, but both have their own charm. I like how beautiful the art of Little Nemo is, but I also love the cuteness in Krazy Kat.