Why society tortured this groundbreaking comic artist

The genius artist everyone copied, but who lived in fear of discovery.
Krazy Kat Comic Links:
Gorgeous Edition of Color Sunday Strips (drool):
amzn.to/3qupADL
Sunday Full Page Strips:
Volume 1: amzn.to/3qBw8jW
Volume 2: amzn.to/45fOPIV
Volume 3: amzn.to/3smK81g
Volume 4: amzn.to/3OY7q6B
Fantagraphics is in the process of reprinting this entire series with new covers and essays, but they have printed it all in the past, so if you can’t wait the used editions are floating around out there.
The daily strips are harder to find, I know of this old Fantagraphics volume, but hopefully we see more printed soon:
amzn.to/44o1TLi
Read the full story and support Michael Tisserand’s incredible research by buying his biography of Herriman:
amzn.to/3qBw8jW
(As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Sources:
Krazy: George Herriman: A Life in Black and White by Michael Tisserand - amzn.to/3qBw8jW
I relied heavily on the essays found within the Fantagraphics Sunday collections, some of which are out of print.
www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe...
Further reading:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-dro...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Wi...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypodes...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passing...)

[@CartoonboyYT]

You literally explained comics much more than any comic expert I've ever met.

[@EliotThemastermind-xb6xp]

Thank you

[@super-toast-system]

@@EliotThemastermind-xb6xpHe wasn’t talking to you, narcissist.

[@super-toast-system]

@@shaquillebiffee890 wdym

[@johnnyd3158]

Yeah, way better than Linkara, a.k.a. The Lightbringer, lol.

[@mosjeff8913]

Facts

[@DiggerDwarfy]

Knowing Herriman's identity really puts Musical Mose into perspective. Doesn't make it any better, just...puts a whole new awful spin on it.

[@coledavidson5630]

I think it makes it less unethical for him to write at least. But yeah, still awful to think that he might have seen himself that way

[@hatednyc]

It’s genius. It’s a bittersweet way to put it out there front and center.

[@aztektheultimatewoman]

Oop- hey there ^^

[@NelsonStJames]

This is a great example of how racism has held back art, science and a lots of other fields and there is no way to tell how far we’d be as a species if we’d recognized talent and skill no matter where the source. Harriman’s work could have been just as fantastic and yet would never been given a chance had anybody known the truth. While things are better today it’s a lesson we still haven’t fully learned.

[@analogmatrix1442]

@@coledavidson5630interesting take on it. If anyone has a right to tell any side of any story I believe it’s the person living it. Just because the truth makes anyone uncomfortable does not change its truths. It would be nice to only pick and choose to look at what is agreeable rather than take something in for what it is. I would feel more connected to Herriman for making that comic because even if it were to be looked at as a “mistake” he was living his truth right in front of the world. All I can ever do is feel for myself because everyone’s greatest judgement is in their own mind and heart I find it to be a crime to tell anyone how to think or feel.

[@TRUTHANDCONSEQUENCESWILLNEVER]

The fact he wore a hat to cover his hair and also how he showed how scared he was of being found out with that minstrel cartoon ending in the black character being beat up is so heartbreaking. You should also have made note of Hearst open admiration for Nazi Germany in this period. He even re-published speeches by AH in his paper. I think if he had known of his real identity that he would have had him not work for him anymore, which probably contributed to him not being open about his identity.

[@worldcomicsreview354]

Maybe speeches by "AH" were news? The BBC site is "publishing speeches by Putin", what will people say about that in a hundred years?

[@JeremiahWdabullfrog]

A communist. Who'da think it!

[@rookregent5623]

If he admired hitler he probably would have had him killed.

[@VolkColopatrion]

America didn't want another war and so they just wanted Hitler to do his thing. And Hitler didn't do the nasty stuff all at once it was gradual. Good Lord the lack of context people have with history. It doesn't make Hitler or supporting them any better but Jesus Christ it's like how everybody love Jared Fogle until they found out about his really terrible stuff. It was kind of the same

[@jstamps9578]

Imagine the demoralizing daily pressures and yet the ability to create humor. This man was a hero.

[@theconqueringram5295]

You know, they say separate the art from the artist, but really art is an extension of the artist. You can find clues about the artist's personal life, ideas and passions in their art. It's amazing how someone who tried to hide his ancestry was able to create such art. Krazy Kat is one of the greatest comics of all time.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

They mainly only really say "separate the art from the artist" when the artist has done really really bad things but you can't help but still love and admire the work they have done. It all really depends on WHAT they did.

[@Raybro16]

@@Gadget-Walkmen A prime example of that would be H.P. Lovecraft. Guy was CRAZY racist even for his time, and it shows in his works as he would write about various minorities in very unflattering lights. He even wrote an infamous rant about his bigotry. Despite that, he also paved the road for Cosmic Horror (AKA Lovecraftian Horror but I'm pretty sure that term been all but dropped from culture as a whole) to exist, and that's all we acknowledge. Am I saying Cosmic horror is inherently racist because of Lovecraft and his bigotry? No, of course not. Like you said, separate the art from the artist. However, it's still important to know the kinds of people that are writing these stories. For example, did you know J. K. Rowling used goblins as an allegory for jewish people? Its not just that, but also many other ethnicities and minorities are depicted as otherworldly creatures and/or mixed blood wizards throughout the entire series. While not as overt as Lovecraft, it does explain the current crowd she associates with...

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

LOL Just no. You're completely wrong here as you have NO idea on what you're saying AT ALL. The goblins in Harry Potter ARE NOT "aN AlLeGorY fOR jeWIsH peoPLe" AT ALL, it's just a BAD statement of horrible similarities people are terribly making out to start controversy JUST for the sake of it. Nothing more. There are no "ethnicities" OR "minorities" that are not even CLOSE to being depicted as otherworldly creatures AT ALL in Harry Potter, lol NOT even close and great job at being THIS wrong here as the creatures in the story are JUST meant to be fantasy creatures and nothing more. Your BADLY spewing lies about a series that has NONE of the nonsense that which your falsely accusing it of here at all. You seriously need to STOP saying this nonsense as it's nowhere NEAR what Lovecraft was trying to do at all. It's JUST you and people like you who BADLY are believing this nonsense about Harry Potter and the horrible false allegations against it. You have NO idea on what you're talking about with Harry Potter, nothing more. Are we not allowed to have goblins in fiction now without people WRONGLY associating them with antisemantism now? Are you being serious? LOL That's just false allegations that you people are BADLY doing here. Goblins have LONG since associated with green mischievous little creature who are obsessed with gold before JK Rowling was even born. If anyone making any false connections to that of Jewish people are doing it coincidence and their own biases of trying to look for offensive imagery that's NOT intentionally there. It's THAT simple. The only thing that IS there is the whole commentary of "mixed blood wizards and witches" which is meant to be criticizing anyone who thought they were better from being "pure blood" like malfoy family and what Voldemort was trying to do by trying to kill off anyone who he thought needed to be "cleansed" and the whole story was CRITICIZING them for believing and acting upon those terrible beliefs. Herimone is literally a muggle born witch and it's brought up on how meaningless it is to value being "pure blood", "half blood", or "muggle born" when Herimone has proven to be one of the most gifted magic users in the whole series and out-besting "pure blood" wizards. Ron is apart of a "pure blood family" but he's not that gifted or talented in anything. His whole family is dirt poor but they're among the most nicest and friendliest people OF the Harry Potter Saga. This is clearly to be analogous to race and how your race doesn't matter on who you are or if you're skilled or talented or not, your ACTIONS do and you can come from anywhere and still be heavily gifted and skilled. Harry Potter has taught that it doesn't WHO you are or WHERE you come from, YOU decide what kind of people you are based on your own actions and you shouldn't be judging people based on where they come from and if they d A WHOLE anti-racism theme has been within Harry Potter's central storyline on how BAD ALL of that stuff IS and that people need to STOP believing on something as worthless as "blood value" for you to believe you're better than someone based on whatever "blood family" you're in. Not ONCE throughout Harry Potter has that EVER been placed positively AT ALL and has been harshly criticized THROUGHOUT the series if you ACTUALLY paid attention to what the series has been trying to say about bigotry. This should be PAINFULLY obvious as the story has LONG since been against any form judgement of where people have come from OR what their bloodline is. Just to only judge them as a PERSON and that's it. The terrible things that JK Rowling has said or "involved with" now has NOTHING to do with her work for Harry Potter in the slightest and I'm sick and tried of you people BADLY saying that here as it's just not true. Whatever JK Rowling has become now is NOT what she was during the making of Harry Potter. Nor does Harry Potter have ANY of the negative accusations that you people are badly saying about it as you are. I love HP Lovecraft's work as well despite him being a MASSIVE racist at the time and I love Cosmic Horror for what it is and OBVIOUSLY no one in their right mind would EVER say that cosmic horror is "inHereNtLY RaCISt" lol that's a joke to even BRING UP as an example, I'm just saying that people need to know WHEN to separate the art from the artist at the right moment and that's it. And the nonsense that you're about Harry Potter is just that, NONSENSE because it's flat out WRONG entirely. The creatures and monsters in Harry Potter are JUST meant to be that, monsters and creatures. No different from ANY OTHER fantasy story as NONE of the otherwordly creatures are meant to represent any other "eTHnIcItIEs oR MinOrItIEs" AT ALL in the series in the slightest. You have NO idea on what you're talking about at all when you say that. NOR does anyone at all. They're NOT supposed to negatively represent "real life ethnicities or minorities" in the slightest, that's just flat out WRONG here entirely so and completely false. People are just BADLY seeing something that's NOT there. All fiction is based on reality so any fictional creatures that people might WRONGLY suspect that are associated with real life races are completely in the wrong for doing so. I really wished you didn't tell me this all you did was waste my time in trying to explain the obvious on something that people should have BEEN known right now, it's that simple. My god, you're something else. Stop spreading lies about Harry Potter because NOTHING you've been negatively saying about it is true at all as it's ALL just false lies and bad allegations. Nothing more.@@Raybro16

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@Raybro16 You're completely wrong here as you have NO idea on what you're saying AT ALL. The goblins in Harry Potter ARE NOT "an allegory for jewish people" AT ALL, it's just a BAD statement of horrible similarities people are terribly making out to start controversy JUST for the sake of it. Nothing more. There are no "ethnicities" OR "minorities" that are not even CLOSE to being depicted as otherworldly creatures AT ALL in Harry Potter, lol NOT even close and great job at being THIS wrong here as the creatures in the story are JUST meant to be fantasy creatures and nothing more. Goblins have LONG since associated with green mischievous little creature who are obsessed with gold before JK Rowling was even born. If anyone making any false connections to that of Jewish people are doing it coincidence and their own biases of trying to look for offensive imagery that's NOT intentionally there. It's THAT simple. The only thing that IS there is the whole commentary of "mixed blood wizards and witches" which is meant to be criticizing anyone who thought they were better from being "pure blood" like malfoy family and what Voldemort was trying to do by trying to kill off anyone who he thought needed to be "cleansed" and the whole story was CRITICIZING them for believing and acting upon those terrible beliefs. Hermione is literally a muggle born witch and it's brought up on how meaningless it is to value being "pure blood", "half blood", or "muggle born" when Hermione has proven to be one of the most gifted magic users in the whole series and out-besting "pure blood" wizards. Ron is apart of a "pure blood family" but he's not that gifted or talented in anything. His whole family is dirt poor but they're among the most nicest and friendliest people OF the Harry Potter Saga. This is clearly to be analogous to race and how your race doesn't matter on who you are or if you're skilled or talented or not, your ACTIONS do and you can come from anywhere and still be heavily gifted and skilled. Harry Potter has taught that it doesn't WHO you are or WHERE you come from, YOU decide what kind of people you are based on your own actions and you shouldn't be judging people based on where they come from or what their bloodline is because it’s WRONG to do so and all of those who DO do those things are villainized like Voldemort and all his followers. A WHOLE anti-racism theme has been within Harry Potter's central storyline on how BAD ALL of that stuff IS and that people need to STOP believing on something as worthless as "blood value" for you to believe you're better than someone based on whatever "blood family" you're in. Not ONCE throughout Harry Potter has that EVER been placed positively AT ALL and has been harshly criticized THROUGHOUT the series if you ACTUALLY paid attention to what the series has been trying to say about bigotry. This should be PAINFULLY obvious as the story has LONG since been against any form judgement of where people have come from OR what their bloodline is. Just to only judge them as a PERSON and that's it. The terrible things that JK Rowling has said or "involved with" now has NOTHING to do with her work for Harry Potter in the slightest and I'm sick and tried of you people BADLY saying that here as it's just not true. Whatever JK Rowling has become now is NOT what she was during the making of Harry Potter. Nor does Harry Potter have ANY of the negative accusations that you people are badly saying about it as you are. I love HP Lovecraft's work as well despite him being a MASSIVE racist at the time and I love Cosmic Horror for what it is and OBVIOUSLY no one in their right mind would EVER say that cosmic horror is "inherently racist" lol that's a joke to even BRING UP as an example, I'm just saying that people need to know WHEN to separate the art from the artist at the right moment and that's it. And the nonsense that you're about Harry Potter is just that, NONSENSE because it's flat out WRONG entirely. The creatures and monsters in Harry Potter are JUST meant to be that, monsters and creatures. No different from ANY OTHER fantasy story as NONE of the otherwordly creatures are meant to represent any other "ethnicities or minorities " AT ALL in the series in the slightest. You have NO idea on what you're talking about at all when you say that. NOR does anyone at all. They're NOT supposed to negatively represent "real life ethnicities or minorities" in the slightest, that's just flat out WRONG here entirely so and completely false. People are just BADLY seeing something that's NOT there. All fiction is based on reality so any fictional creatures that people might WRONGLY suspect that are associated with real life races are completely in the wrong for doing so. I really wished you didn't tell me this all you did was waste my time in trying to explain the obvious on something that people should have BEEN known right now, it's that simple. Stop spreading lies about Harry Potter because NOTHING you've been negatively saying about it is true at all as it's ALL just false lies and bad allegations. Nothing more.

[@justanub4697]

​@@Gadget-WalkmenChrist your making points here but the aggressive attitude makes you feel entitled. Either way i guess you've been hearing a lot of accusations and just want to let it all out, although that is a subjective opinion. ehr nonetheless i support you no matter what i think about you as a person entirely your comment makes sense to me, well maybe until someone argues back proving a better claim. I don't see that happening soon, well then goodluck!

[@wesreleases6346]

This is such a beautiful and tragic story. When you threw out the claim early on that he was one of America’s most influential artists, I was skeptical, but it was jaw-dropping to see just how nearly every other major cartoonist that came after was because of him. Incredible video, keep up the great work.

[@TitularHeroine]

This is an incredible story. The connection to e e cummings was entirely unexpected, but then again, everything cummings did was expectedly unexpected. I hope a more widespread re-duscovery of Herriman is to come. Thank you! Edit: a typo; improved punctuation

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Also, Krazy Kat is public domain in Australia.

[@TitularHeroine]

@@SlapstickGenius23 Wow, no kidding! Are there any good cartoons of the characters by later ?

[@jmiquelmb]

You’re one of the few channels on KZbin that make me feel like it’s Christmas every time you upload. Amazing stories, editing, presentation and insight. I didn’t really know Krazy Kat, just heard about it. It’s crazy how creative he was and how he masterfully used composition. It’s surprising to me that the seminal artists were so good and experimental. Little Nemo comes to mind here too. They were the Cervantes and Shakespeare of their medium

[@Kevin_Street]

There's always a burst of creativity when any new artistic medium is invented. The pioneers face the challenge of the ultimate empty page - they're working in a medium where nothing has been done or invented and they have to build all the conventions and styles themselves. But on the other hand, everything they do will be original since there's nothing to compare it to. Inevitably some talents rise to meet the challenge.

[@geoffreyrichards6079]

It’s always sad knowing that particular creators always seem to die in relative obscurity before their works become hugely influential. That trippy environmental art of “Krazy Kat” can still be seen in recent cartoons - I have no doubt that the cartoonish landscapes of “Rocko’s Modern Life” and “The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog” all owe their look to the strip.

[@Theomite]

James Baldwin famously said that society has no use for a writer until he's dead. As it was so often with things, Baldwin was right.

[@MicahMicahel]

how as it obscurity? he had a nationally syndicated strip and it was very artsy. Very few pieces of such ay our visions ever get such a mainstream coverage.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@MicahMicahel Stop commenting, seriously, your last set of comments got pulled down for spreading misinformation, your STILL spreading misinformation with this other one, nothing you're saying is right here AT ALL!

[@Chirishman6]

I think it’s probably worth noting as well that there is now an award named in his honor, the Ignatz Award, awarded for achievements in comics and cartoons by small press or creator owned works. I actually had the honor of helping to hand count the ballots one year.

[@WeeWeeJumbo]

That is extremely cool

[@Buckiz]

Who is Ignatz and why isn’t it in his name?

[@joshuanishanthchristian5217]

@@Buckiz Ignatz is the name of the white mouse from his most famous comic, the aforementioned Krazy Kat series

[@Buckiz]

@@joshuanishanthchristian5217 ok. But why not just use his name? And you said Ignatz was the white mouse? Now I see exactly why?

[@Buckiz]

@@joshuanishanthchristian5217 I see. Ignatz is the white mouse. That’s why.

[@vidIQ]

These videos are so well done and it feels like you've come out of nowhere in terms of the quality of you content, storytelling, and research! Is there a way to contact you? We'd love to interview you and tell your story!

[@FROMTHEHEARTYT]

That would be so cool!

[@Zandwarf]

Damn vid iq out here commenting😂

[@jbiliHacker]

you should! i just watched all of his available videos in two days. outstanding production!!! deserves attention!

[@rogueguardian]

Dude how do you do such a good job of making These stories so interesting?! Great job.

[@cha5]

Thank you for this heartfelt tribute to Herriman and Krazy Kat, I own the complete Fantagraphics reprints of Krazy Kat from 1916-1944 and I always find that strip inspiring.

[@Theomite]

Luck-eeeee. I only have 1 volume; I didn't learn much about Krazy Kat or Herriman until after the series was OOP. I did manage to get all but the last volume of Chester Gould's Dick Tracy run, though. Still don't know why Fantagraphics turned it over to IDW though.

[@Hellismary]

As a black comic book creator myself this was a treat to watch, I’ve always been intrigued by his story and yet I feel sad he wasn’t able to live his full truth, but myself and other black creators can do so for him.

[@WreckItRolfe]

What

[@s0ne01]

​@WreckItRolfe I guess you didn't watch the video???

[@johnmerrifield9801]

How about a video about Matt Baker. Another great black comic book artist

[@alkebulanawah4242]

What!? are you smoking yen 😂

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@alkebulanawah4242 lol what? No, he's NOT "smoking yen" AT ALL as what he's saying IS the truth entirely so!

[@MartialCardist]

A channel that actually talks about stuff I have never heard of before, but always makes me more interested in the subject matter. Amazing.

[@kazunderworld8231]

There's one thing he says that makes me think perhaps the writer didn't read the comic strip as closely as they could have: "A police officer dog is brought into the mix and also eventually falls in love with the mouse." Officer Pup was in love with Krazy Kat not Ignatz Mouse. Pup hated the mouse and tossed him in jail every time he caught Ignatz hitting Krazy with a brick. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the video.

[@noranizaazmi6523]

That’s interesting!

[@meh8982]

Maybe he misspoke? I don't know how anyone could read any Krazy Kat comic without seeing that Officer Pupp was obviously in love with Krazy. Also, the fact that Krazy was always referred to as "he" even though in every behavioural respect he was feminine is the only "homosexual" aspect I can see in the strip. There were a lot of emotional complexities though. Ignatz Mouse was married and had a family, and his wife kind of treated Krazy as "the other woman," while Krazy treated the wife with respect. One time Krazy became infatuated with a romantic Spanish dog and squelched Ignatz's attempt to throw a brick, leaving Ignatz devastated - he himself didn't know if he was throwing it out of love or hate. The strip is as fascinating emotionally as it is visually.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@nuckygulliver9607 This video is NOT “fAkE” AT ALL nor was Herriman was “jEwIsH” AT ALL, that’s just a lie that you’re BADLY making up here as the only “fake” here is you and the bad lies you’re spreading in your comments. Herriman WAS black due to society laws. Everything you've said right now just makes you look bad as you have NO idea on what you're saying at all as you're just spreading lies George Herriman IS black, mostly classified AS black due to his mixed race ancestry. The paper in the video SAYS he's colored and that classified AS black in society back then. Look at his name in the center of the screen, it says "colored" to the FAR right. The paper in the video DOES say he's colored entirely at the video. It says "colored" at the FAR right of his name in his birth certificate. You just need to LOOK for it. There IS documentation of him being "black/colored" you just need to LOOK for it. So stop with this "thees no documentation of him being black" because there IS, what you're saying is a flat out LIE here. Herriman was born to mixed-race parents, and his birth certificate lists Herriman as "colored". In the post-Plessy v. Ferguson U.S., in which "separate but equal" racial segregation was enshrined, people of mixed race had to choose to identify themselves as either black or white. The guy in the video is NOT A “gRiFteR” AT ALL, that’s just some nonsense you made up here as the guy in the video is 100% accurate as Mattt is COMPLETELY accurate in his research here with links to EVERYTHING he’s saying. The only person whose a lier AND a grifter is YOU as by badly spreading lies that Herriman was “jEwISh”, that’s a MASSIVE Lie here as there was NOTHING about him that was “jewish ” AT ALL. Stop with your BS, seriously.

[@samkessler3015]

God how did I miss that?

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@MicahMicahel LOL Are you for real? He did NOT just "nEeDed a vidEO" AT ALL as the video is 100% true. George was NOT "jeWiSH", you're just BADLY spreading misinformation as what you're saying is just plain lies here as this video is 100% true here. NOTHING about George was "jEwisH", you JUST made that up, leftists do NOT have a "weRiD iSSUe jEwS" in the slightest as you Being jewish is a religion, NOT a race, George was a CATHOLIC and you've been called out of this nonstop. Nobody is trying to "ERaSe tHiS gUy'S rACiAL IdeNtITy" with ANYTHING that is "TrEnDy" at all as George ACTUALLY was IN FACT black/mixed race, as this has been proven with FACTS and evidence here, what you're saying is a flat out lie by denying that here by spreading this nonsense about him being "jeWiSH" and this "jEwfRO" here. LOL Just no. Just STOP!

[@goldenagenut]

Krazy Kat was the greatest comic strip of them all! So happy to see this excellent little documentary celebrating G Herrimann's work!!! 👍🥳👍

[@johnnyparker313]

Yo! Thank you for making this episode! As a Black comic creator, I haven’t always felt truly embraced by the industry/culture, but seeing this filled with me a genuine sense of pride, and now my connection to comics has grown. Gracias.

[@thebeatnumber]

Dude really believes his situation is similar to someone who lived under Jim Crow. The self victimisation is alive and well.

[@stirlingmoss4621]

Obama wasn't black either

[@thebeatnumber]

@@nuckygulliver9607 George Herriman was not Jewish, he was Catholic. He was born into a mixed-race family and came from a line of French-speaking Louisiana Creole mulattoes who were considered free people of color, and were reportedly active in the early abolitionist movement. His paternal great-grandfather, Stephen Herriman, was a white New Yorker who had children with Justine Olivier, a free black woman.

[@Dogy0909]

@@thebeatnumberJust ignore that Azov Battalion member

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@Dogy0909 He's literally going around spreading misinformation about man and saying that the video is a lie when he himself is SPREADING lies and false statements about George Herrimen in EVERY way. He has NO idea on what he's saying and denying that Herrimen is a colored man and absolutely the FURTHEST thing from "jewish". Not even his name is "jewish" that he so falsely is spreading lies about.

[@abaneyone]

I'm 65 and I remember those comics and cartoon. My father, brother and I loved it, there's nothing else like it.

[@Abbysplace]

I was literally looking for someone to talk about comics like you are, I’m so surprised you started less than a year ago. High quality and insightful. Amazing job!

[@TheMonina42]

I just bought volume 1 of Krazy Kat, thank you for making me discover a story about comicbooks that I didn't know before

[@nomadvyt]

I'm consistently amazed at the incredible stories you find in the comic sphere, I'm a casual comics fan so I've basically never heard of anyone less famous than Jack Kirby, but these really tug at the heartstrings. The hidden messages in Herriman's books make you really feel the palpable force that made him suppress who he was. I hope I can utilize it in my future history classrooms to help teach students how racism persisted well into the 20th century with the simultaneously informative and entertaining comics, as well as an inspiring tale of how a man defied the odds and created a legacy despite how society viewed him.

[@Michniko]

Very insightful and interesting video, but I find it so strange that you've almost just appeared on this platform with some of the most high quality videos about comics I've ever seen. No social media, nothing other than this channel and out the gate you had videos that outclass almost everybody else in the subgenre. You're almost as mysterious as some of the people you talk about!

[@beanburrito4405]

Probably backed by a company of some kind. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing, but a lot of new channels that produce high-quality videos are spearheaded by a conglomerate

[@s0ne01]

​@beanburrito4405 big channel with a likeable face = free customers and advertisement

[@toons8744]

Don't question great content highlighted underrated comics history... just enjoy the ride!!

[@MicahMicahel]

it's disinformation. anti semitic leftists? George was Jewish. Herriman is a Jewish name and Jews were discriminated against. Jews often have very curly hair. There's even a term called a "jewfro." Why are we trying to erase this guy's racial identity to be trendy according to the current thing?

[@essaywhu]

Every Krazy Kat book is pure magic. The titles that Fantagraphics chose for their softcover releases of the Sunday strips were often a hint of the beautiful playfulness on display inside each volume, beginning with “There is A Heppy Lend Furfur A-Waay.” Another nice one is “A Brick Stuffed with Moom-bins.” The final volume had the brilliantly culminating title, “At Last My Drim of Love Has Come True,” which is so moving to me, it makes my heart ache.

[@SwiftNuts]

Yo that composition of his is actually legendary. Guy was way ahead of his time in so many ways.

[@khepri3266]

The story-telling and presentation of your videos is always engrossing. Feels like not a second is wasted.

[@GolemCC]

Never seen a thumbnail that looked like such clickbait actually pay off so fully to its promises, and with high quality reporting and smooth editing. Great work on this video, a beautiful and tragic tale about maybe the greatest comic artist to ever live. Hope you rise to the success you deserve.

[@jonathanmitchell9886]

I've always suspected that the references to the Krazy Kat strip in Thomas Tryon's novel *Lady* were not incidental, and this confirms it. Thanks for the video!

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

I didn't read the book, what was it about and what was the reference?

[@jonathanmitchell9886]

@@Gadget-Walkmen I can't explain it without giving away the plot, but it's a great book and I highly recommend it. The title character, a wealthy woman with no children of her own, dotes on the narrator of the novel and calls him her Ignatz.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@jonathanmitchell9886 oh ok, gotcha.

[@rnbnatl]

Great stuff. As soon as you showed the Krazy Kat panels, I thought 'Calvin & Hobbes'.

[@Magnamics]

I love when you do these historical videos. Probably never would have heard of Krazy Kat or George Herriman without this.

[@WeeWeeJumbo]

I never heard about ANY of this

[@davidrecine799]

LOVE this video!! A couple of corrections: The dog (Offisa Pupp) actually fell in love with Krazy, not with Ignatz. And Krazy actually did appear in many regular comics pages as well as on some society/culture pages.

[@ShakaCB]

I've been a fan of Harriman's work as a small child, first introduced to the King Feature's cartoons in the 70's. I always felt a familiarity in Krazy Kat's dialect; it felt so similar to people I knew from here, Southeast Texas/Louisiana... Who would have thought!

[@rossbunnell7992]

As your video unfolded, I could see aspects of Harriman's Krazy Kat comics in Bill Waterson's work, and then you confirmed it! Thanks for this superb video!

[@PenelopeStoneVT]

Crazy how some early comic strips were already art. People just didn't realize it at the time.

[@Theomite]

I've made this argument for years: literature is largely a class instrument. It's importance seems entirely determined by the size of the textblock, the narrow line spacing, the width of the gutters, and the absence of illustrations. This way you can "ensure" that the reader must have education and intellect to read it. They see images as a crutch to help the illiterate. The second-oldest physical art form is historically stewarded by goddamned Philistines.

[@bernardocoto8519]

Awesome video essay. Always loved Krazy Kat's visual style, the backgrounds were amazing. The way you presented his "secret" is heartbreakingly tactful. Beautiful homage...

[@acsaudiodramas]

In other words- Herriman found success as he found the comic and storytelling that allowed him to be himself with his unique ideas, surreal worldbuilding and love for languages. Tragic that it didn't last longer. And he never had this chance in his personal life. Loved that deep insight into the work of my all time favorite artists!

[@SkyP1e]

I remember watching Krazy Kat and Ignatz cartoons as a kid. Loved it a lot. Especially the trippy sound effects like the zipping brick windup.

[@aleksoctop]

I've seen Krazy & Ignatz around but never knew the heartbreaking story. Definitely going to dive into it now. Thank you for making such a great video! I'll never unsee that Mickey Mouse is basically just Ignatz drawn Krazy style.

[@MicahMicahel]

it's fake. Jews were called coloured too. He's Jewish. He just had a Jewfro. Jews were discern-minated. This is just another "he was really black" moment... like how Cleopatra was black, Jesus was black.. it's just propaganda. I don't know if he has anti semitic intentions. I'm not saying hat but the ;eft is plainly anti semitic so maybe he doesn t realize anti semitism is being pushed on him.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@MicahMicahel No it’s NOT “fAkE”, Jews were NOT “ cAlLed coLoUrEd tOo” lol NO they weren’t, that’s a flat out lie that you’re spreading out. He did NOT have a “jEWAFrO” AT ALL, lol you keep badly saying nonsense that’s NOT true at all here AT ALL, just because Jews were “discriminated” doesn’t mean ANY of the nonsense you’re saying is true at all NOR were they even on the same level or discrimination as they were in the United States AT ALL. you have NO idea on what you’re saying right now as there is no “pRoPagAnDA”, you’re just talking crazy and that’s it. The only person that’s “anti semitic” AT ALL is you here by WRONGLY calling him jewish. NO person in the “lEFt” is doing what you’re wrongly saying AT ALL right now.

[@ozi8483]

who says that comics history is boring. ur simply amazing matttt. kudos! i cant stop thinking hidden messages with Krazy Kat, now i have to dig into his art. i cant stop shedding tears, oh my days. his life is worth revisiting. ❤

[@eti313]

I love Krazy Kat. And I love Felix the Cat, which was directly inspired by Krazy, and was such a popular animated character that Disney wanted to buy it. Unable to do that, instead Disney hired Felix's animators and made Mickey Mouse, So, yes, Krazy inspired Mickey by way of Felix.

[@AbnormalOreo]

The commentary is so good in your channel my man

[@flaminghulaballoo]

Years ago, Kitchen Sink Press was putting out Krazy Kat in year-by-year volumes, which are wonderful, and are available today, even digitally. Each edition would have an essay at the beginning which touched on aspects of the history of the day, and the legacy of the strip. The most heartbreaking think, to me, was that stacks of Herriman's original artwork were found water damaged in a garage such that the pages were fused into unrecoverable masses.

[@Theomite]

At least the prints still survived, so they became the new originals. Better that than losing them entirely.

[@solharv7817]

This story made me tear up. What a beautiful video.

[@cathygould]

Such a rare treat❣️ I found Krazy Kat in some of my grandparents' books in the 60s. I bought that 1968 reprint when I was 14. I loved the way his words were all over the place and such a melange of dialects❣️

[@Drekromancer]

Somewhere, somehow, Harriman is smiling - because he knows that someone has finally told his story. You brought that old soul justice today. Thank you. ❤

[@frankyrodriguez5634]

Another absolutely incredible video. Heartbreaking but still incredible.

[@tiocampbell6168]

This black man is truly inspiring and his art is also amazing, this is one of your video that decide to subscribe to Channel. As a black guy myself thank you to share the video to all of us. 👍👍👍👍

[@RegginaldRiglet]

Can’t tell you how perfect these video essays are. So well informed. Immaculately produced. So entertaining and informative to watch. Bravo and keep them coming

[@Henle_]

Yes! A Krazy Kat deep dive! So glad Krazy Kat and Herriman are getting the attention they deserve. Thank you for putting so much researcj and thought into this!

[@kimadams2995]

Thanks for doing this. What a tragic figure, and what a genius. I got my hands years ago on some volumes of Krazy Kat and found it a really amazing strip. Thank God for Hearst’s stubborn good taste in making it possible.

[@arrax96]

It is a truly tragic story and yet so inspirational. Great Video!!!!

[@marklindsey4112]

Love that you're going deeper into comics, particularly the creators, and not just focusing on mainstream stuff. Herriman's Krazy and Ignatz strips are genuinely great works and it's so good to see such a well researched and absorbing video on them.

[@rickrose5377]

THAT was a spectacular video essay -- as good as I have ever seen. A poignant, beautifully told story that I am sure very few of us had known. Thank you.

[@neilshenton1834]

Man, this channel is incredible! Essential viewing. 👏🤩👍

[@user-ro2nn7lt3r]

matttt out here steadily doing the lord's work. Thank you matttt!

[@user-ro2nn7lt3r]

p.s. bruf maybe its the camera or the lighting but there is something off-ish with the way you appear compared to previous videos.

[@Rockin_Art]

I love the simplicity of the art work and it actually makes the story more impactful.

[@tobiasbenedictdrager965]

Just discovered your channel a couple of days ago because of your TMNT video and I really love all your videos. They are not too short and always very informative.

[@davebowen7392]

Amazing video! I envy those who will discover the genius of Herriman and Krazy Kat for the first time. It's a revelation.

[@kylewarnke3664]

These videos are so well-researched and well-edited. And it seems like the algorithm is already rewarding you for them. Looking forward to more!

[@Mooseman327]

Excellent job telling this story. I've always loved Krazy Kat (I'm in my 70's).

[@user-vq5px3ji1o]

Amazing! Loved this, but then I've loved them all. Keep them coming, please!

[@bannyk9515]

You're incredible. Everything you've talked about on this channel I've never heard of, and never had any interest of, but you, despite that, seem to capture my attention for what could be hours. You put so much information into 13 minutes, and I'm surprised by the knowledge I've gained of what I used to not even care about in the slightest. I hope you manage to find a way to appease the algorithm while still keeping this captivating writing style so even more people can see it.

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

I've only ever seen a very small number of Krazy Kat cartoons, but now I want to see them all. There was some other comic strip, when I was a kid, that included extra little characters doing things in the corners...pretty obvious where they got the idea...now. If I can scrape the money together, I guess I'll buy the collections.

[@timothymooney4466]

I guess I'm blessed to be old enough to remember reading "Krazy Kat & Ignatz Mouse" in the funny pages as a kid. Keep up the good work!

[@TheJohnnyMaya]

This is without a doubt my favourite channel in youtube at the moment. Thanks for bringing wide awareness to Herriman's life & art.

[@GohTakeshita]

Based on the thumbnail, I thought his secret was that he was born with a vestigial tail... 🤦

[@PyroClit]

What a gem of a channel. I love every videos you put out.

[@kenttm42]

As a fan of comics and comic books, I was aware of Krazy Kat but never particularly enamored by the strip. Knowing now the history and background, you have given me a new appreciation for it. Thank you.

[@grovestreet1520]

Phenomenal video here. What an amazing story and legacy! I am so glad I found this channel. Keep up the outstanding work

[@InnerButter]

This channel is currently one of my favorite channels right now. Although I'm not very big into comics these videos are incredible at documenting stories about them. Keep up the good work

[@diamondk1]

Thanks for creating this. Learning his story along with Matt Baker's have truly inspired me as an artist.

[@rick.d]

Talking about the dialect at 6:48 made me think of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing #32 "Pog" - which is an homage to the Pogo strip. It uses a cross-pollination of similar words to create new compound meanings; like "guardiner" being someone who takes care of plants, but guards them also. It's one of my favs and maybe it sparks an idea for an episode...

[@LexiMow]

i'm a simple man, i see at a mattt video and CLICKED it.. EDIT:Hey man keep making comic book content like this, i just love the videos you put out man..

[@warwickclark2143]

How dare you steal my words

[@thewordpunk]

You missed a t

[@ethansloan]

I've been reading a lot about early newspaper strips lately. This and Little Nemo sound like the two standouts I really want to check out. You make such high quality videos. Keep up the good work.

[@worldcomicsreview354]

Little Nemo was amazingly far ahead of most other comics of it's day, in it's "camera angles" alone. The rest barely caught up by the late 1930's!

[@joshuacarrig9370]

Ive only just discovered this channel but your work is amazing. Thank you for all the time, research, care and effort you put in

[@therealzilch]

I grew up with the Krazy Kat collection with e e cummings' foreword. A true genius. Sad that he never realized how much he was loved. Nicely done, matttt. Subscribed. Cheers from overcast Vienna, Scott

[@GingerBreadSed]

Literal chills. Thank you for sharing Krazy Kat's story!

[@EliotThemastermind-xb6xp]

Despite being a manga reader I really enjoy your videos and happily wait for them every month

[@LEE10987]

I mean they are pretty much the same thing

[@EliotThemastermind-xb6xp]

@@LEE10987 no ,I think manga is better tbh

[@danielg.w5733]

​@@LEE10987yup. Comics are comics regardless of the country of origin

[@worldcomicsreview354]

Cor fuc'n 'ell, imagine still making the distinction like it's 2002 or something. Spoiler: Disney and Tezuka were friends, My Hero Academia is a love letter to classic X-Men and the proportions of anime girls come from Betty Boop.

[@angelinacamacho8575]

​@@worldcomicsreview354Toriyama even said in one volume of dragonball that 101 Dalmatians (the animated movie) was his inspiration to get into making making manga and later anime. Heck season 3 of sword art online borrows heavily from both the original book and Disney's animated version of Alice in wonderland.

[@jacobbornowsky4013]

You popped out of nowhere it seems and are making the best informational comic content on you tube!! Thanks man great job here again!!!!

[@thatmostexcellentnetwork]

Absolutely amazing, you’re knowledge and research makes my love for comics grow so much more with each video 🤟🏼

[@Metallaio]

I really felt emotional during this video, what a great story

[@deepstatethrombosis]

Imagine looking at amazing art, enjoying it & appreciating it, but caring what the artist looked like. Only one side of the pencil, pen or brush matters. Another great video, dude.

[@culwin]

Imagine being brainwashed by Republican propaganda and believing in stuff like a "Deep State".

[@Crushcarter]

Never disappoint, eager for the next one

[@Exnem]

You are one of the better KZbinrs making videos right now, keep it up. I love your style.

[@ShitCoveredStatue]

I love your videos. Each one drips with your enthusiasm for comics, and the stories you tell about the artists in the medium are absolutely inspiring. Look forward to the next one!

[@tootheye]

You are such a consistently great video creator!

[@russellfacemire]

Great video, but just a quick correction: Offissa Pupp (the dog) falls in love with Krazy, not Ignatz. Thanks for covering a seminal and somehow obscured figure in comics!

[@curiositydrawsme9180]

Thank you for such an in-depth exploration of his story. I had a big compendium book of Krazy Kat comics when I was just starting out as an artist, but I didn’t know that he lived his life hiding in plain sight. All of his comics come into focus for me now. Immediate new subscriber.

[@nix9vex13]

You never fail to deliver. Thank you.

[@badger297]

I love your ability to tell stories

[@NoJusticeNoPeace]

This has me thinking about Norman Osborn. In the comics, Osborn is the Green Goblin, but he also has a very odd and distinctive hair style reminiscent of corn rows. It makes me wonder if, in looking for sources to base this CEO with a double life, they thought about Hearst, whose most famous portrayal was as the source for Citizen Kane. In Citizen Kane his softer, more innocent side was symbolized by Rosebud. It's possible that in creating Osborn they thought of Herriman, and how Hearst's patronage of him was the softer, more human side of him. To represent this and to honour Herriman's contributions to comics, they could have given Osborn that distinctive hair.

[@red1able]

Hey, you did a fabulous job telling us about an artist that we've heard of but didn't know hardly anything about. He was a real pioneer. You've got me going to look deeper into his life. Thanks!!

[@mike_bobbitt]

Wow! What an absolutely captivating story. Thank you for producing this video and educating me on part of the hidden history of an art form I love!

[@George_Spartan117]

Your videos are always so interesting and so well made. Great job sir!

[@evandercaldwell9993]

Krazy Kat 😊 I know the character, but I don't know where I've seen it before!!

[@teppichflor2203]

Amazing to see this great deep dives! Thanks!

[@dragonflygirl1961]

George Herriman is a cousin, I was at the book party in New Orleans for Michael Tisserand's book. You have done a really great job with this video. 👏

[@tombystander]

Genuinely look forward to every video you upload! Here's to hoping u cover a manga one day 🍻

[@madbug1965]

As a long time comic book collector I can see that George Harriman was genius of storytelling. Just amazing!

[@ignitionSoldier]

This video and the artist's story are incredible. Thank you for sharing it.

[@TheComedyGeek]

This was superb. Thorough, accessible, fluent, fascinating, and a whole lot of fun. Consider this my applause! :)