Why the Name?

Always quote your sources, apparently. The name derives from one of Rudyard Kipling's just-so stories for children. Rather than being a reference to a lonely figure, the eponymous cat is an independent spirit who refuses to sell his freedom. "I am the cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me...".

The artwork comes from the Krazy Kat cartoons of George Herriman. The cartoons ran through the early part of the last century and although not commercially successful, they proved popular with eccentrics and intellectuals, most notably e e cummings. The strips are set in the weird and wonderful Coconino County and revolve around three central characters, Krazy, Ofissa Bull Pup and Ignatz mouse. Krazy Kat is an guileless ingenue who wanders through life blissfully unaware of the iniquities of others, chiefly Ignatz mouse. Ignatz is a hardened cynic who holds Krazy in contempt and hurls bricks at him/her at every opportunity. These acts are interpreted as signs of affection by Krazy, who openly courts them. Ofissa Pup sees it as his duty to protect Krazy and pursues Ignatz with single-minded obstinacy. Anyway, if you want to know more, check out the Krazy Kat website...

And, finally, to confirm that there is no such thing as original thought, the pairing of these two ideas was nicked from Gilbert Seldes' introduction to "The comic art of George Herriman". So now you know.