The Katzenjammer Kids

The Katzenjammer Kids is one of the oldest modern comic strips. He first appeared on December 12, 1897 American humorist, a Sunday supplement of the New York Journal. It was invented and designed by the immigrant in the USA Rudolph Dirks German and is the oldest still continuing comic series.

Development and production

William Randolph Hearst, the publisher of the New York Journal, called for given the success of the series The Yellow Kid by Richard Outcault in the competition publishing a similar comic for his paper. It should be similar to Wilhelm Busch's Max and Moritz. For this, he engaged the German -born artist Rudolph Dirks. Therefore hot about the two main characters, twins who rebel against all authority, Hans and Fritz. Other characters are her mother Mama, who are many tricks, The Captain, a shipwrecked sailor who acted as substitute father, and the Inspector, the school 's overseers. Most characters speak English with stereotypical German accent.

When, after 15 years as a draftsman Dirks wanted to insert a pause, it came to a dispute with the publisher, who asked not to interrupt the series. The Katzenjammer Kids was therefore continued with the new artist Harold Knerr. Dirks complained against and received the right to the comic under the new name The Captain and the Kids at the New York Herald by Joseph Pulitzer to continue, so that the series ran for half a century in two competitive titles.

Current is drawn and published by King Features The Katzenjammer Kids by Hy Eisman.

The Katzenjammer Kids outside literature

The comic was in 1903 listed as a stage play and was also part of a collection of postage stamps classic comic book series of the United States Postal Service.

1918 brought the International Film Service two short animated episodes out with the name " Policy and pie, Part 1 and 2" ( insurance policy and cake) that were recorded by the Library of Congress in the collection " Origins of American Animation, 1900-1921 ".