At the age of 16 R. Crumb self-produced a comic called Cat Life. It featured a cat called Fred, a typical cat that loved its independence and was not too keen on being befriended and cuddled by kids or made to play games with other cats for the amusement of the kids. Fred possibly represents the early stages of development of Crumb’s later feline creation, the more anthropomorphic Fritz the Cat. What is evident at this early stage is Crumb’s fine understanding of cat behaviour and his ability to visually represent it. In the ‘Bad Cat’ panel below Fred’s response to too much unsolicited cuddling is to strike out and scratch the girl who in turn smacks him back. Fred’s head, on receiving the blow, shows really convincing cat reaction-eyes closed, ears tilted down and mouth tightly closed.
Fred has trouble with kids.
Once the kids have gone to bed it’s nocturnal playtime for Fred and the other cats when Fred and his mates can forget all the behaviour modification they receive from humans, cut loose and most importantly, please themselves. This realisation is beautifully and cunningly stated by means of a thought balloon emanating from Fred’s head and the subtle use of the cat’s eyes. Juxtaposed with the balloon the expression that Crumb generates on Fred’s face is telling.
R. Crumb’s comic cat, Fred.
Images from Cat Life, 1959/60, The Complete Crumb Comics Volume 1: The Early Years Of Bitter Struggle by R. Crumb, Fantagraphics Books, 1987.
Other cats in this Cats In Comics series: Doraemon, Krazy Kat and The Rabbi’s Cat and Danko’s Cat and Mouse Collage.
