Rudolph Dirks created The Katzenjammer Kids in 1897 for the American Humorist, the famed early Sunday comic supplement of the New York Journal. Inspired in part by Max Und Moritz, the famous German childrenrsquos stories of the 1860s, The Katzenjammer Kids featured the adventures of Hans and Fritz, twins and fellow warriors in the battle against any form of authority. "The Katzies" rebelled against their Mama, der Captain (the shipwrecked sailor who acted as their surrogate father) and der Inspector (dreaded representative of the school authorities).

The oldest comic strip still in syndication, The Katzenjammer Kids was adapted to the stage in 1903 and as an animated cartoon series from 1917-21. Today the feature is drawn by Hy Eisman. The U.S. Postal Service also saluted the Katzies with a commemorative stamp.