Ignatz

Ignatz is a masculine given name of German origin, a variant of Ignatius. While not as common in contemporary usage, it appears in various German-speaking contexts and as a given name in some historical records.

Ignatz is best known in popular culture as the brick-throwing mouse in the American comic strip Krazy Kat, created by George Herriman and running from the 1910s to the 1940s. In the strip, Ignatz frequently pelts Krazy Kat with a brick, triggering chases and comic misunderstandings. The recurring motif is a central running gag, and the character has become an iconic symbol in the history of comics.

The Ignatz Award is named after the Krazy Kat character. Established at the Small Press Expo, it honors outstanding achievements in independent and small-press comics. The award has helped spotlight many creators and works in alternative and self-published comics since its inception in the 1990s.

Notable individuals named Ignatz include Ignatz Bubis (1920–1999), a German Jewish community leader who served as a longtime president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. The name appears in various historical and genealogical contexts, reflecting its European roots.