B.C. R.I.P.

[JPhillips]

Cartoonist Johnny Hart, Creator of 'B.C.,' Dies
AP
Johnny Hart, 1931 - 2007

ENDICOTT, N.Y. (April 8) - Cartoonist Johnny Hart, whose award-winning "B.C." comic strip appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers worldwide, died at his home on Saturday. He was 76.

"He had a stroke," Hart's wife, Bobby, said on Sunday. "He died at his storyboard."

"B.C.," populated by prehistoric cavemen and dinosaurs, was launched in 1958 and eventually appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers with an audience of 100 million, according to Creators Syndicate, Inc., which distributes it.

After he graduated from Union-Endicott High School, Hart met Brant Parker, a young cartoonist who became a prime influence and co-creator with Hart of the "Wizard of Id" comic strip.

Hart enlisted in the Air Force and began producing cartoons for Pacific Stars and Stripes. He sold his first freelance cartoon to the Saturday Evening Post after his discharge from the military in 1954.

Later in his career, some of Hart's cartoons had religious themes, a reflection of his own Christian faith. That sometimes led to controversy.

A strip published on Easter Sunday in 2001 drew protests from Jewish groups and led several newspapers to drop the strip. The cartoon depicted a menorah transforming into a cross, with accompanying text quoting some of Jesus Christ's dying words. Critics said it implied that Christianity supersedes Judaism.

Hart said he intended as a tribute to both faiths.

Besides his wife, Hart is survived by two daughters, Patti and Perri. He was a native of Endicott, about 135 miles northwest of New York City, and drew his comic strip at a studio in his home there until the day he died.

Funeral arrangements had not been announced.

BC was never my favorite, but I checked it and Wizard of Id every time I looked at the comics. Hart's been a part of my routine for my whole life. It'll be weird not seeing his work anymore.

[Butter]

Sorry that the guy died and all, but BC has to be up there with Family Circus as the least funny comics EVER.

[Toddzilla]

I thought it was really funny about 20 years ago, but Hart seemed to run out of ideas in the late 80s and just coasted ever since. My dad was a huge fan, too. The controversies of late regarding Hart's shots at Judaism and Islam were pretty much the only things interesting about the strip.