B.C. Cartoonist Dies

R. Richard

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Sadly, the creator of the B.C. comic strip is no more.

Cartoonist Hart, creator of 'B.C.'[size]

ENDICOTT, N.Y. - 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.
 
This is quite sad news to me becuase when as a child I used to copy the B.C. comics and the Wizard of Id comics in my pen and ink studies. No one seemed to understand my fasinaction with these comics and sometimes I wonder if anyone really "got" them.


I am hoping that our own "Og" will make some statement about the passing of such a renowned cartoonist in place of the Og that cannot speak.
 
Misty_Morning said:
This is quite sad news to me becuase when as a child I used to copy the B.C. comics and the Wizard of Id comics in my pen and ink studies. No one seemed to understand my fasinaction with these comics and sometimes I wonder if anyone really "got" them.


I am hoping that our own "Og" will make some statement about the passing of such a renowned cartoonist in place of the Og that cannot speak.

The B.C. and Wizard of Id comics will always have a special place for me. The humor was well above the run of the mill comics. There were a lot of panels that didn't really make it for me, but then one of the cartoons would come up with some really outstanding humor. A great loss.
 
This is indeed very sad news. Another of our hometown heroes passes. He lent his artwork to the B.C. Open golf tournament as well. His cartoon was always something that said "home" to me. :heart: :rose:
 
I'm sorry to hear that. Great cartoons. Both were of the few I read.
 
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