Sad News in the Funny Papers…

Johnny Hart who was the amazing creator of “B.C.” in the comics of newspapers across the land has passed away. My personal condolences to his wife and family are extended.

I love the B.C. comic strip for many reasons. It was funny, it was inspirational, it brought a smile to my face on so many rainy Sundays as I picked the comic strip section to read first from the thick Sunday paper. His creative genius and in debt thought for his strip is similar to blogging and yet it is a generation before. His life was yet another tribute to the folks that have gone on before our generation and lead the way and shown us the light.

Over at the LA Times they have this post on his passing…

'B.C.' cartoonist Johnny Hart dies at 76
From the Associated Press3:54 PM PDT, April 8, 2007

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 today. "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. - The Los Angeles Times

Originality is what Johnny Hart was all about and that is a thing that we do not see enough of in America lately. He created wit out of characters that all of us could assimilate with and know that we have been there and done that.

The turkey forever hiding from the crew at B.C. around Thanksgiving Day was always a great read. The Fat Broad always clubbing the snake to within inches of his life was always comical and genius in its delivery and art work. The ants and their parallel instances of our own lives made it funny because we all saw ourselves in the same situation many times in our own lives.

Johnny Hart was a great contributor to all of our lives and I will miss him and his work deeply. One more candle of light of the sixties and seventies generation has quietly been blown out. His message and thoughts are not forgotten.

God bless the people that bring humor into your life and make you smile. Johnny Hart strived to do just that for you and me in his very distinguished career as a comic strip artist.

Papamoka

Has this comic strip touched your life? Comments are appreciated hear!

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