I was so saddened to see that Johnny Hart died yesterday, I loved B.C. and The Wizard of Id:
Cartoonist Johnny Hart, whose award-winning "B.C." comic strip appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers worldwide, died Saturday while working at his home in Endicott. He was 76.(via)
"He had a stroke," Hart's wife, Bobby, said 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.
[...]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 the strip as a tribute to both faiths.
It's great that he was able to draw cartoons until the day he died. He never had to retire and he could always work on the thing he loved to do. His comic was a blessing to many people.
The 2001 Easter comic and more of the details of the controversy can be found here. Michelle Malkin has a number of links.
Tags:
