BC cartoonist Johnny Hart dies at 76

[RobAce]

I enjoy my Sunday comics as much as the next person I suppose, and though B.C. wasnt as HA HA funny as most, it has a special place in my reading.

ENDICOTT, New York (AP) -- 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.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/08/obit.hart.ap/index.html

a small example if you dont know what Im talking about.

RIP Johnny Hart

Rob

 

[Bugman]

I'm sorry to hear that,i have always enjoyed B.C.I hope no one will try to take the strip over,it would not be the same.RIP Mr. Hart.

 

[Dave2112]

Having lived in the Binghamton/Endicott area for quite some time, I was very familiar with Mr. Hart. His passing is a great loss to the comic community.

Personally, I found B.C. to be very preachy at times. Hart used his medium to spread his beliefs, and there were times when it did seem a bit soap-boxy. That being said, there were also times when he could make you think....about our place in the universe, the smallness of our conficts and the absurdity of our customs and rituals. Hart did what he did, and made no apologies.

Rest in Peace, Johnny Hart.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

As a Binghamton native, I grew up with Johnny Hart. His works populate the area parks signs and many municipality signs as well. It made the signs not seem so cold. He very definately allowed his beliefs to color his work, both with the BC comic and many other areas of his life. While never afraid to speak what he truly thought, he always respected other stands on things. That was his true legacy in my eyes...being true to himself while allowing the other person to do the same. He was a gift to many in many different ways. He will be missed.

 

[Dave2112]

I remember those signs around Binghamton, Ann. And you're right...they really gave the place a very personal feel. The tie-in was also perfect (Broome county....B.C.) and gave the area a real sense of entertainment heritage, along with the other favorite son, Rod Serling.

I hope I wasn't too harsh in mentioning Johnny's "preachiness" in his comic. The point I was trying to make, albiet in hindsight perhaps not in the right way, was that even though I am one who is usually loathe to abide that sort of thing, Johnny Hart did it in a way that, as you mentioned, did not disparage the beliefs of others. I always found the comic entertaining and thoughtful and respected his courage.

My favorites were what I called the "ponder" strips, where one or two of his characters were sitting on a hill looking up at the vastness of the stars and discussing some moral topic. His way of making the subject matter serious, funny and also poignant was a rare talent.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

I hope I wasn't too harsh in mentioning Johnny's "preachiness" in his comic. The point I was trying to make, albiet in hindsight perhaps not in the right way, was that even though I am one who is usually loathe to abide that sort of thing, Johnny Hart did it in a way that, as you mentioned, did not disparage the beliefs of others. I always found the comic entertaining and thoughtful and respected his courage.

I didn't think you were harsh at all, Dave. It did come across that way at times. It's only in knowing the man behind the comic that you come to realize he never intended it that way.

On a side note, I always forget that you spent time in Binghamton. It's a shame we never got to know one another in those days. One day we really need to meet!

 

[Dave2112]

Yeah, maybe we can grab a drink at the Rathskellar or the L.I.E.

Or maybe a Bingo Rangers game. (Are they still the Rangers?)

 

[kwildoctr]

As another native son, I also remember the ubiquitous presence of Mr. Hart. And I also will miss him.

Likewise, I'm sorry our paths never crossed while you were in the area, Dave. And Ann, too, for that matter (we met in person while Ann was still there but by that time I had relocated to Buffalo...).

R

 

[Redmage]

Allowing for the fact that I never lived in Binghamton, I agree with what everyone here has said. In particular, I'm there with Rob who said that BC was special without being hilarious, and with Bugman who expressed his hope that no one else will take over the strip. Hart was part of that small group of classic old-school cartoonists, like Charles Schultz.

 

[Bugman]

Peanuts without Schultz would be impossible.One strip that was taken over was Shoe,when Jeff NacNelly died in 2000,and its still one of my favorites.

 

[chickles_:)]

As a Binghamton native, I grew up with Johnny Hart. His works populate the area parks signs and many municipality signs as well. It made the signs not seem so cold. He very definately allowed his beliefs to color his work, both with the BC comic and many other areas of his life. While never afraid to speak what he truly thought, he always respected other stands on things. That was his true legacy in my eyes...being true to himself while allowing the other person to do the same. He was a gift to many in many different ways. He will be missed.

OMG!!
How did i miss that??
I TOTALLY LOVED HIS B.C. COMICS! When i was about 12 i remember going around to used bookstores trying to find his books!

I confess i came to find his stereotypes of human women especially a bit much but his other characters were cute - especially Grog! What he said about society and the way he challenged us all to look at what was going on in the world was truly a gift.

I will miss him and his work. In a way i'm happy he passed away doing what i know he always loved.

God bless his family as they grieve his loss.:

Many blessings,
chickles