Comments on: RIP Johnny Hart

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 23:21:43 +0000

When I was younger, I did enjoy reading the BC strip.

However, upon my realizing that the man was intolerant of non-Christian religions, my opinion of him drastically changed. It seems to me that Mr. Hart simply could not accept the existence of other religions.

This is, unfortunately, bigotry at its’ worst.

By: Vichus Smith

Vichus Smith — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:53:32 +0000

Is this just the year for comics artists to die? Maybe I’m overthinking it, but artists young and old have been dying one after another.

By: Tag

Tag — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:24:54 +0000

So it’s going to be me who says it first? Well, all right, not like it’s the first time I’ve been unpopular for doing the right thing:

I never found Hart or B.C. funny. Occasionally WIZARD OF ID, but never more than a smile, if that. Certainly, his more off-putting views didn’t help, but I never got the gag even before that became the issue.

Now, I do give him props for having an idiosynchratic style by which he could be immediately identified, which is why I think he had the long career he did: he was familiar, comfortable. So I’ll miss that look in my funnies, even if I had no use for the strip itself.

Sorry that I can’t be more sanguine about it. Good on him for making it, and I don’t take any pleasure in his passing, but neither am I particularly stricken.

By: Kelson

Kelson — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:31:59 +0000

When I went to college at the University of California, Irvine in the 1990s, the campus was still full of references to the BC-style anteater and its trademark “Zot!” During the years I was there, they started shifting away from Johnny Hart’s drawing to an emphasis on realistic anteaters, which, I felt, had no personality.

Like some of the other commenters, I didn’t always agree with the views he expressed, but I have fond memories of both the comic strip and its connection to my college years.

He will be missed.

By: KaliAmanda

KaliAmanda — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:28:50 +0000

Some of my earlier memories of reading the comics with my grandfather include visual from BC — the fat chick and curvy blond, the cool little dude riding the wheel and reading the puns on faux traffic signs, the Wiley Dictionary. All things that live in your head long after you experience it.

By: Gary Esposito

Gary Esposito — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:57:24 +0000

He was one of the greats, no denying it, he shall be missed.

By: Scott Bieser

Scott Bieser — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:40:27 +0000

Died at his storyboard. The best way imaginable for a cartoonist to go. So long, Johnny, and thanks for all the laughs.

By: Jason A. Quest

Jason A. Quest — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:10:55 +0000

Hart managed to offend me pretty often when I read the strip in recent years, but I always respected him for saying what he believed, and the comics page has been richer for that. It was nice to see one of the “classic” strips still being produced by the person who created it, and that I’ll definitely miss.

By: Torsten Adair

Torsten Adair — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 07:16:21 +0000

Growing up in the 70s, I read most of the collections. He had a minimalist style, which, like Charles Schulz, put more emphasis on the writing. I have not seen his recent dailies, so I don’t know if if he continued the recurring gags from earlier.
His Christian sunday strips never offended me, even the one which caused some controversy a few years ago.
Many cartoonists have causes or themes, but so long as they present it with craft and style, I’ll read it, wether it’s Daddy Warbucks or Mooch the Cat.

By: Mel Dupree

Mel Dupree — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 02:20:28 +0000

I read Hart’s “BC” strip today (Resurrection Sunday) prior to reading about his death on yesterday. While sad, I rejoiced for this man who celebrated the resurrection of Christ with his Lord in heaven. For this wife of fifty-years and his kids and grands, I offer condolences for their large loss. Johnny Hart is in a far better place than we are presently, and I know that I will see him again. Godspeed Johnny and thank you for your ministry over the years. Marathana – even so Lord Jesus! Come quickly!

By: Kody Chamberlain

Kody Chamberlain — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 02:03:37 +0000

Wow, sad news. I was a fan.

By: Chris Archer

Chris Archer — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 01:53:46 +0000

I’m very sorry to hear about Mr. Hart’s death. I’m Christian, and it was nice to know that a believer was not backing down about his faith. Johnny Hart knew one of the biggest facts about a living God: He(she) truly has the best sense of humour!

By: Alex Tucker

Alex Tucker — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:46:20 +0000

Hart’s legacy is a very mixed one for me. As a kid, I grew up reading the 25-cent B.C. books —his sense of comic timing was impeccable. But as his religious views came to the fore, I found it hard to separate the man’s beliefs from his work. Is that fair of me? Probably not, but it did affect me just the same. I felt he was pretty intolerant, and the fact he was an idol of mine made it all the sadder.

In the end, I still think the guy was a genius and tonight I’ll re-read some of his early stuff, the strips I thought were in his prime. That, to me, is the only fair way to judge him.

By: michael

michael — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:09:13 +0000

whoa! that’s sudden, and sad. RIP Mr. Hart.