'B.C.' Cartoonist Johnny Hart Dies At 76
 

Wife Says Cartoonist Suffered Stroke

POSTED: 5:34 pm CDT April 8, 2007

ENDICOTT, N.Y. -- The cartoonist behind the award-winning "B.C." comic strip has died.

Johnny Hart was 76.

His wife said he suffered a stroke at his New York home Saturday. She said, "He died at his storyboard."

The award-winning "B.C." comic strip, featuring prehistoric cavemen and dinosaurs, launched in 1958 and eventually appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers worldwide. He was also co-creator of the "Wizard of Id" comic strip.

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. Critics said it implied that Christianity supersedes Judaism.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Stupidest controversy.

RIP. Having struggled as a comic artist and with a love for the form, it's always sad when one of the elders passes on.