Buzz
Launched in 1958, Johnny Hart’s comic strip B.C. offered a witty take on Stone Age living, predating The Flintstones by two years. Despite Hart’s passing in 2007, the strip remains in production, now helmed by his grandson Mason Mastroianni. Dive into the strip’s history, its controversies, and its impact on a California college with these intriguing facts.
1. ITS ORIGINAL TITLE WAS SUCK EGG.
Inspired by artist Brant Parker, who later co-created The Wizard of Id, Johnny Hart pursued freelance cartooning after winning a high school art contest. However, after encountering Peanuts in the late 1950s, Hart recognized the narrative potential of comic strips over single-panel cartoons. Drawing from his love of caveman humor, he crafted triangular characters to blend ancient life with modern wit. Initially named Suck Egg after an early joke, Hart’s wife Bobby persuaded him to rename it B.C., after one of its main characters.
2. HART DEVELOPED A UNIQUE JOKE-CREATION METHOD.
To craft the anachronistic humor in B.C.—where cavemen grappled with technology, love, and faith—Hart collaborated with friends Jack Caprio and Dick Boland. He would focus on a single theme, such as books or careers, and brainstorm every related word, aiming to transform them into clever puns.
3. HE WORKED AT AN INCREDIBLE PACE.
Unlike many cartoonists who spend an entire day on a single strip, Hart streamlined his process. While crafting jokes could be time-consuming, translating them into panels was swift. Thanks to the minimalist style of B.C., Hart could complete a week’s worth of strips in just a few hours.
4. THE CHARACTERS WERE INSPIRED BY HIS FRIENDS.
To give the characters in B.C. unique traits, Hart followed his wife’s advice and drew inspiration from his friends. While working as an art director at GE, he based Thor on his colleague Thornton Kinney. Clumsy Carp was named after a childhood friend, and Wiley, the one-legged character, was modeled after his brother-in-law, a World War II veteran and sports enthusiast who became the captain of the prehistoric teams.
5. HART PROMOTED DR PEPPER.
In the early 1960s, Hart collaborated with Dr Pepper, creating original characters for their print ads. He designed a caveman named Harmon, who could consume bottles and retrieve their caps, which later inspired the character Grog in B.C.. The campaign also included a 1966 TV commercial with animated segments.
6. RELIGIOUS THEMES LED SOME NEWSPAPERS TO CANCEL THE STRIP.
During the 1980s, Hart’s religious awakening led him to incorporate Christian themes into B.C., which sparked controversy. Some readers felt comic strips should remain secular, prompting newspapers like the Chicago Sun-Times to drop the strip. Others, such as The Washington Post, skipped the Sunday editions with theological content. A 2001 strip showing a menorah turning into a cross was interpreted by some as suggesting Christianity’s superiority over Judaism. Hart issued a public apology, clarifying he meant no offense.
7. THE STRIP WAS TURNED INTO ANIMATED SPECIALS.
Hart’s first venture into animation, B.C.: The First Thanksgiving, premiered on NBC in 1973. The plot revolved around the characters hunting for a turkey without knowing its appearance. Later, in 1981, HBO aired B.C.: A Special Christmas, an animated holiday short that hinted at Hart’s growing interest in religious themes.
8. IT INFLUENCED A UNIVERSITY’S SPORTS MASCOT.
The charming anteater from B.C. became a fan favorite, much like Snoopy. Its popularity even reached UC Irvine, which adopted the anteater as its mascot in 1965. With Hart’s approval, the university used his designs to create “Peter the Anteater,” which now appears as bronze statues and merchandise like keychains across the campus.
