Channel Frederator Blog

I just had to interrupt the regular posting to inform the public that the creator of the comic strip “B.C.” has passed away at his drawing table.

Read about it on CNN.com

He died doing what he loved [i’m reminded that “Krazy Kat”’s George Herriman died the same way, and Charles Schultz seemed to lose his will to live right after retiring “Peanuts”].

A note about the criticism mid-way in the article about one strip being anti-Jewish. In 1997 I visited a Jewish settlement in Israel and displayed on the wall was a cut-out of a B.C. strip. Two blokes are sitting on a hill, one promising the other friendship in exchange for his volcano. The dialogue went something like this:, the images the same one panel to the next.

2] give me your volcano and I’ll be your friend
1] but you have so many volcanoes than I do, … So if I give you my volcano, you’ll be my friend?”
2]”No, but I’ll say I am.”
1]”well, then what will it take to actually earn your friendhsip?”
2] “throw in your field over there and we’ll talk…:”

The Israelis I was with evidently saw this as an allegory for the land-for-piece argument that the Arab nations constantly offer Israel. With this perspective, Hart managed to make a poignant and humorous spin on what was probably the most complicated dispute in the world at the time, and he seemed to side with Israel.

…A sensitive topic, and maybe I’ll regret bringing it up, but I want to support Hart and negate his detractors.

-Jake