How to Be a B.C. Comic Fan

The B.C. comic strip first appeared nationally in 1958. It is one of the longest running comic strips and has plans to continue appearing in nationally syndicated newspapers. Though you can appreciate it with no background information, it takes more than casual reading to be a true fan of B.C. Read on to find out why.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Know Johnny Hart, the artist who created B.C. He based the comic strip on the concepts of simplicity and the origin of ideas, leading him to choose cavemen as his characters. His wife Bobby suggested the name B.C. as well as the idea of developing the characters after people they knew.
2. Find your favorite character or characterization. Some people are fans of B.C. because they like the outhouses featured in many of the comics. Others like the characters which include Wylie, Ida, Thor and Pete. You can also like it for the fact that the main characters are cavemen. The important thing is to find what it is you like best about the comic strip.
3. Determine the era. There are three distinctive eras of B.C. For the majority of the comic strip, the comic followed the original concept. The second era began in 1991 when B.C. took on a religious aspect after Johnny Hart's conversion to Christianity. The third era is the continuation of the series following Johnny Hart's death in April of 2007. B.C. has fans specific to each era as well as fans that enjoy the entire series. You must choose which group of fans to join.
4. Collect merchandise. B.C. comics have appeared on a variety of items including coffee mugs, t-shirts, drinking glasses and greeting cards. A true fan has their favorite comics clipped out of the newspaper and at least one other item that has a B.C. comic on it. You might even find your favorite comic on an item.
5. Buy the book. "Growing Gold with B.C.: A 50 Year Celebration" contains rare drawings and concept art that is only available in the book. This collection was chosen by Johnny Hart as being the best of B.C. The book is published by Checker Book Publishing and can be purchased through their website.