Hart Studios Issues Apology for Dog-Burning Joke in 'B.C.'

By: E&P Staff John Hart Studios has issued an apology for what it called an "offensive" joke in the comic strip "B.C."

The comic in question shows a character reading a modified "Dick and Spot" story. "See Spot hide all the kindling," the third panel says, before the last panel concludes. "See Dick dousing Spot with kerosene."

The strip has been pulled from the Web site of Hart Studios and the Web site of Creators, which syndicates "B.C.," and a replacement comic put in its place. "We regret running it," a statement on the Web site reads. "We do not condone the mistreatment of animals in any way and we're sorry that readers found the strip offensive."

Another statement, published elsewhere on the Web site said, "The mail we have been receiving from our readers unanimously agrees that it was simply NOT FUNNY!"

"B.C.," which currently appears in over 1,300 newspapers, is a legacy strip currently drawn by Mason Mastroianni, grandson of the strip's creator, Johnny Hart.

This is not the first time "B.C" has sparked controversy. Most notably, an Easter Sunday strip drawn by Hart in 2001 was criticized for being offensive to Jews and was yanked by The Los Angeles Times.