Through my time collecting comic books, I have been privileged to meet many incredible and legendary artists and writers. Bernie Wrightson was one of those artists whose reputation was well deserved- a legend that helped to modernize the look and mood of the modern comic book.

His love of Frank Frazetta’s figurative artwork was evident, but his often intricate scenes elevated his artwork creating a sense of mood that rarely needed exposition through word bubbles.

Bernie Wrightson mostly worked for DC beginning in the late 1960’s. He continued to develop as an inker for Neal Adams and Dick Giordano, and assisted on a few issues of Neal Adams and Dennis O’Neil’s Green Lantern/Green Arrow run. Wrightson also contributed story ideas for Batman, which resulted in “The Night Of the Reaper” in Batman # 237 – highly regarded as one of the greatest stand-alone Batman tales.

With great admiration for EC’s 1950’s Tales of the Crypt, he was a natural fit for the horror genre. After a number of trial concepts of an old 1940’s public domain character “the Heap,” Bernie Wrightson and Len Wein created Swamp Thing. Wrightson won the Shazam Award for Best Penciller (Dramatic Division) in 1972 and 1973 for Swamp Thing, the Shazam Award for Best Individual Story (Dramatic) in 1972 for Swamp Thing No. 1 (with Len Wein). He received additional nominations, including the Shazam Award for Best Inker in 1973 for Swamp Thing, as well as that year’s Shazam for Best Individual Story, for “A Clockwork Horror” in Swamp Thing No. 6 (with Len Wein).

Wrightson’s incredible pen & ink work on the series continued to garner acclaim by fans and opened opportunities for work on independent projects. I spoke with Wrightson on several occasions, and asked him about his favorite project to which he quickly replied that it was his adaption of Frankenstein. Looking at only a few of the 50 fully illustrated boards for the book, his mastery of light and shadow approaches that of the greatest draftsmen throughout art history. Surprisingly, the illustrations were impecably precise and did not require corrective fluid or re-working- a point he was most proud of.

Wrightson also carried a sense of social awareness and worked with Jim Starlin to organize an Africa famine relief book for Marvel called “Heroes For Hope” and later that year one for DC called “Heroes Against Hunger.”

While Bernie Wrightson’s output in the last few years lessened due to worsening eyesight and medical issues, he remained pleasant and attended several conventions. He received the National Cartoonists Society’s award for his 2012 graphic novel, Frankenstein Alive, Alive! In 2015, Wrightson was awarded the Inkwell Award at the San Diego Comic Con in recognition for his 45 years of work in the industry.

It is always tough when a legend passes on, but Bernie Wrightson’s artwork will always endure.

Joshua H. Stulman

Owner, BrooklynComicShop.com