Creator Spotlight – Bernie Wrightson

By Jay Katz 10 years ago

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Bernie Wrightson is an artist that once you see his art for the first time, you identify with it immediately. Every time you see it thereafter, you’ll recognize it. His art captivates you. The darkness, the detail, the realism is like no other. Granted, all artist have their styles and each one brings a different reaction/feeling to the table, but Bernie is a unique one.

InvestComics will walk readers through some of Mr. Wrightson’s work throughout the years, touching on some key issues from him. He is the master within the horror genre. You look at his work and it evokes so many emotions, most being scared, or feeling alone, or oh crap I’m about to die. Mr. Wrightson is a legend within the comic book industry and you should be educated in knowing him if you don’t. Read about some of Bernie’s history right HERE and go to the Bernie Wrightson official website HERE for some spectacular galleries and information about where you can meet up with this legend.

Here are some of the key books InvestComics would like to point out to our fans. Keep in mind here that Mr. Wrightson has a very large catalog and we simply will in fact miss books that you the fan deem necessary to include, but this is why we have Facebook, the message area below, Instagram, etc to have your voice heard. Tell us what your favorite works are from the “Master of the Macabre”.

Let’s have some fun here and visit some of these outstanding books.

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Bernie Wrightson’s first professional published work was in DC’s House of Mystery #179 (1969). He did a backup story with another comic legend (early work), writer Marv Wolfman. This comic also featured some early work from Sergio Aragones and Neal Adams (Cover Artist).

His first non horror related comic came immediately following his first work. Although not too far from the realm of horror, he penciled a Spectre story in The Spectre #9 (1969)

Bernie continued to do interior backup stories for DC and a few covers for some magazines/indies, but it wasn’t until late 1970 when Marvel Comics stepped in and let Bernie do his first comic cover; Chamber of Darkness #7. His second Marvel cover would turn out to be Creatures on the Loose #10 (1971). Why mention his second cover you may ask? He collaborated on the cover with some guy named Jack ‘King’ Kirby. It also happens to be the first appearance of King Kull.

Green Lantern #82 (1971) turned out to be the first major superhero work. He only did the inks on one page here though. Inks over Neal Adams.

Here’s an interesting thing. Bernie did a cover for House of Mystery #195 (1971) and the name of the story was “Bat Out of Hell”. Look at that cover……..2 months later he’s one of the writers in Batman #237 (1971), which also is the first appearance of the Reaper. Then a few months after that he collaborates with Neal Adams on the Batman #241 (1972) cover. It looks very similar to the House of Mystery cover Bernie did just a few months prior. Was that House of Mystery cover a Batman break-in for Bernie? Possible right? Well just a few months after the Neal Adams Batman collaboration cover came Bernie’s first solo Batman cover happened on Detective Comics #425 (1972).

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Dialing back for a second here, House of Secrets #92 (1971) is a prize from the Bernie collection as far as first appearances are concerned. This comic features the first appearance of Swamp Thing. Wrightson is to Swamp Thing as McFarlane is to Spidey, Kirby is to Captain America, Frank Miller is to Daredevil….you get the idea right? Wrightson does the cover and interior here. Fantastic comic to own.

Already mentioned above were some of Wrightson’s first work with Marvel, but about a superhero for Marvel? He’s already done Batman for DC, what about Marvel? After some stints with Kull and Conan, he did his first sort of superhero character in Astonishing Tales #31 (1975). His cover art was a collaboration with Ed J. Harrington and it depicted Deathlok shooting in a blaze of glory. Okay so Deathlok doesn’t do it for you? How about Incredible Hulk #56 (1976)……from France. Yes that’s right. He did a Hulk solo cover that appeared only in France. Good luck getting that comic in NM condition….ever. So what about a SOLO Marvel cover in the States as a first for Bernie in regards to a major Marvel Superhero? Captain Marvel #43 (1976)? Nope, another collaboration. How about Incredible Hulk #197 (1976)? We have a winner! ….And who is that on the cover? Why yes that’s Man-Thing (coincidence? Um, no). What a beauty of a cover too.

Speaking of beauty. Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein (pictured above). Wow. Just wow. Marvel at the beauty of this artistry. Unbelievable, magnificent, poetry, classic….there simply are not enough words here.

Bernie’s first Superman came in Superman #272 (1974) as a pinup. Still counts as a first. He also contributed a pinup in a Superman pinup portfolio in 1984.

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Here’s a question to ponder. Since the mention of Batman and Superman, what about Marvel’s flagship character? Spidey! Yes Bernie Wrightson penciled, inked and colored his first Spider-Man story back in 1986. Marvel had these really cool things called graphic novels back in the 80’s that featured original stories in oversized fashion and on super shiny paper. Oh it was so cool, good times, good times….. anyways, “Amazing Spider-Man in Hooky” was the name of Marvel’s graphic novel #22 (1986) that Bernie had complete creative control (except writing duties). This was Bernie’s first and only Spider-Man story he’s ever done. In Marvel graphic novel #29 (1987), Wrightson collaborated with legend Jim Starlin; The Incredible Hulk and the Thing. It wasn’t until the following year that Jim Starlin And Bernie Wrightson would collaborate to make one of the top 10 Batman stories of all time.

Batman: The Cult was and still is a bad as* Batman story. A four issue series that still brings it to this day. Still sort after and if you don’t own it, you should.

Rolling back here, here are two freebie’s for InvestComics fans. Back in 1983, Doctor Strange/Silver Dagger Special Edition #1, cover by Wrightson. Dreadstar #6, Get these comics in a 9.8 grade, get Bernie to sign them (Jim Starlin as well; Dreadstar #6), grade them and sell them before the Dr. Strange madness dies down a few years from now and the Dreadstar craze begins and dies as well. Your welcome.

Click on the comic covers below to buy/bid on these Awesome Bernie Wrightson comics. Meet Bernie Wrightson, get them signed, grade them and admire them. You own legendary status.