A Modern Prometheus
March 19, 2017 9:33 AM Subscribe
Comics artist and illustrator Bernie Wrightson has passed away after a struggle with cancer. Best known as the co-creator of Swamp Thing and for his astounding illustrated version of Frankenstein, he was a huge influence of many artists and will be sorely missed.
There's n official statement up on his own website but it seems to be temporarily out of order, probably flooded. There's some very nice galleries of his work there once it is back up as well.
posted by Artw at 9:36 AM on March 19, 2017
posted by Artw at 9:36 AM on March 19, 2017
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Back in 97 my friends and I were unloading art show flats for the World Horror convention. This spry guy shows up and starts helping. For about a half hour I'm thinking to myself "This guy looks just like a Bernie Wrightson drawing." He's got those weird eyebrows and definitively wiry build, just like he drew. Yeah, it was Bernie arriving early and helping out. We got to talk to him a bit, and I remember him telling us that he almost went blind doing Frankenstein, so he would do nothing as detailed ever again. I loved his Swamp Thing run (and all the other stuff he did) so it was a joy to unexpectedly meet him.
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posted by Catblack at 9:47 AM on March 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Back in 97 my friends and I were unloading art show flats for the World Horror convention. This spry guy shows up and starts helping. For about a half hour I'm thinking to myself "This guy looks just like a Bernie Wrightson drawing." He's got those weird eyebrows and definitively wiry build, just like he drew. Yeah, it was Bernie arriving early and helping out. We got to talk to him a bit, and I remember him telling us that he almost went blind doing Frankenstein, so he would do nothing as detailed ever again. I loved his Swamp Thing run (and all the other stuff he did) so it was a joy to unexpectedly meet him.
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posted by Catblack at 9:47 AM on March 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
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posted by the Real Dan at 9:49 AM on March 19, 2017
posted by the Real Dan at 9:49 AM on March 19, 2017
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posted by praemunire at 10:01 AM on March 19, 2017
posted by praemunire at 10:01 AM on March 19, 2017
It should also be mentioned that he did some significant work with Stephen King; he illustrated the comic version of Creepshow and King's book Cycle of the Werewolf, as well as providing full-page illustrations for the uncut version of The Stand.
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posted by Halloween Jack at 10:04 AM on March 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by Halloween Jack at 10:04 AM on March 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
I wonder where he is … if tears could come – they would.
posted by benzenedream at 10:22 AM on March 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by benzenedream at 10:22 AM on March 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by limeonaire at 10:29 AM on March 19, 2017
posted by limeonaire at 10:29 AM on March 19, 2017
This man's art has inspired me since the 1970s. I was lucky enough to meet him a couple of times after he moved to central Texas a few years ago. He was a very kind and gracious man. Rest in power.
posted by Mr.Krotpong at 10:37 AM on March 19, 2017
posted by Mr.Krotpong at 10:37 AM on March 19, 2017
I've been a huge fan of his work since 1982. Through Bernie and his work I discovered a world of art and artists: Michael Wm Kaluta, Jeffrey Catherine Jones, the EC gang, Charles Vess, Roy Krenkel, N.C. Wyeth, the list goes on. Bernie could draw the most horrifying images, but at the same time there was often an underlying sense of humor to his work. I recently described his work as "joyfully macabre."
I had the pleasure to meet Bernie four or five times at comic conventions, he was always extremely nice and seem genuinely glad to see everyone that came up to his table. I was fortunate enough to correspond with Bernie in the mid-1980s, we exchanged about half a dozen letters. We mostly swapped videotapes and talked about horror movies but of course I'd slip in questions about his comic book work. This was during the period he was working on his Spiderman graphic novel and he would often sign off his letters by saying "I've gotta go ink those damn webs." I'm glad the last time I saw him in 2015 I got to sincerely thank him for opening up a whole world of art to me.
I have about 95% of his published work and five original pieces. I really wanted to do an obit for him here, but Metafilter won't work on my PC and it's a PITA doing posts from tablet. I'm glad Artw did it. I'll probably throw some more links in here later tonight.
Rest in peace my friend, and my heartfelt condolences to everyone feeling this loss today. He left behind a beautiful body of work and a grand legacy for us all.
posted by marxchivist at 10:51 AM on March 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
I had the pleasure to meet Bernie four or five times at comic conventions, he was always extremely nice and seem genuinely glad to see everyone that came up to his table. I was fortunate enough to correspond with Bernie in the mid-1980s, we exchanged about half a dozen letters. We mostly swapped videotapes and talked about horror movies but of course I'd slip in questions about his comic book work. This was during the period he was working on his Spiderman graphic novel and he would often sign off his letters by saying "I've gotta go ink those damn webs." I'm glad the last time I saw him in 2015 I got to sincerely thank him for opening up a whole world of art to me.
I have about 95% of his published work and five original pieces. I really wanted to do an obit for him here, but Metafilter won't work on my PC and it's a PITA doing posts from tablet. I'm glad Artw did it. I'll probably throw some more links in here later tonight.
Rest in peace my friend, and my heartfelt condolences to everyone feeling this loss today. He left behind a beautiful body of work and a grand legacy for us all.
posted by marxchivist at 10:51 AM on March 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
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posted by specialbrew at 11:19 AM on March 19, 2017
posted by specialbrew at 11:19 AM on March 19, 2017
Please do add more, marxchivist. I know one of his roommates at The Studio (Michael Kaluta), and he has some good stuff on his Facebook page today.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:20 AM on March 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:20 AM on March 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Slithy_Tove at 11:25 AM on March 19, 2017
posted by Slithy_Tove at 11:25 AM on March 19, 2017
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posted by ogooglebar at 12:38 PM on March 19, 2017
posted by ogooglebar at 12:38 PM on March 19, 2017
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posted by jim in austin at 4:44 PM on March 19, 2017
posted by jim in austin at 4:44 PM on March 19, 2017
I'm sad about his. He's hugely influential to me. Amazing visionary and master draftsman. Grateful I had a chance to meet him. RIP.
posted by Liquidwolf at 5:32 PM on March 19, 2017
posted by Liquidwolf at 5:32 PM on March 19, 2017
Some more links:
Interview with Wrightson, 2008.
Comic book writer Steve Niles interviews Bernie about Frankenstein, 2012.
Promotional video interview for his illustrated FRANKENSTEIN, 1983.
I have a blog I posted a bunch of Wrightson stuff on over the years:
Lots of Wrightson Swamp Thing art.
The Monster Jar, previously unpublished story from 1970.
Monsters coloring book, 1974.
Some very early work.
Bernie's covers for DC's mystery books.
posted by marxchivist at 6:47 PM on March 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Interview with Wrightson, 2008.
Comic book writer Steve Niles interviews Bernie about Frankenstein, 2012.
Promotional video interview for his illustrated FRANKENSTEIN, 1983.
I have a blog I posted a bunch of Wrightson stuff on over the years:
Lots of Wrightson Swamp Thing art.
The Monster Jar, previously unpublished story from 1970.
Monsters coloring book, 1974.
Some very early work.
Bernie's covers for DC's mystery books.
posted by marxchivist at 6:47 PM on March 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
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Easily one of my favourite artists of all time. He will be missed.
posted by SonInLawOfSam at 7:44 PM on March 19, 2017
Easily one of my favourite artists of all time. He will be missed.
posted by SonInLawOfSam at 7:44 PM on March 19, 2017
John Trumbull has a piece over at Atomic Junk Shop: In Memory of Bernie Wrightson.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:21 AM on March 20, 2017
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:21 AM on March 20, 2017
Oh no.
I used to show his Frankenstein illustrations when teaching the novel.
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posted by doctornemo at 10:59 AM on March 20, 2017
I used to show his Frankenstein illustrations when teaching the novel.
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posted by doctornemo at 10:59 AM on March 20, 2017
I treasure all of my copies of Wrightson's works. They are pleasure to look at and I am sad to know the hand and mind that made them has gone.
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posted by Ignorantsavage at 7:40 PM on March 20, 2017
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posted by Ignorantsavage at 7:40 PM on March 20, 2017
Michael Cavna, WaPo: Bernie Wrightson, co-creator of Swamp Thing, elevated the art of horror in comics
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:59 PM on March 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:59 PM on March 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
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His illustrations for Frankenstein are astonishing. He was a creature design consultant on the original Ghostbusters too.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 9:36 AM on March 19, 2017