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Legendary comic artist Bernie Wrightson passed away Saturday
March 18 after losing a protracted struggle with brain cancer. Inspired at an
early age by EC’s Horror comics (Tales From the Crypt, Vault of Horror)
Wrightson credited Frank Frazetta and Graham Ingels as his artistic influences.
In 1968 DC Comics editor Dick Giordano gave him his first freelance assignment
and from there he worked intermittently on House of Mystery and later on
Marvel’s Chamber of Horrors. In 1971 he teamed up with writer Len Wein to create
Swamp Thing. Because of the detail and intricacy of his work Wrightson was never
able to maintain the grind of a regular ongoing series. Instead he would work
primarily on short stories and long form works with no set deadline. His short
story work was principally for Warren’s Creepy and Eerie magazines adapting
Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft tales. Arguably his crowning achievement was
on came at the end of seven years in which he drew approximately 50 detailed
pen-and-ink illustrations to accompany an edition of Mary Shelley's novel
Frankenstein. While not as prolific as some artists, his forty plus year career
was consistent and he created an impressive body of work which included Captain
Sternn for Heavy Metal magazine (also featured in the animated film), the comic
adaptation of Stephen King-penned horror film Creepshow and many others. He
retired in January 2017, due to health issues following brain surgery. He is
survived by his wife Liz Wrightson and they lived in Austin, Texas. |
