from Marvel Age #34 and 106 (Marvel, January 1986 and November 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#34) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#106); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Andy Yachus (#34) and Renee Witterstaetter (#106)
Mighty Marvel announces the arrival of Bernie (then, Berni, a name change he made to differentiate himself from an Olympic athlete but later changed back)! Plyus bonus Rich Buckler!
from "Bullpen Bulletins" in Marvel Comics cover-dated December 1970
A brief bio from the pages of a comic about DC's Nightmaster:
from text page in Showcase #83 (DC, June 1969); text by Murray Boltinoff, Denny O'Neil, and Bernie Wrightson
A very early self-portrait and autobiography by the young Berni[e], from the pages of the official EC Comics fan mag Squa Tront (say that three times fast!):
(Click picture to monster-size)
Bernie's thoughts on ol' Jade Jaws, the Incerible Hulk:
from Shadows and Light (1998 series) #1 (Marvel, February 1998)
Besides drawing hundreds of gorgeous comic books, Bernie has (natch, for this feature!) also appeared in a bunch of 'em! Check him out (in the green tee with glasses) with (from L-R) Gerry Conway, Dick Grayson*, and Alan Weiss at the Rutland Halloween Parade!
from Batman #237 (DC, December 1971), script by Denny O'Neil with Bernie Wrightson and Harlan Ellison, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Dick Giordano, letters by John Costanza
*Dick Grayson is the fictional one out of the group.
A couple issues later, Robin shows the trio around Gotham City's famous "Bleecker Street," where...I dunno, Zatanna lives at...let's say, a771. (Bernie's in the purple/black turtleneck.)
from "Soul-Pit!" in Batman #239 (DC, February 1972), script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Dick Giordano, letters by Ray Holloway (?)
Sometimes Wrightson even gets to tell us a spooky story, like this one. This one frightened me, and Bully doesn't scare easily, I tell ya!
from "Gargoyle Every Night" in Chamber of Darkness #7 (Marvel, October 1970); co-script by Roy Thomas; co-script, pencils, inks, and colors by Bernie Wrightson, letters by Artie Simek
Here's a whole QOOKY QUARTET of QHILLERS from Bernie, hangin' out in every possible environment!
from DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #4 [Weird Mystery Tales] (DC, 1971), scripter unknown, pencils and inks by Bernie Wrightson, letters by Ben Oda
Bernie Wrightson, cover star! He's the one in the
cover of Marvel Chillers #3 [Tigra] (Marvel, February 1976), pencils by Howard Chaykin, inks by Bernie Wrightson, letters by Annette Kawecki (?)
Clockwise from left: Len Wein, Joe Orlando, Bernie Wrightson, unidentified muck-encrusted mockery of man
from Roots of the Swamp Ghing #5 (DC, November 1986), art by Joe Orlando
A lovely obituary tribute to Bernie and his mossy creation.
(Click picture to Swamp Thing, you make my heart sing-size)
Howard Chaykin salutes Wrightson as the "ghastly" Graham Ingels of his generation:
from "Horrors!" in Solo #4 (DC, June 2005); script, pencils, and inks by Howard Chaykin; colors by Dave McCaig; letters by Ken Lopez
Can you find Bernie at this super prize-fight? (Hint: he's Number One in my book!)
cover of All-New Collectors' Edition #C-56 (DC, March 1978), layout by Joe Kubert, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Neal Adams (?) and/or Cory Adams (?), logo design by John Workman
(Click top picture to GOAT-size)
Happy birthday, Bernie Wrightson! Take us out with a macabre moral to the story, woncha?
from "Gargoyle Every Night" in Chamber of Darkness #7
I don't...I don't get it.
Wrightson’s original Frankenstein illustrations are just astounding. (PS: I think you’re 20 years early on the date of Solo #4, Bully.)
ReplyDeleteSomewhere around here I have a copy of his Frankenstein, and you're correct! And oops! Date corrected! Thanks!
ReplyDelete