Editing Bernie Wrightson

{{Short description|American comic artist (1948–2017)}}
{{For|the American diver|Bernard Wrightson}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox comics creator

| image         = Bernie Wrightson.JPG
| caption       = Wrightson at the 2006 [[Dallas Comic Con]]
| alt           =
| birth_name    = Bernard Albert Wrightson
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1948|10|27}}
| birth_place   = [[Dundalk, Maryland]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2017|3|18|1948|10|27}}
| death_place   = [[Austin, Texas]], U.S.
| area          =
| cartoonist    =
| write         =
| art           = y
| pencil        = y
| ink           = y
| edit          =
| publish       =
| letter        =
| color         =
| alias         = Berni Wrightson
| signature     = <!-- very optional -->
| signature_alt =
| notable works = {{cslist|''[[Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein]]''|''[[House of Mystery]]''|''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|House of Secrets]]''|''[[Swamp Thing (comic book)|Swamp Thing]]''}}
| awards        = {{cslist|[[Shazam Award]] 1972, 1973, 1974|[[Inkpot Award]] 1987|[[H.P. Lovecraft]] Award 2007|[[National Cartoonists Society]] Award 2012|[[Inkwell Awards]] Special Recognition Award 2015|[[Inkwell Awards]] Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame 2020<ref name="gamesradarinkwells2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/2020-inkwell-award-winners/ |title=2020 Inkwell Award Winners |last=Marston |first=George |date=August 13, 2020 |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=May 10, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510020621/https://www.gamesradar.com/2020-inkwell-award-winners/ |archive-date=May 10, 2021}}</ref><ref name="firstcomicnewsinkwells2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/2020-inkwell-awards-voting-results/ |title=2020 Inkwell Awards Voting Results |last=Almond |first=Bob |date=August 6, 2020 |website=First Comics News |access-date=May 10, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513065552/https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/2020-inkwell-awards-voting-results/ |archive-date=May 13, 2021}}</ref><ref name="inkwellawardswinners2020">{{cite web |url=https://inkwellawards.com/award-recipients/2020-winners/ |title=2020 Winners |website=[[Inkwell Awards]] |access-date=May 10, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510020616/https://inkwellawards.com/award-recipients/2020-winners/ |archive-date=May 10, 2021}}</ref> |semi=true}}
| website       =
| spouse        = {{ubl|[[Michele Wrightson]]|Liz Wrightson}}
| nonUS         =
}}
'''Bernard Albert Wrightson''' (October 27, 1948 – March 18, 2017) was an American artist, known for co-creating the [[Swamp Thing]], his [[Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein|adaptation]] of the novel ''[[Frankenstein]]'' illustration work, and for his other [[horror comics]] and illustrations, which feature his trademark intricate pen and brushwork.

Wrightson began his career as an illustrator for ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' newspaper in 1966. In 1968, he was hired by [[DC Comics]] and was a regular artist on the ''[[House of Mystery]]'' and ''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|House of Secrets]]'' horror titles. Wrightson and writer [[Len Wein]] created Swamp Thing in ''House of Secrets'' #92 (July 1971). The character soon received its own monthly series, for which Wrightson drew the first ten issues.

In 1974, Wrightson began working for [[Warren Publishing]] magazines. Wrightson illustrated adaptions of works by well-known horror writers, including "[[The Black Cat (short story)|The Black Cat]]" by [[Edgar Allan Poe]] and "[[Cool Air]]" by [[H. P. Lovecraft]]. He drew comic book adaptations of [[Stephen King]]'s screenplay for ''[[Creepshow]]'' in 1982, which led to several more collaborations with King. Wrightson spent several years creating an illustrated edition of [[Mary Shelley]]'s novel ''Frankenstein'', which was released in 1983. Later in his career, Wrightson provided concept art for various films and television series.

==Early life==
Wrightson was born October 27, 1948, in [[Dundalk, Maryland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-east.wrightson-20080926-photo.html |title=Bernie Wrightson, illustrator |date=n.d. |newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023200708/http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-east.wrightson-20080926-photo.html |archive-date=October 23, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> He received training in art from watching [[Jon Gnagy]] on television, reading comics, particularly those of [[Entertaining Comics|EC]], as well as through a [[Distance education|correspondence course]] from the [[Famous Artists School]].<ref>{{cite web|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212433/http://www.chs.org/comics/creators.htm |archive-date = September 27, 2007|location= Hartford, Connecticut|title= Connecticut Talent|publisher= [[Connecticut Historical Society]]| url= http://www.chs.org/comics/creators.htm}}</ref> His artistic influences were [[Frank Frazetta]], [[Al Williamson]], [[Albert Dorne|Al Dorne]], [[Graham Ingels]], [[Jack Davis (cartoonist)|Jack Davis]] and [[Howard Pyle]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=WRIGHTSON%2c+BERNIE|title= Wrightson, Bernie|first= Jerry|last= Bails|author-link= Jerry Bails|date= n.d.|work= Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070511012224/http://www.bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=WRIGHTSON%2c+BERNIE|archive-date= May 11, 2007|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> He published a piece of [[fan art]], containing a headstone bearing the inscription "Berni Wrightson, Dec. 15, 1965", on page 33 of [[Warren Publishing]]'s ''[[Creepy (magazine)|Creepy]]'' #9 ([[cover-date]]d June 1966).<ref>{{cite book |last=Wells |first=John |editor-last=Dallas |editor-first=Keith |date=2014 |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-69 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rm-qDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA16 |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |page=16 |isbn=978-1-60549-055-7}}</ref>

==Career==
In 1966, Wrightson began working for ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' newspaper as an illustrator. The following year, after meeting artist [[Frank Frazetta]] at a [[comic-book convention]] in New York City, he was inspired to produce his own stories. In 1968, he showed copies of his [[sequential art]] to [[DC Comics]] editor [[Dick Giordano]] and was given a freelance assignment.<ref name="cooke-cba-5">{{cite journal |last=Cooke |first=Jon B. |title=Like a Bat Out of Hell Chatting with Bernie Wrightson, DC's Monster Maker |journal=Comic Book Artist |issue=5 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |date=Summer 1999 |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |url=http://www.twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/05wrightson.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218025041/http://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/05wrightson.html |archive-date=February 18, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Wrightson began spelling his name "Berni" in his professional work to distinguish himself from an Olympic [[Diving (sport)|diver]] named [[Bernard Wrightson|Bernie Wrightson]],<ref name="McAvennie">{{cite book|last=McAvennie|first= Michael|editor-last=Dolan|editor-first=Hannah|chapter= 1960s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 132|quote = 'The Man Who Murdered Himself' in ''House of Mystery'' was...the first DC story illustrated by Berni Wrightson (who left the "e" off his first name to distinguish himself from a famous diver.}}</ref> but later restored the final "e" to his name.

In 1968, he drew his first professional comic book story, "The Man Who Murdered Himself", which appeared in ''[[House of Mystery]]'' #179 ([[cover-dated]] March–April 1969).<ref name="McAvennie" /> He continued to work on a variety of mystery and anthology titles for both DC and, a few years later, its principal rival, [[Marvel Comics]]. It was for Marvel's ''[[Chamber of Darkness]]'' and ''[[Tower of Shadows]]'' titles where he was first encouraged to slightly simplify his intricate pen-and-ink drawing, and where his lush brushwork, a hallmark of his comics inking in the 1970s, was first evidenced.<ref name="lambiek">{{cite web |url= https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wrightson.htm|title= Bernie Wrightson|date= March 19, 2017|publisher= [[Lambiek|Lambiek Comiclopedia]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170320145515/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wrightson.htm|archive-date= March 20, 2017|url-status= live}}</ref>

Like many artists in the 1970s and 1980s, Wrightson moved to New York in hopes of finding work with comics publishers. At one point Wrightson lived in the same Queens apartment building as artists [[Allen Milgrom]], [[Howard Chaykin]] and [[Walter Simonson]]. Simonson recalls, "We'd get together at 3 a.m. They'd come up and we'd have popcorn and sit around and talk about whatever a 26, 27 and 20-year-old guys talk about. Our art, TV, you name it. I pretty much knew at the time, 'These are the good ole days.'"<ref name=LATimes/>

===Swamp Thing===
[[Image:Swampthingart.jpg|right|thumb|''Swamp Thing'' #1 panel, original ink art by Wrightson]]
With writer [[Len Wein]], Wrightson co-created the muck creature [[Swamp Thing]] in ''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|House of Secrets]]'' #92 (July 1971) in a standalone horror story set in the Victorian era.<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 146: "'Swamp Thing' was the name of Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson's turn-of-the-century tale, and its popularity with readers led a modernized version of the character into his own series a year later."</ref> Wein later recounted how Wrightson became involved with the story: "Bernie Wrightson had just broken up with a girlfriend, and we were sitting in my car just talking about life – all the important things to do when you're 19 and 20 years old. [''Laughs''] And I said, 'You know, I just wrote a story that actually kind of feels like the way you feel now.' I told him about Swamp Thing, and he said, 'I gotta draw that.'"<ref name=WeinDaddy>{{cite journal|last1= Ho|first1= Richard|date=November 2004|title= Who's Your Daddy??|journal= [[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]|issue= 140|pages= 68–74}}</ref>

In summer 1972, Wrightson published ''Badtime Stories'', a horror/science fiction comics anthology featuring his own scripts and artwork (from the period 1970–1971), each story being drawn in a different medium, including ink wash, tonal pencil drawings, duoshade paper, and screen tones, along with traditional pen-and-ink and brushwork.<ref name="tcj-interview">{{cite web |url=https://www.tcj.com/the-berni-wrightson-interview/ |title=The Berni Wrightson Interview |last=Groth |first=Gary |date=March 22, 2017 |website=[[The Comics Journal]] |access-date=March 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323053407/https://www.tcj.com/the-berni-wrightson-interview/ |archive-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref> He and writer [[Marv Wolfman]] co-created [[Destiny (DC Comics)|Destiny]] in ''[[Weird Mystery Tales]]'' #1 (July–Aug. 1972), a character which would later be used in the work of [[Neil Gaiman]].<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p.152 "The host that was first presented in a framing sequence by scribe Marv Wolfman and artist Bernie Wrightson received further, imaginative development in Neil Gaiman's ''The Sandman'' series decades later."</ref>

In the fall of 1972, the Swamp Thing returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in the general DC continuity.<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 153: "Following his debut in ''House of Secrets'' #92 in 1971, the Swamp Thing grew into his own series, albeit with a reimagining of his origins by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson."</ref> Wrightson drew the first ten issues of the series.<ref name=WeinDaddy/> [[Abby Holland|Abigail Arcane]], a major supporting character in the Swamp Thing mythos was introduced by Wrightson and Wein in issue #3 (Feb.-March 1973).<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 154: "Scribe Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson left Swamp Thing some company...the woman who would become Swamp Thing's soul mate, Abigail Arcane."</ref>

Wrightson had originally been asked by DC to handle the art for its revival of [[The Shadow]], but he left the project early on when he realized he could not produce the necessary minimum number of pages on time, along with his work on ''Swamp Thing''.<ref name="cooke-cba-5" /> [[Michael Kaluta]] illustrated the series, but Wrightson did contribute much to the third issue in both pencils and inks, as well as inking the splash page of issue #4.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tcj.com/bernie-wrightson-1948-2017/ |title=Bernie Wrightson, 1948-2017 |last=Ringgenberg |first=Steven |date=March 21, 2017 |website=The Comics Journal |access-date=March 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321141104/https://www.tcj.com/bernie-wrightson-1948-2017/ |archive-date=March 21, 2017}}</ref>

===Warren and The Studio===
In the summer of 1973, Wrightson saw the [[Tod Browning]] [[horror film]] ''[[Freaks (1932 film)|Freaks]]'' for the first time; in the years immediately afterward, the film influenced much of Wrightson's creative output.<ref>{{cite web|first=Joel|last=Pollack|title=Our History|website=Big Planet Comics|url=https://www.bigplanetcomics.com/big-planet-a-history|access-date=March 1, 2023|quote=I helped with the third [[Metro Con]] in 1973... For the con,... my friend Warren Bernard... was able to secure a rare (for the time) showing of the film ''[[Freaks (1932 film)|Freaks]]''. Attending the convention that year was Bernie Wrightson. It was the first time he had seen the movie and it proved to be a major influence on his work over the next few years.}}</ref>

In January 1974, Wrightson left DC to work at [[Warren Publishing]],<ref name="Gustines" /> for whose black-and-white [[horror fiction|horror]]-comics magazines he produced a series of original work as well as short story adaptations. As with ''BadTime Stories'', Wrightson experimented with different media in these black-and-white tales: [[Edgar Allan Poe]]'s "[[The Black Cat (short story)|The Black Cat]]" featured intricate pen-and-ink work which stood in direct contrast with his brush-dominated ''Swamp Thing'' panels. "Jenifer", scripted by [[Bruce Jones (comics)|Bruce Jones]], was atmospherically rendered with gray markers. "The Pepper Lake Monster" was a synthesis of brush and pen-and-ink, whereas [[H.P. Lovecraft]]'s "[[Cool Air]]" was a foray into duotone paper. "Nightfall" was an exercise in ink wash. "Clarice" was also drawn in pen, brush, and ink, and with ink wash.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Cooke |first=Jon B. |date=Spring 1999 |title=Wrightson's Warren Days |url=https://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/04wrightson.html |journal=Comic Book Artist |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |issue=4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220130510/https://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/04wrightson.html |archive-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref>

In 1975, Wrightson joined with fellow artists [[Jeffrey Catherine Jones|Jeff Jones]], [[Michael Kaluta]], and [[Barry Windsor-Smith]] to form [[The Studio (commune)|The Studio]], a shared loft in Manhattan where the group would pursue creative products outside the constraints of comic book commercialism.<ref name="Barney">{{cite web |url=http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/barney2.shtml |title=Joe Barney Interview (Pt. 2) |last=Daudt |first=Ron E. |website=The Silver Age Sage: A Tribute to the Silver Age of DC Comics |access-date=May 18, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013001622/http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/barney2.shtml |archive-date=October 13, 2015}}</ref> Though he continued to produce sequential art, Wrightson at this time began producing artwork for numerous posters, prints, calendars, and even a highly detailed coloring book, ''The Monsters''.<ref name="Gustines">{{cite news |last=Gustines |first=George Gene |date=March 24, 2017 |title=Bernie Wrightson, Artist and a Creator of Swamp Thing, Dies at 68 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/arts/design/bernie-wrightson-dead-comic-book-artist.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 24, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325222942/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/arts/design/bernie-wrightson-dead-comic-book-artist.html |archive-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> He also drew sporadic comics stories and single illustrations for ''[[National Lampoon (magazine)|National Lampoon]]'' magazine from 1973 to 1983.<ref name="lambiek" />

Wrightson spent seven years drawing approximately 50 detailed pen-and-ink illustrations to [[Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein|accompany an edition]] of [[Mary Shelley]]'s novel ''[[Frankenstein]]''. The illustrations themselves are not based upon the [[Boris Karloff]] or [[Christopher Lee]] films, but on the actual book's descriptions of characters and objects.<ref name="niles">{{Cite web |url=http://www.steveniles.net/2012/05/frankenstein-alive-alive-a-conversation-with-bernie-wrightson.html |title=Frankenstein Alive, Alive! A Conversation with Bernie Wrightson |last=Niles |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Niles| date=May 8, 2012|website=SteveNiles.net|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171014235546/http://www.steveniles.net/2012/05/frankenstein-alive-alive-a-conversation-with-bernie-wrightson.html|archive-date= October 14, 2017|url-status= live|df= mdy-all |access-date=October 14, 2017}}</ref> Wrightson also used a period style, saying "I wanted the book to look like an antique; to have the feeling of woodcuts or steel engravings, something of that era" and basing the feel on artists like [[Franklin Booth]], [[J.C. Coll]] and [[Edwin Austin Abbey]]. ''Frankenstein'' was an unpaid project, Wrightson describing it as a "labor of love" he worked on over seven years.<ref name="carey" />

===Later career===
The "[[Captain Sternn]]" segment of the animated film ''[[Heavy Metal (film)|Heavy Metal]]'' is based on a character created by Wrightson (first appearing in the June 1980 issue of ''Heavy Metal'' magazine).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/bernie-wrightson-original-captain-sternn-artwork-hits-auction/ |title=Bernie Wrightson Original Captain Sternn Artwork Hits Auction |last=Dwyer |first=Theo |date=June 14, 2021 |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |access-date=June 14, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614133544/https://bleedingcool.com/comics/bernie-wrightson-original-captain-sternn-artwork-hits-auction/ |archive-date=June 14, 2021}}</ref> The ''Freakshow'' graphic novel, written by [[Bruce Jones (comics)|Bruce Jones]] and illustrated (via pen, brush, and ink with watercolors) by Wrightson, was published in Spain in 1982 and serialized in ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' magazine in the early 1980s.<ref name="tcj-interview" />

In 1982 Bernie Wrightson illustrated the comic book adaptation of the [[Stephen King]]-penned horror film ''[[Creepshow]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Henriksen |first=Erik |date=May 9, 2017 |title=Stephen King and Bernie Wrightson's Creepshow Comic Is Available Again, For the First Time in Years |url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/books/2017/05/09/18990997/stephen-king-and-bernie-wrightsons-creepshow-comic-is-available-again-for-the-first-time-in-years |work=[[Portland Mercury]] |access-date=May 9, 2017}}</ref> This led to several other collaborations with King, including illustrations for the novella "[[Cycle of the Werewolf]]", the restored edition of King's apocalyptic horror epic, ''[[The Stand]]'', and ''[[Wolves of the Calla]]'', the fifth installment of King's ''[[The Dark Tower (series)|Dark Tower]]'' series. He would later illustrate the cover for ''[[TV Guide]]'' magazine's April 26 – May 2, 1997, issue, illustrating the TV miniseries of King's ''[[The Shining (miniseries)|The Shining]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Beahm |first=George |author-link=George Beahm |date=2015 |title=The Stephen King Companion: Four Decades of Fear from the Master of Horror |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWeWBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA183 |location=New York City |publisher=[[Thomas Dunne Books]] |page=183 |isbn=978-1-250-05412-8}}</ref>

During production on the 1984 film ''[[Ghostbusters]]'', Wrightson was among the artists hired by associate producer [[Michael C. Gross]] to provide [[concept art]] envisioning the ghosts and other psychic phenomena encountered by that film's characters.<ref name="carey">{{cite web|url= https://www.cbr.com/spotlight-on-bernie-wrightson/|title= Spotlight on Bernie Wrightson|first= Edward|last= Carey|date= June 16, 2008|website= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171014234131/https://www.cbr.com/spotlight-on-bernie-wrightson/|archive-date= October 14, 2017|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> The artwork he contributed included images of the "escapees" from the Ghostbusters' electrically powered ghost storage facility, which run amok after the facility's electricity is turned off.<ref>Wallace, Daniel (October 27, 2015). ''Ghostbusters: The Ultimate Visual History'', Insight Editions. [[San Rafael, California]]. pp. 21 and 86. {{ISBN|978-1608875108}}</ref>

[[File:Bernie Wrightson 2012.jpg|thumb|Wrightson in 2012]]   
[[Jim Starlin]] and Wrightson produced ''[[Heroes for Hope]]'', a 1985 one-shot designed to raise money for African famine relief and recovery. Published in the form of a "[[comic jam]]", the book featured an all-star lineup of comics creators as well as a few notable authors from outside the comic book industry, such as Stephen King, [[George R. R. Martin]], [[Harlan Ellison]], and [[Edward Bryant]].<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/40777/ ''Heroes for Hope Starring the X-Men''] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = DeFalco|first = Tom|author-link = Tom DeFalco|editor-last= Gilbert|editor-first= Laura|chapter= 1980s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 223|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= Horrified by the plight of starving children in Africa, writer/artist Jim Starlin and illustrator Bernie Wrightson convinced Marvel to publish ''Heroes For Hope''. It was a 'jam' book...and all of Marvel's profits were donated to famine relief in Africa.}}</ref> In 1986, Wrightson and writer Susan K. Putney collaborated on the ''[[Spider-Man]]: Hooky'' graphic novel.<ref>{{cite book|last = Manning|first = Matthew K.|editor-last= Gilbert|editor-first= Laura|chapter= 1980s|title = Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|date = 2012|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 156|isbn = 978-0756692360|quote= Writer Susan K. Putney and artist Bernie Wrightson delivered a memorable graphic novel that removed Spider-Man from his usual urban setting and placed him in a fantasy world of magic and mysticism.}}</ref> That same year saw Wrightson and Starlin produce a second benefit comic, ''[[Heroes Against Hunger]]'' featuring [[Superman]] and [[Batman]] which was published by DC and like the earlier Marvel project featured many top comics creators.<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/40911/ ''Heroes Against Hunger''] at the Grand Comics Database</ref><ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 219: "Plotted by Jim Starlin, with dramatic designs by Bernie Wrightson...''Heroes Against Hunger'' featured nearly every popular DC creator of the time."</ref> Starlin and Wrightson collaborated on two [[miniseries]] in 1988, ''[[Weird (comics)|The Weird]]''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |page=357 |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0}}</ref> and ''[[Batman: The Cult]]'',<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 234: "Writer Jim Starlin took the Dark Knight into the depths of Gotham for the four-issue prestige format ''Batman: The Cult''...with horror artist Bernie Wrightson."</ref> as well as ''[[Marvel Graphic Novel]]'' #29 (featuring the [[Hulk]] and the [[Thing (comics)|Thing]]) and ''[[Punisher P.O.V.]]'' for Marvel.<ref>{{cite book |last=Weiner |first=Robert G. |year=2007 |title=Marvel Graphic Novels and Related Publications: An Annotated Guide to Comics, Prose Novels, Children's Books, Articles, Criticism and Reference Works, 1965-2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=npIsZV7grboC&q=Punisher+pov&pg=PA67 |publisher=McFarland |pages=67, 347 |isbn=978-0786425006}}</ref>

Wrightson brought back his Captain Sternn character in 1993 for the ''Captain Sternn: Running Out of Time'' miniseries, published by Kitchen Sink Press.<ref name="lambiek" /> In 1997, Wrightson and [[Ron Marz]] collaborated on ''[[Batman/Aliens]]'', a crossover between the ''[[Batman]]'' and ''[[Aliens (Dark Horse Comics line)|Aliens]]'' franchises.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://io9.com/5849075/the-10-most-deranged-alien-crossover-stories|title=The 10 most deranged Alien crossover stories|author=Cyriaque Lamar|work=io9|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013043502/http://io9.com/5849075/the-10-most-deranged-alien-crossover-stories|archive-date=October 13, 2011}}</ref> Wrightson again worked with [[Punisher]] for the ''[[The Punisher (1998 series)|Punisher: Purgatory]]'' limited series from 1998 to 1999. The series was unusual for incorporating supernatural elements in a Punisher story.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mengel |first=Bradley |year=2012 |title=Serial Vigilantes of Paperback Fiction: An Encyclopedia from Able Team to Z-Comm |url=http://www.mcfarlandbooks.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-4165-5 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |page=217 |isbn=978-0-7864-4165-5 |access-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-date=April 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150404123847/http://www.mcfarlandbooks.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-4165-5 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He illustrated and contributed album covers for a number of bands and musical artists, including [[Meat Loaf]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heavymetal.com/news/meat-loaf-fantasy-art-evangelist/ |title=Meat Loaf, Fantasy Art Evangelist |website=[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]] |access-date=January 22, 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122195130/https://www.heavymetal.com/news/meat-loaf-fantasy-art-evangelist/ |archive-date=January 22, 2022}}</ref> Wrightson did concept art for film and television, working on productions including ''[[The Faculty]]'', ''[[Galaxy Quest]]'', ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'', [[The Mist (film)|''The Mist'']], ''[[Land of the Dead]]'', and ''[[Serenity (2005 film)|Serenity]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Joss+Whedon/|title= Joss Whedon|first= Daniel Robert|last= Epstein|date= September 30, 2005|publisher= [[SuicideGirls.com]]|archive-date= January 22, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160122035338/https://suicidegirls.com/girls/anderswolleck/blog/2679343/joss-whedon/|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> In 2012, Wrightson collaborated with [[Steve Niles]] on ''[[Frankenstein Alive, Alive!]]'' published by [[IDW Publishing]],<ref>{{cite magazine|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37352|title= Byrne, Wrightson Return To IDW With New Series|date= March 5, 2012|magazine= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120613014107/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37352|archive-date= June 13, 2012|url-status= dead|access-date= March 5, 2012|df= mdy-all}}</ref> for which he won a [[National Cartoonists Society|National Cartoonists Society's award]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalcartoonists.com/2013/05/2013-reuben-awards-winners/ |title=2013 Reuben Awards Winners |last= |first= |date=May 25, 2013 |website=[[National Cartoonists Society]] |access-date=March 19, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007001842/https://www.nationalcartoonists.com/2013/05/2013-reuben-awards-winners/ |archive-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Wrightson's first wife [[Michele Wrightson]] was involved in [[underground comix]], contributing stories to such publications as ''[[It Ain't Me, Babe (comics)|It Ain't Me, Babe]]'', ''[[Wimmen's Comix]]'', and ''[[Arcade (comics magazine)|Arcade]]''. She died in 2015. Wrightson and Michelle had two sons together,<ref>{{cite web|last=MacDonald|first= Heidi| url= http://www.comicsbeat.com/rip-michele-wrightson/ |archive-date=December 20, 2016|title=RIP Michele Wrightson| publisher=ComicsBeat.com|date=June 1, 2015| access-date= January 30, 2017| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220101240/http://www.comicsbeat.com/rip-michele-wrightson/|url-status=live}}</ref> John and Jeffrey.<ref name=officialsite-obit>{{cite web|url=http://berniewrightson.com/a-message-from-liz-wrightson/|title=A Message from Liz Wrightson|date=March 19, 2017|publisher=Bernie Wrightson official site|access-date=March 26, 2017|archive-date=March 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321012108/http://berniewrightson.com/a-message-from-liz-wrightson|url-status=live}}</ref> Wrightson lived with his second wife Liz Wrightson and his stepson Thomas Adamson in [[Austin, Texas]].<ref name=officialsite-obit />

Wrightson and his wife announced in January 2017 that he was retiring due to having limited body function after multiple brain surgeries.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McMillan|first1=Graeme|title='Swamp Thing' Co-Creator Announces Retirement Due to Poor Health|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/swamp-thing-bernie-wrightson-retiring-due-poor-health-970242|access-date=January 31, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 30, 2017|language=en| archive-date= January 31, 2017| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170131022956/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/swamp-thing-bernie-wrightson-retiring-due-poor-health-970242| url-status=live}}</ref> He died on March 18, 2017, at the age of 68. The next day, Liz Wrightson confirmed that his death followed a long diagnosis with [[brain cancer]].<ref name=LATimes>{{cite news|last=Woerner|first=Meredith|date=March 25, 2017|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-bernie-wrightson-20170320-htmlstory.html|title=How Bernie Wrightson uncovered the soul of the monster in his work|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326035447/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-bernie-wrightson-20170320-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "[[The First Day of the Rest of Your Life (The Walking Dead)|The First Day of the Rest of Your Life]]", the April 2, 2017, season 7 finale of the TV series ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]'', was dedicated to Wrightson's memory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/the-walking-dead-season-7-finale-episode-16-who-is-bernie-wrightson-dedicated-loving-memory-a7663661.html |title=The Walking Dead season 7 finale: Who is Bernie Wrightson, the person episode 16 was dedicated to? |last=Stolworthy |first=Jacob |date=April 3, 2017|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170521060037/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/the-walking-dead-season-7-finale-episode-16-who-is-bernie-wrightson-dedicated-loving-memory-a7663661.html|archive-date= May 21, 2017|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref>

==Creative legacy==
Wrightson's death met with a series of testimonials and tributes by colleagues and professional admirers that included [[Joss Whedon]], [[Neil Gaiman]], [[Guillermo del Toro]], [[Walter Simonson]], and [[Mike Mignola]]. Whedon called Wrightson "a star by which other pencillers chart their course", while Gaiman stated that Wrightson was the first comics artist whose work he loved. Horror connoisseur del Toro took a 24-hour pledge of silence in honor of Wrightson, writing, "As it comes to all of us, the end came for the greatest that ever lived: Bernie Wrightson. My North dark star of youth. A master." [[Hellboy]] creator [[Mike Mignola]] said of Wrightson, "He was a genius, and not just a monster guy. Everything Bernie did had soul."<ref name=LATimes/>

Wrightson's former neighbor Walter Simonson, who lived in the same building as Wrightson in the 1980s, recalled, "Even at an early age, we were all really in awe of his work, it was so good." Analyzing Wrightson's skill in depth, Simonson explained that in addition to his ability to draw anything, Wrightson was a master of value, able to effect a precise command over the depth and tones of the colors and shades of gray in his work, stating, "'Frankenstein' is a complete masterpiece of value, using incredibly complex pictures, and yet you always see exactly what you are supposed to see. He drives the eye right where it needs." Regarding the famously reproduced two-page spread from that work depicting Frankenstein's laboratory, Simonson said of that image, "It's so complicated and yet he's able to show you what he wants you to see. In some ways [the lab scene is] the core of the story. It's where Frankenstein breaks the laws of God." Comics analyst and historian [[Scott McCloud]] called that image a "riot of detail", saying, "It might take a moment before you even notice the corpse laying at the bottom of the composition on the left. That makes it a bit more of a treasure map. Bit more of a 'Where Is Waldo?'"<ref name=LATimes/>

During a 2016 tour of his extensive library of art and pop culture memorabilia, Del Toro named Wrightson's ''Frankenstein'' as the work whose original artwork was the hardest to find, saying, "They are very rare. The people that have them don't let them go. It's taken me years to get that. I have nine out of the 13 favorite plates of the Frankenstein book that Bernie Wrightson ever did. The other four: one of them, no one knows where it is, and the other three are, I would say, very hard to pry away from the people that have them."<ref name=LATimes/>

==Awards==
* Wrightson won the [[Shazam Award]] for Best Penciller (Dramatic Division) in 1972<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/shazam72.php|title= 1972 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131212135539/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/shazam72.php|archive-date= December 12, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> and 1973<ref name="Shazam1973">{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/shazam73.php|title= 1973 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131212133728/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/shazam73.php|archive-date= December 12, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> for [[Swamp Thing]], the Shazam Award for Best Individual Story (Dramatic) in 1972 for ''[[Swamp Thing]]'' #1 (with Len Wein). He received additional nominations, including for 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'' #6 (with Len Wein).<ref name="Shazam1973" />
* Wrightson was a recipient of the 1974 [[Comic Fan Art Award]] for Favorite Pro Artist. He was a nominee for the same award, then known as the "[[Goethe Award (comics)|Goethe Award]]," in 1973.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/goethecomic-fan-art-award-winners-1971-74 |title=GOETHE/COMIC FAN ART AWARD WINNERS, 1971-74 |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |date=July 19, 2005 |website=Comics Buyer's Guide |access-date=March 19, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920035152/http://www.cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/goethecomic-fan-art-award-winners-1971-74 |archive-date=September 20, 2010}}</ref>
* Wrightson was co-recipient of the [[List of Eisner Award winners#Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award|Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award]] for 1986, along with [[Jim Starlin]], for his work on ''[[Heroes for Hope]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comic-con.org/awards/bob-clampett-humanitarian-award|title= The Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award|year= 2013|publisher= [[San Diego Comic-Con International]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140213032116/http://www.comic-con.org/awards/bob-clampett-humanitarian-award|archive-date= February 13, 2014|url-status= live|access-date= June 23, 2013}}</ref> The following year, Wrightson received an [[Inkpot Award]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|title= Inkpot Award Winners |publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120709055558/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|archive-date= July 9, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref>
* Wrightson received the H.P. Lovecraft Award (also known as the "Howie") at the 2007 H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, Oregon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hplfilmfestival.com/h-p-lovecraft-film-festival-awards#Winners |title=The H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival Awards |publisher=HPLFilmFestival.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006105956/http://hplfilmfestival.com/h-p-lovecraft-film-festival-awards |archive-date=October 6, 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=May 9, 2013}}</ref>
* He received the [[National Cartoonists Society|National Cartoonists Society's award]] in the [[National Cartoonists Society Division Awards#Comic Books Award|category Comic Books]] for 2012 for ''[[Frankenstein Alive, Alive!]]''<ref>{{cite web |url= http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2013/05/national-cartoonist-society-announces-reuben-divisional-awards/|title= National Cartoonist Society announces Reuben, divisional awards|first= JK|last= Parkin|date= May 26, 2013|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131221145232/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2013/05/national-cartoonist-society-announces-reuben-divisional-awards/|archive-date= December 21, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref>
* He was awarded the [[Inkwell Awards|Inkwell Award]] Special Recognition Award in 2015 for his 45-plus years of work, including co-creating [[DC Comic]]'s [[Swamp Thing]] and [[Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein|''Frankenstein'']]. In 2021, Wrightson was inducted into the [[Inkwell Awards|Inkwell Awards Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame]].<ref name="gamesradarinkwells2020" /><ref name="firstcomicnewsinkwells2020" /><ref name="inkwellawardswinners2020" />

==Bibliography==
===Comics===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

====Bongo Comics====
*''[[Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror|Treehouse of Horror]]'' #11 segment "Squish Thing", a parody of ''[[Swamp Thing (comic book)|Swamp Thing]]'' (2005)

====Chanting Monks Studios====
*''Night Terrors'' #1 (2000)

====Chaos! Comics====
*''Nightmare Theater''<!--spelling correct per the Grand Comics Database-->  #1–4 (1997)

====Cry for Dawn Productions====
*''So Dark the Rose'' #1 (1995)

====Dark Horse Comics====
*''City of Others'' #1–4 (2007)
*''Tarzan Le Monstre''  #11–12 (1998)

====DC Comics====
*''[[Aquaman]] Annual'' #4 (cover) (1998)
*''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' #265, 400 (interiors); #241, 320, ''Annual'' #22 (covers) (1972–1998)
*''Batman: Hidden Treasures'' #1 (2010)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=27772|title= Marz Reveals Batman's "Hidden Treasures"|first= Kevin|last= Mahadeo|date= August 12, 2010|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121013112637/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=27772|archive-date= October 13, 2012|url-status= live|quote= Writer Ron Marz's ''Legend of the Dark Knight'' tale with artist Bernie Wrightson became a legend in its own right among the comic book professional community—a long-lost story the writer himself believed would never see print.|df= mdy-all}}</ref>
*''Batman: Nevermore'' (covers) #1–5 (2003)
*''[[Batman: The Cult]]'' #1–4 (1988)
*''[[Detective Comics]]'' #425 (cover) (1972)
*''[[Flinch (DC Comics)|Flinch]]'' #14 (2000)
*''[[Green Lantern (comic book)|Green Lantern]] Annual'' #7 (cover) (1998)
*''Heroes Against Hunger'' (two pages only) (1986)
*''[[House of Mystery]]'' #179–181, 183, 186, 188, 191, 195, 204; (covers): #193–194, 207, 209, 211, 213–214, 217, 221, 229, 231, 236, 255–256 (1969–1978)
*''House of Mystery'' vol. 2 #9; (cover): #1 (2009)
*''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|House of Secrets]]'' #92; (covers): #93–94, 96, 100, 103, 106–107, 135, 139 (1971–1976)
*''[[JLA (comic book)|JLA]] Annual'' #2 (cover) (1998)
*''[[Jonah Hex]]'' #9 (cover) (1978)
*''[[Kong the Untamed]]'' #1–2 (covers) (1975)
*''[[Plop!]]'' #1, 5 (1973–1974)
*''[[Secrets of Haunted House]]'' #5, 44 (covers) (1975–1982)
*''[[The Shadow]]'' Vol. 2 #3,  (1974)
*''[[Showcase (comics)|Showcase]]'' ([[Nightmaster]]) #83–84 (1969)
*''[[Spectre (comics)|Spectre]]'' #9 (1969)
*''Spectre'' vol. 3 #58 (cover) (1997)
*''[[Superman/Batman]] Annual'' #3 (cover) (2009)
*''[[Swamp Thing (comic book)|Swamp Thing]]'' #1–10 (1972–1974)
*''[[Tales of the Unexpected (comics)#2006 revival|Tales of the Unexpected]]'' #4 (cover) (2007)
*''[[The Unexpected (1968 comic book)|The Unexpected]]'' #116, 119, 128 (1970–1971)
*''[[Living Dead#Comics|Toe Tags Featuring George Romero]]'' (cover) #1–6 (2004–2005)
*''Welcome Back to the House of Mystery'' #1 (cover) (1998)
*''[[Weird (comics)|The Weird]]'' #1–4 (1988)
*''[[Weird Mystery Tales]]'' #1 (interiors); #21 (cover) (1972–1975)
*''[[Wonder Woman (comic book)|Wonder Woman]] Annual'' #7 (cover) (1998)
*''[[The Witching Hour (DC Comics)|Witching Hour]]'' #3, 5 (1969)

====DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics====
*''[[Batman/Aliens]]'' miniseries #1–2 (1997)

====Eclipse Comics====
*''Berni Wrightson: Master of the Macabre'' #5 (1984)

====Fantagraphics Books/Eros Comix====
*''Collected Purple Pictography'' #1 (1991)
*''The Reaper of Love and Other Stories'' #1 (1988)

====FPG====
Bernie Wrightson: MASTER OF THE MACABRE (1993, Trading Card Series), MORE MACABRE (1994, Second Trading Card Series)

====IDW Publishing====
*''Dead, She Said'' #1–3 (with [[Steve Niles]]) (2008)
*''[[Frankenstein Alive, Alive!]]'' #1–3 (2012–2014)

====Image Comics====
*''Frankenstein Mobster''<!--spelling correct per the Grand Comics Database--> #7 (2004)
*''The Walking Dead''

====Kitchen Sink Press====
*''Captain Sternn: Running Out of Time '' #1–5 (1993)

====Major Publications====
*''Web of Horror'' #1–3 (1969–1970)

====Marvel Comics====
*''[[Astonishing Tales]]'' #31 (cover inks) (1975)
*''[[Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)|Captain Marvel]]'' #41–42 (interiors); #43 (cover) (1975–1976)
*''[[Chamber of Darkness]]'' #7 (interior); #8 (cover) (1970)
*''[[Hellraiser (franchise)|Clive Barker's Hellraiser]]'' #1 (1989)
*''[[Conan the Barbarian (comics)|Conan the Barbarian]]'' #12 (1971)
*''[[Creatures on the Loose]]'' ([[Kull of Atlantis|King Kull]]) #10 (1971)
*''[[Doctor Strange (comic book)|Doctor Strange]] Special Edition'' #1 (cover) (1983)
*''[[Dreadstar]]'' #6–7 (1983)
*''[[Epic Illustrated]]'' #8, 10, 22, 25, 30, 34 (interiors); #30 (cover) (1981–1986)
* [[Frankenstein Monster]] #18 (cover)
*''[[Gargoyle (comics)|Gargoyle]]'' #1 (cover) (1985)
*''Giant-Size Chillers'' #3 (cover) (1975)
*''[[Heroes for Hope|Heroes for Hope starring the X-Men]]'' #1 (three pages only) (1985)
*''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' #197 (cover) (1976)
*''[[Marvel Graphic Novel]]'' #22 ([[Spider-Man]]: "Hooky"); #29 (The [[Hulk]] and the [[Thing (comics)|Thing]]: "The Big Change") (1986–1987)
*''[[Punisher P.O.V.]]'' #1–4 (1991)
*''[[The Punisher (1998 series)|Punisher: Purgatory]]'' #1–4 (1998–1999)
*''[[Savage Tales]]'' (King Kull) #2 (1973)
*''Shadows & Light'' #1 (1998) 
*''[[Namor|Sub-Mariner]]'' #36 (inker) (1971) 
*''[[The Tomb of Dracula]]'' #43 (cover) (1976)
*''[[Tower of Shadows]]'' #8–9 (covers) (1971)
*''[[Werewolf by Night]]'' #35 (cover) (1976)

====New American Library====
*''[[Creepshow]]'' [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] (1982)

====Pacific Comics====
*''Berni Wrightson: Master of the Macabre'' #1–4 (1983–1984) 
*''[[Twisted Tales]]'' #2 (1983)
{{div col end}}

===Magazines===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

====As You Like It Publications====
*''Comic Book Profiles'' #2 (1998)

====Gemstone Publishing====
*''Comic Book Marketplace'' #105 (2003)

====Metal Mammoth, Inc.====
*''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal Special Editions]]'' vol. 10, #1 (1996)

====NL Communications, Inc.====
*''[[The National Lampoon Encyclopedia of Humor]]'' (1973)
* ''National Lampoon's Very Large Book Of Comical Funnies'' (1975)


====Skywald Publications====
*''Nightmare'' #9–10 (1972)

====TwoMorrows Publishing====
*''[[Alter Ego (magazine)|Alter Ego]]'' vol. 3, #41 (2004)
*''[[Back Issue!]]'' #6 (2004)
*''[[Comic Book Artist]]'' #4 (1999)

====Warren Publishing====
*''[[Creepy (magazine)|Creepy]]'' #62–63, 77, 87, 95 (1974–1978), 83, 86 (inks over Carmine Infantino)
*''[[Eerie (magazine)|Eerie]]'' #58, 60, 62, 68, 72 (w/ Chaykin) (1974–1976)
*''[[Vampirella]]'' (backup stories) #33 (with [[Jeffrey Catherine Jones]]), 34 (script only)
{{div col end}}

===Book illustrations===
*''The Art of Wrightson : A Pop-Up Portfolio'', 1996, Sideshow, Incorporated, {{ISBN|1889164003}} 
*''Badtime Stories'', 1972, Graphic Masters
*''The Berni Wrightson Treasury'', 1975, Omnibus Publishing
*''[[Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein]]'', 1983, Dodd, Mead & Company, {{ISBN|0396082777}} 
*''Berni Wrightson: A Look Back'', 1991, Underwood Books, {{ISBN|0887331300}} 
*''Berni Wrightson: Back for More'', 1978, Archival Press, Inc., {{ISBN|091582230X}} 
*''[[The Conan Grimoire]]'', by [[L. Sprague de Camp]], 1972, Mirage Press
*''[[The Conan Reader]]'', by L. Sprague de Camp, 1968, Mirage Press 
*''[[Creepshow (comics)|Creepshow]]'' by [[Stephen King]], 1982, NAL
*''[[Cycle of the Werewolf]]'', by Stephen King, 1985, NAL, {{ISBN|0451822196}} 
*''[[Wolves of the Calla|The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla]]'', by Stephen King, 2006, Pocket Books, {{ISBN|141651693X}} 
*''The House of Mystery'' by [[Jack Oleck]], 1973, Warner Books
*''The Lost Frankenstein Pages'', 1993, Apple Pr Inc., {{ISBN|0927203081}} 
*''The Monsters Color the Creature Book'', 1974, Phil Seuling
*''The Mutants'', 1980, Mother of Pearl, {{ISBN|093784800X}} 
*''The Reaper of Love and Other Stories'', 1988, [[Fantagraphics Books]], {{ISBN|093019361X}} 
*''[[The Stand|The Stand-Complete and Uncut]]'' by Stephen King, 1990, Dbldy; BOMC edition 
*''[[The Studio (commune)|The Studio]]'' (includes work by other artists), 1979, Dragons Dream, {{ISBN|9063325819}} 
*''Stuff Out'a My Head'', by [[Joseph M. Monks]], 2002, [[Chanting Monks Press]], {{ISBN|0972660402}} 
*''Zombie Jam'', by [[David J. Schow]], 2005, Subterranean Press, {{ISBN|1931081778}}
*''Ghostbusters: The Ultimate Visual History'' by Daniel Wallace, 2015, Insight Editions. [[San Rafael, California]]. pp.&nbsp;21 and 86. {{ISBN|978-1608875108}}

===Album artwork===
*[[Meat Loaf]]: ''[[Dead Ringer (album)|Dead Ringer]]'', 1981, [[Epic Records]]
*[[Obituary (band)|Obituary]]: ''[[Back from the Dead (Obituary album)|Back from the Dead]]'', 1997, [[Roadrunner Records]]

{{small|Source:<ref>{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Berni+Wrightson|title= Berni Wrightson}} and {{gcdb|type=credit|search= Bernie+Wrightson|title= Bernie Wrightson}}</ref>}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bernie Wrightson}}
* {{official|http://www.wrightsonart.com}}
* {{gcdb|type=credit|search= Berni+Wrightson|title= Berni Wrightson}}
* {{gcdb|type=credit|search= Bernie+Wrightson|title= Bernie Wrightson}}
* [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=225 Bernie Wrightson] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics

{{Hmcontribs |state=collapsed}}
{{Swamp Thing |state=collapsed}}
{{Inkpot Award 1980s}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wrightson, Bernie}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male artists]]
[[Category:American album-cover and concert-poster artists]]
[[Category:American comics artists]]
[[Category:American illustrators]]
[[Category:Artists from Maryland]]
[[Category:Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award winners]]
[[Category:DC Comics people]]
[[Category:Deaths from brain cancer in Texas]]
[[Category:American horror artists]]
[[Category:American science fiction artists]]
[[Category:Inkpot Award winners]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics people]]
[[Category:People from Dundalk, Maryland]]
[[Category:Silver Age comics creators]]
[[Category:Swamp Thing]]