Who is Bernie Wrightson? Here are 5 facts you need to know about him

Legendary artist Bernie Wrightson was outstanding, one of the famous illustrators who contributed a lot to the revamping of horror comics of the 1970s. His horror illustrations had a rare quality with the combination of his distinct editorial ability and a certain modern sensibility. Bernie’s work has gone a long way in bridging the gap between the giddy optimism of years past and the explosion of classier content in the future. Bernie has scored several career highs including adapting classic horror tales he did for Warren Publications and co-creating the Swamp Thing character for DC Comics.

The great illustrator then moved into Hollywood production design, working on films like; The Ghostbusters, Spiderman, Galaxy Quest, and The Faculty. He contributed enormously to Land of the Dead by George Romero and also worked on The Mist by Frank Darabont.

The horror illustrator started working for the Baltimore Sun newspaper in 1966, the following year he was inspired to start his own stories after a chance encounter with legendary artist Frank Frazetta at a comic book convention which took place in New York. In 1968, Bernie was given a freelance assignment after DC Comics editor Dick Giordano saw several copies of his sequential art.

Who is Bernie Wrightson?

The talented illustrator was born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 27, 1948. Although details of his family background are unknown, Bernie Wrightson was born with the given name of Bernard Albert Wrightson under the zodiac sign of Scorpio. Most of his artistic training was done informally watching Jon Gnagy on TV and reading EC comics. He then joined a correspondence course at the Famous Artists School. His influence in the arts is also linked to legendary artists like; Frank Frazetta, Howard Pyle, Al Dorne, Jack Davis, Al Williamson and Graham Ingels.

Facts You Need To Know About Bernie Wrightson

• 1. History of the relationship

Bernie married his first spouse Michele Wrightson in 1976 and they were together until his death in 2015. During his lifetime, Michele was deep into underground comix, contributing quality content to popular publications like; Wimmen’s Comix, It Ain’t Me, Babe, and Arcade. The couple had two sons namely; Jeffrey and John.

After the death of his first wife, he married his second wife, Liz Wrightson, through whom he inherited a stepson called Thomas Adamson.

• 2. Price

The famous entertainer has won a plethora of awards and nominations in his career some of which include the 1972 Shazam Award in the drama division for Best Cartoonist. He also won the same award in 1973 for Best Individual Story as well as Best Inker. Bernie Wrightson was nominated for the 1973 Goethe Award, but won it as Favorite Professional Artist the following year when the name of the award was changed to Comic Fan Art Award.

Along with Jim Starlin, Bernie received the 1986 Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award for his efforts in Heroes for Hope and in 1987 he won an Inkpot Award. At the HP Lovecraft Film Festival held in 2007 in Portland Oregon, the veteran illustrator won the HP Lovecraft Award AKA “Howie”. He is also the winner of the 2012 National Cartoonists Society award in the comics category. For his work spanning over 45 years, Bernie Wrightson received the 2015 Inkwell Prize Special Recognition Award.

• 3. Notable works

The illustrator’s major works include co-creation of Swamp Thing, his illustration work on the adaptation of the novel titled Frankenstein and his other horror comics and illustrations which include House of secrets and House of Mystery which featured his brush, as well as his trademark complex pen

• 4. Net worth

Prior to his demise, Bernie Wrightson amassed a total net worth of $1.2 million from his writing as well as his stint in other areas of the entertainment industry. His annual income has never been made public, but he earned a good salary during his lifetime.

• 5. His disappearance

An announcement of the illustrator’s retirement came in 2017, Bernie Wrightson himself said he needed a rest from his battle with cancer, hence the retirement. He finally died in Austin Texas on March 18, 2017 at the age of 68. His death was confirmed by his widow, Liz, who revealed that his cause of death was brain cancer.