Berni Wrightson, Rest In Peace…

When I was very young, there were four works that influenced/inspired me.

For the movies, it was Steven Spielberg’s Duel, the first film I recall seeing and understanding, even at the very young age of 5 or so.  It helped that the film was essentially a silent movie!

For TV, there was the original Star Trek, then on its first wave of reruns. For comedy, there was Get Smart! For books, I recall being hospitalized with a kidney problem while very young and being given the very first of the many Hardy Boy books released and, though it was hard at the time, I read through it and that first step lead to me becoming a voracious reader and wanting to be a writer.

For Comic Books, it was Swamp Thing #10…

Image result for swamp thing #10

What I didn’t know when I bought that book at a drug store waaaaaaay back when was that this would be the last time Berni Wrightson illustrated his co-creation.

The book mesmerized me and made me realize comic books, like movies, like TV shows, and like books, could be works of art. It took me several years but over time I managed to get the other 9 issues of the run and found the pairing of Len Wein’s writing and Berni Wrightson’s illustrations among the absolute best runs of ANY comic book series.  To this day, it remains one of my very favorites.

When I managed, after a while, to work in the comic book field for a few years, I attended a North Carolina convention and, much to my regret, didn’t attend a “professionals” party given that first night. It proved to be my one and best chance of meeting Mr. Wrightson and, alas, I blew it.

Mr. Wrightson’s works had a HUGE influence on me and, to this day, Swamp Thing #10 remains my all time favorite comic book ever.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Wrightson.

While I’m sure many lavished you with praise for your work and your illustrations for Frankenstein are probably remembered the best by the most, it was your work on Swamp Thing that will forever remain in my mind.