Christopher Zavisa

As far as I know, my discovery of Berni (or, eventually, "Bernie") Wrightson began back around 1977 when, bored, I shelled out sixty cents for The Original Swamp Thing Saga that reprinted the first two issues of the comic. And, while I loved the story, it was easily Wrightson's art that blew me away. I read it, then I read it again, then I would go back and just stare at the artwork, page by page, panel by panel.

I'd never seen anything like it.

Five years later, I rediscovered him with his show more collaboration with Stephen King on his CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF.

By then, I was an absolute fan, and anywhere I could find something of his, I grabbed it. I still believe his best work is his illustrations for FRANKENSTEIN.

Interestingly, I had, until a few months ago, been completely unaware of this book, until I discovered it in the library of a friend. This book is mindblowing in so many ways.

First, this is literally only the first ten years of Wrightson's output—so he hadn't even gotten to that Stephen King book yet. And second, as I read this, eight years since he passed away, and something like 47 years since this book was published, it's mind-blowing to know what he accomplished after this.

There's so much of his art here! And what's better, almost all of it has some sort of commentary from him...whether what he was thinking, or why he abandoned it (and some of those are wonderful, even only half completed).

Just a gorgeous book by one of the premier talents of my generation. show less

This is a beautiful book, which features reproductions of hard-to-find early work by Wrightson. The narrative of Wrightson's budding career is fascinating.

Updated reissue of the 1979 edition. Limited signed editon of 300 numbered copies. signed by Berni(e) Wrightson, Christopher Zavisa, and Harlan Ellison. A great book on the history, life and illustrated work of Bernie Wrightson (up to around 1980). An updated volume 2 is greatly needed.... Frankenstein (1982) to present.