Colouring Bernie Wrightson Monsters
The late Bernie Wrightson is one of those ink artists that just dazzles with his work. From composition to lighting to his glee in creating scenes of horror, they’re images that reward the viewer as you follow every line.
In 1974, he produced The Monsters Colour-the-Creature Book, with accompanying poems by Phil Seuling.
The front cover, colour by Wrightson
Page 1
Page 2
The Vampire
In quietness and damp
(Shaking off a muscle cramp)
Count Anemia arises from his tomb!
He has slept away the years,
Now he rises, like our fears,
To bring us nightly dread of bat-winged doom!
Listening to the whispers sinister
Of this Transylvanian minister,
Your heart hangs in your bosom hard and chillingly!
Then hypnotic eyes will glower,
For the horror of his power
Is that every bloodless corpse was taken willingly!
Page 12
Goblins
You are flying homeward madly
Frightened badly,
Goblins want you, so you run!
You can see them very plainly
Smile insanely
As they point at you for fun!
They have mischief to be doing—
Evil brewing!
You can sense it in the air!
You are filled with wild emotions,
Gruesome notions!
Faster! Get away from there!
But the truth, alas! is brutal,
It is futile!
Though you lose them as you flee,
They’ll be there anticipating,
Hidden! Waiting!
When you’re home and think you’re free!
Page 16
Swamp Creature
He staggers as he stalks,
Decaying while he walks,
Through the swamp,
The fetid swamp,
And he wonders as he goes.
Is he human? Is he dead?
Questions fester in his head,
In the swamp,
The heaving swamp,
The only home he knows.
Is he man or beast, or both?
Or some foul, malignant growth
From the swamp,
The clammy swamp?
There is pain with every breath!
Is this life, to be alone,
Putrefying flesh and bone,
In the swamp,
The morbid swamp?
Then he wishes, prays for death!
Page 16, colour by Wrightson
The back cover, colour by Wrightson
Related
Swamp Thing No. 6 Cover by Bernie Wrightson
A clockwork horror, a badass robot, and Swamp Thing is as perplexed as ever. New colour by Scott Dutton/Catspaw Dynamics.
Chamber of Darkness No. 7 Cover by Bernie Wrightson
Wrightson emerged as the 1960s ended. With a lush and expressive illustration style strongly influenced by EC Comics of the 1950s, he didn't stay long at Marvel before settling in at DC. Colour by Scott Dutton.
House of Mystery No. 231 Cover by Bernie Wrightson
Wrightson had proved himself on the groundbreaking Swamp Thing, and was about to move onto bigger things. Still, he had time to do a few more covers, including this one.
DC Special Series No. 2 Swamp Thing Cover by Bernie Wrightson
The late Bernie Wrightson returned to Swamp Thing in 1977 to draw this cover for a book reprinting the early stories. Colour by Scott Dutton / Catspaw Dynamics.
Very nice work, Scott. I like the double shadow on the ground — nice touch. And the hard shadow on the face. I wonder what Bernie’s doing these days?
Thanks, Phil.
To be honest, I don’t know what Wrightson is up to. His fb page is fan dominated, and his website says it’s returning in 2011.
There is the Captain Sternn CG video that’s coming, and he does appear on camera to help promote it.
Beautiful Job, Scott! You certainly have a way with color.
I wrote and animated a short fairy tale and illustrated it in Black and White a while ago. You might like it too!
It’s kind of dark and creepy, but has a good message! Here it is.
A very interesting story, Ruth. It’s a great way to reach kids with an important message.
These are marvelous! And I want to see that Kane story on the big screen! Heck, I want to see all of the Kane stories as films, with Purefoy in the lead. Great work, Scott!
Thanks, Khanada.
At least with Solomon Kane we’ll finally get a Region 1 DVD out of the limited North American release.
Wow!