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Post by MDG on Jan 31, 2017 8:49:00 GMT -5
On his Facebook page, Bernie and his wife announced that due to his ongoing health problems, he's no longer able to work.
The announcement:
Dear Fans and Friends,
I apologize for our silence for the past few months. Last November Bernie began falling again, and having obvious problems with perception. He had to undergo yet another brain surgery to relieve bleeding, and then spend several weeks undergoing in-patient rehabilitation. Unfortunately, it appears that he has lasting damage: he has extremely limited function on his left side, and is unable to walk or reliably use his left hand, among other limitations.
We have had to come to the sad conclusion that he is now effectively retired: he will produce no new art, and he is unable to attend conventions. Should this situation change I will happily announce it here.
He can still sign his name (in fact he was signing Kickstarter prints in the hospital!), and is otherwise pretty healthy and has good cognition. We expect to continue releasing signed prints, and offering occasional pieces of art for sale from the collection that remains. We both thank all of you for your continuing support and good wishes!
All our best, Liz and Bernie Wrightson
I'll just add that Bernie was a big reason I got back into mainstream comics in the early 70s. I met him several times at conventions from '74 to 2000 or later and he's always been friendly and open with his fans.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2017 9:08:46 GMT -5
Best Swamp Thing ArtistAnd, a favorite of mine for years and years! ... Thanks Bernie for your contributions to our Comic Community!
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Jan 31, 2017 9:40:01 GMT -5
Bernie Wrightson .... got me to try a Punisher comic (Punisher POV #1-4), drew the first amazing encounter between an Alien and Batman (Batman/Aliens #1-2), drew the best Swamp Thing with the best Swamp Thing writer Len Wein (Swamp Thing #1-10/Roots of the Swamp Thing #1-5/Swamp Thing: Dark Genesis TPB), one of my favorite Starlin/Wrightson collaborations; Batman: The Cult #1-4; collection of reprinted stories in Berni Wrightson: Master of the Macabre #1-5, a great fantasy story in 1111 #1 ... to name a few I can remember off the top of my head I've read. Everyone a stunning masterpiece...a visual delight
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Post by Warmonger on Jan 31, 2017 10:21:27 GMT -5
Best horror artist in comics history IMO.
Great, great career.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 31, 2017 12:28:12 GMT -5
I've always loved Wrightson's work, even though horror isn't really my cup of tea. However, when I was working at Barnes & Noble and we got int the new edition of his Frankenstein and saw those illustrations..........
words can't describe it. I had seen bits and pieces; but, the sum total was amazing!
And, lest we forget, he was a dab hand at humor, as witnessed in his Captain Sternn.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2017 15:50:22 GMT -5
Sad, sad day. Bernie's work and legacy are monumental, and I hope his health improves so he can enjoy his retirement. I wish I could have gotten the rest of Frankenstein Alive, Alive form him and Steve Niles, but I will treasure what of his work we have gotten. Best of luck moving forward Bernie.
-M
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,874
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Post by shaxper on Jan 31, 2017 21:20:32 GMT -5
I think one of the hardest things about being a classic comics fan in this decade is that so many of the legends are getting up there in age. It really hurts to watch our heroes succumb to the kinds of diseases and conditions that are only supposed to affect we mere mortals. Wrightson isn't supposed to get frail; Wrightson is supposed to continue forever.
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Post by Phil Maurice on Jan 31, 2017 22:01:35 GMT -5
Wrightson is supposed to continue forever. Not to worry, Shax. He assuredly will.
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Feb 1, 2017 10:24:00 GMT -5
I've always loved Wrightson's work, even though horror isn't really my cup of tea. However, when I was working at Barnes & Noble and we got int the new edition of his Frankenstein and saw those illustrations.......... words can't describe it. I had seen bits and pieces; but, the sum total was amazing! And, lest we forget, he was a dab hand at humor, as witnessed in his Captain Sternn. I had forgotten about Captain Sternn. And did enjoy it for the fun and Sternn's personality. Reminded me of Captain Zapp Brannigan on Futurama by the time I had discovered this gem of a comic. I also forgot he did The Weird from when I made my first post in the thread. Another great Starlin/Wrightson collaboration.
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