Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein
Encyclopedia
Bernie Wrightson
's edition of Frankenstein
was first published in 1983 under the Marvel
imprint, and then again in 1994 under an actual novel-book imprint, with a new edition released by Dark Horse Comics
for the 25th anniversary.
." It includes an introduction by Stephen King
and from Wrightson himself. The illustrations themselves are not based upon the Karloff
or Lee films of old, but on the actual book's descriptions of characters and objects. Wrightson also used a period style, saying "I wanted the book to look like an antique; to have the feeling of woodcuts or steel engravings, something of that era" and basing the feel on artists like Franklin Booth
, J.C. Coll and Edwin Austin Abbey
.
Wrightson has said that it was an unpaid project:
For the 25th anniversary of the first edition in October 2008, a new edition was prepared and released by Dark Horse Comics
in an over-sized (9" x 12"), hardcover format scanned from the original artwork, when it could be tracked down.
Bernie Wrightson
Bernie "Berni" Wrightson is an American artist known for his horror illustrations and comic books.-Biography:...
's edition of Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel about a failed experiment that produced a monster, written by Mary Shelley, with inserts of poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Shelley started writing the story when she was eighteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty-one. The first...
was first published in 1983 under the Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
imprint, and then again in 1994 under an actual novel-book imprint, with a new edition released by Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
for the 25th anniversary.
Publication history
The edition itself is the full novel (1831 edition), with illustrations by Wrightson, also the co-creator of the comic book character "Swamp ThingSwamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
." It includes an introduction by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
and from Wrightson himself. The illustrations themselves are not based upon the Karloff
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor.Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein , Bride of Frankenstein , and Son of Frankenstein...
or Lee films of old, but on the actual book's descriptions of characters and objects. Wrightson also used a period style, saying "I wanted the book to look like an antique; to have the feeling of woodcuts or steel engravings, something of that era" and basing the feel on artists like Franklin Booth
Franklin Booth
Franklin Booth, was an influential American artist notable for his highly detailed pen-and-ink illustrations.-Biography:...
, J.C. Coll and Edwin Austin Abbey
Edwin Austin Abbey
Edwin Austin Abbey was an American artist, illustrator, and painter. He flourished at the beginning of what is now referred to as the "golden age" of illustration, and is best known for his drawings and paintings of Shakespearean and Victorian subjects, as well as for his painting of Edward VII's...
.
Wrightson has said that it was an unpaid project:
For the 25th anniversary of the first edition in October 2008, a new edition was prepared and released by Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
in an over-sized (9" x 12"), hardcover format scanned from the original artwork, when it could be tracked down.