Best of 2023 :: Published/Unpublished Other

Wrightson Creepy 75 Frontispiece

Owner: Mark Howland
Artists: Bernie Wrightson (Penciller) , Bernie Wrightson (Inker)

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Additional Images:

Creepy Back - I love how Wrightson spent more time with the hittee as opposed to the hitter.

Published Creepy 75 Frontispiece

Creepy Close-up

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Artwork Details

Title:	Wrightson Creepy 75 Frontispiece
Artist:	Bernie Wrightson (Penciller)
Artist:	Bernie Wrightson (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Prelim
Views:	681
Likes on CAF:	11 12
Added to Site:	5/10/2023

Description

How cool is it to see an artist’s pencil and ink work in process? This illustration is so close to the published frontispiece from Warren’s Creepy Magazine #75 in 1975 and reprinted in Creepy Presents Bernie Wrightson in 2011 that I wonder why Wrightson abandoned it.

If you have a theory, lay it on me. (Perhaps because of a subsequent decision to use zipatone on Uncle Creepy’s tux?) In any event, Wrightson was a perfectionist, and who knows what little thing might have bothered his eye.

Should you wish to compare, check out the 1975 published frontispiece below. The noticeable differences between the two are essentially facial - the mole on Uncle Creepy’s nose, the makings of a smile, the appearance of a little less hair and rounder forehead, and his looking off to his left.

I actually prefer this partially-inked version where Wrightson invested considerable time in the textured, shaded linework of Uncle Creepy’s face and hair and where he chose to have the Uncle stare directly at the viewer. Although his expression in this image is less demented than the published one, it is more enigmatic. What the heck is Creepy thinking?

Creepy indeed. Thanks to Bechara of Nostalgic Investments!

P.S. I’ve decided that Wrightson enjoyed drawing buttons. Check out Creepy’s sleeve. Also check out a number of the Frankenstein plates.

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About the Owner

	Mark Howland Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	December 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	howmark
Website:	http://www.comicartfans.com
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Mark's Classifieds Mark's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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