Swamp Thing #1 Unfinished Splash Page by Bernie Wrightson (1972)

Oh, that's just some gorgeous looking vintage Wrightson linework right there.  I'm all kinds of jealous.

I think your image is better than the published. Congrats!

The detail is simply incredible. Congratulations on an amazing Wrightson piece.

I wonder if Bernie realized after inking the figure that perhaps he had drawn the arms too lacking in mass and decided to redraw it for that reason. It's fun to speculate in the case of these unpublished pieces, though also pointless, given there is no way to ever know for sure. But we're still left with an amazing work of art from the artist's prime, so that is ultimately all that matters. Big kudos for adding this to your collection, Rick!

Wrightson's horror sensibilities and artistic acumen uses lush inks as a means to suggest the textures of the sinewy roots and musculature of vegetation covered in smooth moss which bring about the splendor of nature and life finding a way.  He imbues a spirit that is misshappened and tortured in appearance and within for this Swamp Thing that exists to find its purpose like the rest of us.  

Super clean yet moody inks on this fantastic piece!  Strange he would abandon it --- I don't detect any flaws

I'm surprised that, other than Swamp Thing himself, so little is penciled in on the page.  It's amazing if Wrightson was taking the inks to this level of finish with so little preparation at the pencil stage

Righteous!

Wrightson's unfinished work can look better than most people's finished. This piece is certainly proof of that!

I am so glad Wrightson did not throw this away and that CAF is around so that we all get to see it. Cheers!

great pièce - congratulations !!

This is fantastic!  Great ST image by the master at the height of his considerable powers.  Huge congrats!!

The final version, with ST turned away from us, seems tonally right, but this one is a nicer drawing. I want it.

Monumental piece!  What a great Swamp Thing image and early Wrightson no less, wow!  Congrats Rick!

This may be an unfinished page but I don't find anything about this image unfinished to me. GREAT era piece of Bernie's art. Congrats - thanks for sharing!

Swampy's looking back at Wrightson, saying, "yeah, you'd better finish me..." There's not much cooler in this hobby than Wrightson Swamp Thing artwork. A gorgeous piece. Huge congrats!

That's amazing! So little of it's done, yet so much detail. Beautiful!

Wow, congrats, Rick!  That trademark Wrightson line work clearly there!

Holy moley, Rick - most sincere congratulations on this mind-bending piece!  A Wrightson Swamp Thing?!?  Phew - that is rarified air, my friend, and VERY deserving of a spot of honor in your awesome collection.  I agree that yours is better than the published version; I love the detail of what is there - great shadows on the body, textures on the hands (wow!), but most especially on the face and shoulders.  Instantly recognizable and just as identifiable as a signature (which you ALSO have here).  Stunning piece, Rick, technically "finished" or not.  Beautiful.

Wow, scary good & this really works with my love for the unpublished, congrats!!

thank you for sharing this with us. this was a easy best of 2021 pick for me.

Wow! Wow! Wow! I just love this Swmp Thing splash, even though it's unfinished! Bernie Wirghtson was on fire when he drew Swamp Thing! Great pick-up!

A piece to be treasured!

Dang,I thought I commented on this but apparently not.This is a prime example of wrightsons masterpiece the "Swamp Thing".I almost pulled the trigger but looks like it found the right home ! It just ups your gallery ten fold Rick,congrats !

A piece you could ooh and aah at for many hours.

Strong , very strong!

Oh, I had missed this one! Perfect, absolutely perfect!

Amazing piece of comic book history!  Not to second guess the master but I like the unused figure better.

This is an incredible piece—owning a Bernie Wrightson original must be a dream come true. The mastery of light and shadow here is unmistakable.