Project: Wrightson

The 'two year' plan with Bernie Wrightson turns the corner as we begin Doc Macabre!

 As the fourth series with Bernie approaches I thought it would be fun to discuss the origins of what Bernie and I call the two year plan which is talking a little over 3 years now I think.

For those who don't know this already,  I have been a huge fan of Wrightson since I was a kid. And by fan I mean I was obsessed. For a kid tooling around in the 70's loving nothing but horror and comics, there was no better creator then Bernie Wrightson. He not only embraced horror, he embodied it.

 Years later I was lucky enough to meet Bernie at the Dallas Comic Con. He turned out to be not only a great guy but also my neighbor. Turned out we lived blocks apart and had for years. Go figure. 

 The first book we teamed up on was called CITY OF OTHERS. The series was published by Dark Horse. For this series Bernie tried something new; he drew out full pencils and from those Jose Villarrubia added color. It looked great and Bernie had the comic bug so one idea started folding into the next.

 The original idea for CITY OF OTHERS was that we would tell all these macabre-world, character driven stories, in OTHERS is was Stosh Bludowsk, a killer-for-hire who is dragged into the world of the supernatural. What Bernie and I planned then was that each 3-4 issue arc of OTHERS would focus on a new story that took place in the city and then slowly the characters would interact. Sorta building a monster world with Bernie Wrightson. Seriously, how cool is that?

 Unfortunately, as things will happen in comics, sales weren't what was expected and after 4 issues, the series was canceled. Luckily we'd finished the Stosh Bludowski story, the first chapter at least, and that was the end of that.

 Now we had all these ideas and no home. Enter Ted Adams and IDW. I told Ted what Bernie and I wanted to do, basically build a monster world with short stand-alone stories that live in the same world and eventually interact. I realize, of course, that this in itself no radical concept. Comics are built on Comics Universes…but this was with Wrightson.
 We started with DEAD, SHE SAID. It's an odd combination of elements; horror, crime, noir, 50's b-movies. I guess it's important to note here that Bernie and I collaborate one hundred percent. Nothing is written that hasn't been talk through over some nachos or a game of Scrabble. I love working from images Bernie creates or wants to create. DEAD, SHE SAID started with the notion of a private detective waking up dead and having to solve his own murder, as well as figure out how he's still conscious. To make things worse the detective has figure out how to stop his flesh from rotting off the bone before he solves the case. 
 Then Bernie says he wants to draw giant ants. "Not huge like the ants in THEM, but pitt bull size."

Sure. Why the Hell not?

 For this series Bernie decided he wanted to go back to inking, and the work is some of the best he's ever created. 

 The next series was THE GHOUL and here we finally begin to see the worlds intersect. There is a cameo by Coogan, the detective from DEAD, SHE SAID, but also a cameo by the character from next series DOC MACABRE.

 We are currently working on DOC MACABRE. Keeping it brief (because this much more then I intended on writing!) DOC MACABRE is about a boy genius who has no powers besides his brains and an intense curiosity of all things strange and supernatural. 

 We are just now completing issue two and tonight night is Scrabble night so Bernie and I can talk through the final issue. It's a great way to work, and I know how lucky I am. Every time I sit to write for Bernie the 12 year old kid in me still freaks out a little.

In Doc macabre there will be more appearances and even some new intros to characters and then Bernie and I will do what we've been leading up to; a group book staring al of the characters. The series will be called THE MOORPARK REJECTS. The group will feature The Ghoul, Coogan and Doc Macbre as they come together to take on their biggest challenge…

Anyway, there's some words and some pictures. Let me know if you like this kind of post and I'll try to do more like it. 

Thanks!

-Steve

For more Bernie Wrightson art visit his site @ http://www.wrightsonart.com/

And to buy any of the books mentioned above just hit my STORE

All art Copyright © 2010 Bernie Wrightson

Comments

[Brian Clark AKA Billy sidebyside]

thanks for getting Wrightson to do this kind of work again. you know how much I love his stuff. reading your stories with his art is awesome. really.

[Jared M]

Yes! I think posts like this are great.

Even though I keep my relationship with comics solely on the reading side, I am fascinated by the creation and the business behind them.

I am very happy about the work the two of you have been doing together. I'm bummed we didn't get more City of Others (special shout out for the coloring on the book, wow!), but thrilled about these new characters. I've always loved pulp detectives and noir, so Coogan is very much appreciated. The Ghoul is fantastic and I immediately welcomed him with open arms. He is a great character with a great look. Please keep him around for a long time. Doc Macabre is so different from the other two, I'm interested to see how he fits into this crazy little world that is taking shape.

Thanks for the stories, both silly and sinister, I enjoy reading them.

[Jeff Bonivert]

I very much enjoy this kind of back story stuff. I will return for more. Thanks.