The Weird

Sadly comic book artist Bernie Wrightson passed several years ago.  He is know primarily for his work on DC Comics Swamp Thing, a score of DC covers, black and white work for Warren publications and his incredible Frankenstein portfolio.

Wrightson’s style captivated the imagination of comic book fans.  His use of fluid ink lines, amazing mastery of light and shadow and an eye for detail made him a fan favorite.

As Bernie grew older his eyesight began to fail him and its shows in his later work.  Still, the ‘Wrightson flair’ was always present, even in the last few years of his life.

In 1988 Bernie, along with fellow artist Dan Green and writer Jim Starlin, introduced a unique character to the DC Universe appropriately called The Weird.

A man conjures up a crimson jewel for nefarious reasons.  The energy within it escapes and draws the attention of Superman, Batman and the rest of the Justice League.

Nothing they do seems to stop its unknown progress.  To everyone’s surprise the energy enters the body of a recently deceased father and reanimates the corpse.

Dressed in a strange black and red garb the figure is slightly distorted and possesses more power than the Justice League combined.

The Justice League tries to subdue the being only to be easily brushed aside and the figure streaks away to the home of man whose body it possesses and encounters the man’s young son.

Wrightson turned in some incredible art, especially of the members of the Justice League.  The story contains elements of the supernatural (a Wrightson specialty) and lots of action.

Jim Starlin’s script keeps readers guessing and combined with Wrightson’s and Green’s artwork The Weird makes for an entertaining read.

I only wish that The Weird was used more in DC Comics.  He’s a unique character with a supernatural flair that would fit well both in the traditional superhero genre and the darker supernatural realms of DC.

The entire mini-series can be bought for about 10 bucks in near mint condition.