Batman: The Cult #1 - Bernie Wrightson art & cover
Batman: The Cult #1, 1988 - Jim Starlin begins writing his first Batman mini-series. On this assignment, he relinquishes the artistic chores to another bronze age great, Bernie Wrightson. The two had previously teamed up as writer and artist on the Hulk/Thing graphic novel only a year before. Wrightson, who rarely had the chance to illustrate Batman during the 1970s, finally gets his chance. The forty-plus page count enables him plenty of room to improvise layout design and pacing. His brushwork is looser than previous works, and lacks definition in some panels. Interestingly, when characters narrate the past, he omits his signature shadows and modeling. The artwork overall has a painterly feel thanks to colorist Bill Wray. Of the two splash pages, the opening scene of a haunted house is Wrightson at his best. The back cover reprints interior panels. This is number 1 of 4 Batman The Cult issues with Wrightson art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Wrightson or Batman: The Cult issues. See also this blog's Wrightson checklist or Top 10 Wrightson comics.
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Wrightson painted cover = ***
"Ordeal" Wrightson story pencils and inks 45 pages = ***
Wrightson inside back cover and facing page pencils and inks = **
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2 comments to date:
Just recently found your blog & is now one of my favorites.
I heard that Wrightson got carpal tunnel from working on "Frankenstein" & would explain his "diminished inking skills" on the Cult & everything after.
I do agree that Redondo probably had less involvement with Rima #7 as previously thought.
Probably ghosted by various Redondo Studio artists?
My two all time favorite comics, at least from the point of view of the art,
are Steranko's story from Tower Of Shadows #1 & P.Craig Russell's original Dr. Strange Annual.
I consider these masterpieces.
I take it you're not a fan of P.Craig Russell's art? I'd love to see your review of the Dr. Strange Annual.
Also would like your review of Arthur Suydam's obscure early efforts on House Of Secrets #119 "Carnival Of Dwarfs" & House Of Secrets #131 "Island of Crawling Flesh".
Thank you for turning me on to great books I wasn't aware of. And keep up the great work!
My "Top 10 Steranko issues" post puts his Tower of Shadows issue at the top, so I'm in agreement there.
Regarding P. Craig Russell, his bronze age work (including Dr. Strange annual #1) is not among my favorites. He struggled to find his voice while being too much influenced by Barry Windsor Smith. Over the next decade, his art vastly improved, and I was impressed whenever I came across it (Sandman #50 is a masterwork that comes to mind). I think his work mid-1980s onward is terrific, including his story adaptations, and he remains one of the most distinctive artists today. Thanks for your comments and please continue to share your opinions.
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