The following is an interview with Shannon Eric Denton, John Wrightson, and Dan Willett regarding the upcoming release of Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein soft vinyl figure with Monster Forge Productions and Unbox Industries. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Denton, Wrightson, and Willett about the genesis behind the development process for the figure, the lasting impact of Bernie Wrightson’s body of work, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: At San Diego Comic-Con this year, Monster Forge Productions announced its partnership with Unbox Industries for the release of Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein soft vinyl figure. What can you share with us about the genesis behind this collaboration?
Shannon Eric Denton: As friends to the Wrightsons and a huge fan myself, I’ve wanted this figure for as long as I can remember and while I’ve worked for just about every toy company, producing one completely on our own was new territory. Award-winning toy designer James Groman and I had been working on some projects, one of them being this figure and we knew we wanted John (also award-winning) to sculpt it. Fortunately for all of us, James suggested Dan at Unbox as the missing component. We’re very fortunate Dan loved the idea as much as we did. So, shoutout to James for helping us finally set this in motion.
Dan Willett: I have to credit Mikey Bonano as the visionary behind this opportunity. He was the first person to reach out with rumblings of the project and subsequently put me in touch with James. James passed the baton on to John and the rest is history so to speak!
John Wrightson: Shannon is one of the first individuals I met before moving to LA and he’s been a good friend of the family since then.
He was the first one to discuss with me the idea of honoring dad by producing a statue of his version of the Frankenstein monster and, from there, I was introduced to Dan and the ball started rolling from there.
BD: John, how would you describe your creative process in designing and sculpting the figure?
JW: My creative process begins with initial conversations with the client, followed by researching what I’m working, in this case it was dad’s art and figuring out how we want to present that to the audience. From there, I build up the clay on an armature and interpret dad’s design into a three-dimensional figure.
BD: Likewise, John, do you find that there are similarities in creative styles between your and father’s work?
JW: Absolutely. You can’t help but be influenced by his style, especially growing up around it. I was always intrigued by his eye for detail and embellishment of forms and figure. Something about it made his work more memorable and stand out. I think he was a master of identifying those aspects of a character or design that stayed with you on an emotional level and I hope to do the same with my work.
BD: Why do you feel that Bernie Wrightson’s legacy remains so impactful to today’s creators and fans?
SED: In this sad world of AI, I think Bernie’s insane level of craftsmanship is more relevant than ever. So, whether you’re an old fan or someone just discovering Bernie’s Frankenstein, I think the impact of that work, both Bernie’s passion in the work and his passion for the source material, will be with you for the rest of your life.
DW: Bernie is one of those illustrators where you can’t help but pause and immerse yourself in his artwork. You can see the sheer passion on each page.
JW: What makes his work stand the test of time is the undeniable human, handcrafted quality to it. Every line of ink in his illustrations are all his, he took the time and effort to craft it by hand. There’s no digital trickery to it. The fact he illustrated the Frankenstein illustrations using materials and techniques exclusive to the time period when the book was written is true dedication to the craft and a great showcase of his abilities as a traditional artist.
BD: Attendees at SDCC this year were able to view a prototype of the Frankenstein Soft Vinyl Figure. What can you tell us about the specifics of the figure, and when is the figure slated for release?
SED: I’ll kick it over to Dan for the specifics on the figure, but I will share humorously that I about had a panic-attack transporting that soft clay from John’s house. Very glad it is digitally scanned now, as well!
DW: The figure will be produced in soft vinyl using a combination of processes that will guarantee that John’s sculpture is reproduced perfectly. If all goes well, we should see the figure released in the second quarter of 2027.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
SED: Aside from my utter excitement at getting this figure on my Frankenstein shelf, I’d say to keep checking the socials for all the comics and toys Monster Forge is working on.
DW: I would suggest your readers search online for images of the Frankenstein projects we produced with Junji Ito and Guillermo Del Toro if they are interested in seeing the workmanship we are hoping to achieve with John’s project.
JW: I’m currently working on several movies and TV shows that I can’t name at this time, but you can see some of my work on the latest season of The Walking Dead: Dead City and the new season of Cape Fear, both of which are streaming now. Also, keep an eye out for a new science fiction comedy called Sol Horowitz’s Guide to Extra Terrestrial Life, expected to release towards the end of the year.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way to pre-order the Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein soft vinyl figure, and how may we learn more about your work?
SED: Again, look for us here and follow Unbox for info on the figure. Also, please follow Nakatomi Inc. for all official Bernie Wrightson prints.
DW: Follow Unbox (@unboxindustries) on the usual social media channels for updates and the eventual pre-order announcement.
JW: You can view more of my work and updates through my instagram page (@wrightstuffdesign).
