The History of Sideshow: Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein

Sideshow celebrates 30 years of collectibles and community in 2024. In those three decades, we have remained dedicated to evolving the experience of storytelling through collectible sculpture, fine art, and more. This milestone would not be possible without the passion of countless fans, artists, and all-around geeks sharing their fandom, talents, and passion for pop culture over the years.

To commemorate our 30th Anniversary, we want to spotlight some of the significant moments from throughout Sideshow history. Whether you’ve been a part of the journey for every step or just recently decided to Let Your Geek Sideshow, you’re invited to take a walk down memory lane with us. Today, we want to spotlight one of the first ever Sideshow collectibles that came to life many years ago and set the stage for the decades of creativity that followed.

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Party Like It’s 1997

Sideshow has always had horror in its lifeblood — in fact, one of the very first products under the “Sideshow Inc.” brand name was a model kit from 1997 of Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein. This vinyl monster model kit was “stitched together in 1/8th scale” and represented a bold evolution in the trajectory of the company, helping to shape us into what we are today.

“Ambition never scared us,” Sideshow CCO Tom Gilliland explained of this exciting project’s origins. “Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein model was a massively indulgent project for the time, daring to be creative in new and challenging ways. But it was also hugely collaborative, which became a signature of the Sideshow process.”

Prior to this project, the team members at Sideshow mainly specialized in prototyping and drafting maquettes for other creative industry outlets, including film and toy development. With backgrounds in special effects, model making, graphic design, and other artistic pursuits, the team shared their passion for pop culture and combined their talents into exciting new collectibles and figures. And while staples of the modern Sideshow brand like Premium Format™ Figures and custom framed fine art prints were still evolving, the artists in the studio always looked to push the limits of visual storytelling from day one.

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Model Kits and Mad Science

The contemporary landscape for collectible garage kits, or scaled, unpainted figure assembly model kits, was predominantly resin figures at this point in time. But fans took notice of the transition to polyvinyl made with this Frankenstein diorama, which was sculpted with fully realized characters interacting with one another in a detailed environment scene. The team behind the model kit worked tirelessly to engineer the piece in a manner that could be distributed to hobbyists while still maintaining the integrity and intricacy of the overall design.

“There was very little comparable to this piece in the marketplace at the time,” Gilliland added. “The scale of this project was quite large and showed collectors there was no ceiling on these sorts of artistic possibilities. [Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein] showcased a licensed collaboration between artists and makers that would pave the way for Sideshow collectibles for years to come.”

Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein Model Kit was advertised as “horrifically detailed” and “ready to bring to life” for hobby artists and collectors. The piece, which came unassembled and unpainted, was extremely elaborate and consisted of two humanoid figures, Victor Frankenstein and his reanimated creation, plus the complex diorama of the scientist’s laboratory complete with rats, skulls, and other creepy details. A prototype was fully assembled and painted in-house to create graphics for promotion and advertising.

Sideshow’s Evolving Artistic Process

“We hired a professional photographer to do a shoot of the finished piece and created a full-color graphic box for the packaging. We treated it with the same reverence and excitement as if we were working on a Star Wars™ movie,” Gilliland added playfully.

Current Sideshow CMO Robin Selvaggi was actually responsible for designing the final packaging for the piece, using the photography that was taken of the painted prototype. Not only has the artistic process evolved over the years, but so has the technology surrounding it. She explained, “Creating the box for that model kit was a beast. At the time, technology was not as fast or as efficient as it is now. Thus, when I had to rotate an art panel in Photoshop, it literally took 10 minutes to render a move. There was a lot of time to stretch, snack, and go pour some molds in the shop!”

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Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein

At the core of the project was Bernie Wrightson’s iconic art and influence, as well as direct collaboration. To the Sideshow team at the time, this was an opportunity to celebrate a legendary artist whose work they loved. This project helped to create a working relationship between the studio and another established professional, giving rise to a collaborative experience that would continue to develop over the next three decades at Sideshow.

The late Wrightson was a titan among horror illustrators, known for co-creating DC’s Swamp Thing. He frequently created illustrated adaptations and other transformative works of well-known horror literature, including stories by Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and Stephen King. But among the most celebrated was his illustrated edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which took Wrightson several years to complete before its release in 1983.

Wrightson’s vision of the monster stands firmly among the pantheon of pop culture depictions of this tragic figure, and the illustrations were meant to evoke a sense of woodcuts or steel engravings. About 50 pen and ink illustrations were conceived for the book’s release, although not all were able to be included in the original release. Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein is considered to be his opus and remains universally regarded as one of the most compelling visualizations of the Mary Shelley novel.

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Making the Monster

While there was a wealth of reference for Sideshow’s team to pull from, the collaboration with Wrightson took on added dimensions (literally) as the team developed the sculptural work. “Bernie did additional drawings to substantiate the figure work as we developed the three-dimensional sculpt,” Gilliland explained. “This collaboration involved conjuring new details and aspects of a scene he hadn’t previously focused on.” The model kit’s release even included an exclusive fine art print of the original concept drawing that formed the basis for the sculpture.

This release was Wrightson’s first official vinyl model kit, for which he was credited as the concept designer. The figures of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his creation were sculpted by Dan Platt while the diorama scene, an eccentric 19th-century laboratory with a “bio-electrical” vat of creation, was sculpted by Mat Falls. The overall production was art directed and designed by Ken Morgan, and Tom Gilliland painted the finished kit. David Bassett photographed the model for promotion and the full-color art box was created by Robin Selvaggi.

The love and care put into this project represented Sideshow planting a significant flag in the horror collectible landscape. But it also inspired thoughts toward the future of what the collecting experience could be. “We knew that fans loved horror, but it also made us consider how we could further the experience for collectors at home,” Gilliland pointed out. “We realized there was a space for pre-painted, finished goods that could be easily unboxed and display ready.” That inkling would become the founding basis as Sideshow moved further into connecting audiences with the characters they love.

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Call to Order

For fans who wanted to order the product back in 1997, Sideshow produced an advertising pamphlet featuring recent releases that collectors would have to call in to order. Yes, that’s right — in the days before a fully shoppable Sideshow.com, there was a direct phone line to place orders for these limited-edition treasures.

Collectors would then mail in their payment with the attached order slip on the pamphlet. The standard retail price for this model kit was $130 USD plus shipping and handling. Sideshow additionally offered multiple zombie model kits based on Wrightson’s designs.

Individual prints of Wrightson’s concept art as well as a movie poster-styled image of the model kit were also available for individual purchase at the time, and the model kit itself included an offer for a complimentary print. How’s that for a piece of Sideshow history?

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Frankenstein’s Future and Beyond

Sideshow’s release of Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein Model Kit was a thesis statement for the company’s continued evolution over three decades. This close collaboration with a celebrated artist paved the way for future Artist Series projects, including releases with J. Scott Campbell, Adi Granov, Adam Hughes, Olivia De Berardinis, and more.

It also inspired a continued push into more officially licensed horror, driving Sideshow towards icons like Universal Monsters, cult classics like The Lost Boys and Beetlejuice, plus plenty of celebrated slashers over the years. Horror and the undead are still quite alive within our walls and on the shelves of a global collecting community. Sideshow has even taken on original horror concepts, from the fantastically macabre Court of the Dead to our own original depictions of famous monsters.

Recently, Sideshow debuted a new Frankenstein’s Monster Statue, which draws inspiration for the tragic creation from a number of sources — classic literature and film included. But of course, Bernie Wrightson’s unforgettable design remains a guiding compass for what is possible with this iconic monster. Inspiration and innovation remain the spirit behind each new Sideshow release, driving us to continue pushing the limits of visual storytelling.

That original painted prototype of Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein Model Kit pictured in this article has proudly remained on display within the Sideshow studio for many years. It still serves as an inspiration and a testament to the spirit of artistic collaboration and the power of pop culture. This piece of our history reminds us of what is possible with a little teamwork, a passionate vision, and a healthy dose of mad science.

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Stay Connected

Join us for a yearlong celebration during Sideshow’s 30th Anniversary! All throughout 2024, we’ll be celebrating with new reveals, deals, giveaways, and more. Brush up on your Sideshow history by following us on social media and staying subscribed to the official Sideshow Newsletter — the best place to get your first look at the exciting future of collectibles.

Do you own the Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein Model Kit? Or maybe you’re thinking now of pre-ordering the highly limited new Frankenstein’s Monster Statue? Share your love of horror with us and other geeks in our Let Your Geek Sideshow Facebook Group or on the Sideshow Social Network.

And as always, don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!