Tales from the Crypt (book)
Encyclopedia
Tales from the Crypt is a mass-market paperback collection of eight horror comic stories gathered from the pages of the EC Comics
comic books of the 1950s. It is one of five such collections published by Ballantine Books
between 1964 and 1966 (the others are The Vault of Horror
, Tales of the Incredible
, The Autumn People
and Tomorrow Midnight
). The presentation of the material is problematic at best, since the color comic book pages are represented in black and white and broken into horizontal strips to fit the mass-market paperback format. Still, the collections are historically important. They were the first attempt to resurrect the EC comics, only a decade after public outcry had driven them off the racks. They were the first introduction of those comics to a generation of readers too young to remember them in their first run.
The stories are drawn from the comic books Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror and The Haunt of Fear
. The writer was not credited in the original publications but was probably Al Feldstein
, the editor of the books. The artists were such EC stalwarts as Johnny Craig, Reed Crandall
, Jack Davis
, George Evans, Feldstein and Graham Ingels
.
The cover painting by Frank Frazetta
, depicting the Crypt-Keeper reading in a moonlit cemetery, is original to this collection. Frazetta was himself an EC alumnus. This is one of his earliest horror covers, predating his iconic work for Warren Publishing
's Creepy
and Eerie
.
The screenplay of the Amicus Productions
motion picture Tales from the Crypt
(1972) was mainly derived from this collection.
EC Comics
Entertaining Comics, more commonly known as EC Comics, was an American publisher of comic books specializing in horror fiction, crime fiction, satire, military fiction and science fiction from the 1940s through the mid-1950s, notably the Tales from the Crypt series...
comic books of the 1950s. It is one of five such collections published by Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann AG in 1998 and remains part of that company today. Ballantine's logo is a...
between 1964 and 1966 (the others are The Vault of Horror
The Vault of Horror (book)
The Vault of Horror is a mass-market paperback collection of eight horror comic stories gathered from the pages of the EC Comics comic books of the 1950s. It is one of five such collections published by Ballantine Books between 1964 and 1966...
, Tales of the Incredible
Tales of the Incredible
Tales of the Incredible is a mass-market paperback collection of eight science fiction comic stories gathered from the pages of the EC Comics comic books of the 1950s. It is one of five collections published by Ballantine Books between 1964 and 1966...
, The Autumn People
The Autumn People
The Autumn People is a mass-market paperback collection of comic adaptations of eight short horror and crime stories by Ray Bradbury, gathered from the pages of the EC Comics comic books of the 1950s...
and Tomorrow Midnight
Tomorrow Midnight
Tomorrow Midnight is a mass-market paperback collection of comic adaptations of eight short science fiction stories by Ray Bradbury, gathered from the pages of the EC Comics comic books of the 1950s...
). The presentation of the material is problematic at best, since the color comic book pages are represented in black and white and broken into horizontal strips to fit the mass-market paperback format. Still, the collections are historically important. They were the first attempt to resurrect the EC comics, only a decade after public outcry had driven them off the racks. They were the first introduction of those comics to a generation of readers too young to remember them in their first run.
The stories are drawn from the comic books Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror and The Haunt of Fear
The Haunt of Fear
The Haunt of Fear was a bi-monthly horror comic anthology series published by EC Comics in 1950. Along with Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror, it formed a trifecta of popular EC horror anthologies. The Haunt of Fear was sold at newsstands beginning with its May/June 1950 issue...
. The writer was not credited in the original publications but was probably Al Feldstein
Al Feldstein
Albert B. Feldstein is an American writer, editor, and artist, best known for his work at EC Comics and, from 1956 to 1985, as the editor of the satirical magazine Mad. Since retiring from Mad, Feldstein has concentrated on American paintings of Western wildlife...
, the editor of the books. The artists were such EC stalwarts as Johnny Craig, Reed Crandall
Reed Crandall
Reed Crandall was an American illustrator and penciller of comic books and magazines. He was best known for the Quality Comics character Blackhawk and for stories in the critically acclaimed EC Comics of the 1950s.Crandall was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2009.-Early...
, Jack Davis
Jack Davis (cartoonist)
Jack Davis is an American cartoonist and illustrator, known for his advertising art, magazine covers, film posters, record album art and numerous comic book stories...
, George Evans, Feldstein and Graham Ingels
Graham Ingels
Graham Ingels was a comic book and magazine illustrator best known for his work in EC Comics during the 1950s, notably on The Haunt of Fear and Tales from the Crypt, horror titles written and edited by Al Feldstein, and The Vault of Horror, written and edited by Feldstein and Johnny Craig...
.
The cover painting by Frank Frazetta
Frank Frazetta
Frank Frazetta was an American fantasy and science fiction artist, noted for work in comic books, paperback book covers, paintings, posters, LP record album covers and other media...
, depicting the Crypt-Keeper reading in a moonlit cemetery, is original to this collection. Frazetta was himself an EC alumnus. This is one of his earliest horror covers, predating his iconic work for Warren Publishing
Warren Publishing
Warren Publishing was an American magazine company founded by James Warren, who published his first magazines in 1957 and continued in the business for decades...
's Creepy
Creepy
Creepy was an American horror-comics magazine launched by Warren Publishing in 1964. Like Mad, it was a black-and-white newsstand publication in a magazine format and thus did not require the approval or seal of the Comics Code Authority. The anthology magazine was initially published quarterly but...
and Eerie
Eerie
Eerie was an American magazine of horror comics introduced in 1966 by Warren Publishing. Like Mad, it was a black-and-white newsstand publication in a magazine format and thus did not require the approval or seal of the Comics Code Authority. Each issue's stories were introduced by the host...
.
The screenplay of the Amicus Productions
Amicus Productions
Amicus Productions is a British film production company, based at Shepperton Studios, England. It was founded by American producer and screenwriter Milton Subotsky and Max Rosenberg.-Horror:...
motion picture Tales from the Crypt
Tales from the Crypt (film)
Tales from the Crypt is a British horror movie, made in 1972 by Amicus Productions. It is an anthology film consisting of five separate segments, based on stories from EC Comics. Only two of the stories, however, are actually from EC's Tales from the Crypt...
(1972) was mainly derived from this collection.
Contents
- "Let the Punishment Fit the Crime" (Davis)
- "Dead Right" (Davis)
- "The High Cost of Dying" (Crandall)
- "Reflection of Death" (Feldstein)
- "Poetic Justice" (Ingels)
- "Whirlpool" (Craig)
- "Blind Alleys" (Evans)
- "And All Through the House" (Craig)