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Content Items (9 total)

The Catacombs

Illustration on Cover, Front

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Colorist(s): Marie Severin

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (inset); The Crypt-Keeper (inset); The Old Witch (inset)

Reprinting

In Issue:

The Vault of Horror #5 published January 1982

In Content Item: Flag

Vault of Horror #27 published April 1999
as [untitled] [Illustration on Cover, Front]

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: The cover title was taken from the 3rd story in this issue, from which the cover is based.

Are You a Red Dupe?

Text Article on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Lyle Stuart; Bill Gaines

Penciller(s): Jack Davis

Inker(s): Jack Davis

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous, opinion

Character(s): Melvin Blizunken

Synopsis: This editorial illustrated page purports that the Communists are the ones trying to destroy the comic magazine industry, citing the Soviet "Daily Worker" newspaper and Dr. Frederick Wertham.

Reprinting

In Issue:

The Vault of Horror #5 published January 1982

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: Inside front cover.

Tongue in cheek editorial parody in an attempt to link efforts to destroy comics to Communists.

Writer credits from Lyle Stuart himself, during an interview by Bill Spicer in Squa Tront (Fantagraphics, 2002 series) #12 (2007); and from Grant Geissman's book, Tales of Terror!: The EC Companion (Fantagraphics, 2000 series), who lists the writer as Bill Gaines; as well as Frank Jacobs' The MAD World of William M. Gaines (Carol Publishing Group, 1973 series) notes that Gaines worked with Stuart on the piece. Original indexer credited Albert B. Feldstein ? or Bill Gaines ?.

Any Sport in a Storm

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Colorist(s): Marie Severin

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Drusilla [cameos]; Lon Shannon; Timothy O'Rourke

Synopsis: Lon made his way along the beach and past Smuggler's Caves as the stormy night raged on, then entered Ratsmouth Inn when O'Rourke was caring members of Shannon's crew w/tales of stormy nights like this when Shannon lost his father at sea, supposedly to the "Sea Hag." Shannon knocked Tim to the floor and told the others about a ship a mile off shore loaded down w/expensive goods, ripe for the taking. But only one volunteered to go w/Shannon, and the two cast off into the restless waters. Those waters threw them off course until they spotted a lighthouse and landed, meeting up w/the lighthouse operator and his daughter. Shannon made a move on the girl that night, then went to his partner and told him that they were leaving. They jumped in their boat and back into the water....water which began to tear the boat apart. Then suddenly, the girl came out from a lower part of the ship and came at him, wrapping her tentacles about him and throwing him into the water w/herself. Yes, Shannon found out too late that the stories of a Sea Hag were true!

Reprinting

In Issue:

The Vault of Horror #5 published January 1982

In Content Item: Flag

Iskalde Grøss #3/1992 published January 1992
as Havnevesenet! [Story on Interior Page(s)]

In Content Item: Flag

Vault of Horror #27 published April 1999
as Any Sport in a Storm [Story on Interior Page(s)]

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 8

Coffin Spell!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

Penciller(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Colorist(s): Marie Severin

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Janos; Nadyi

Synopsis: The two men finished digging up a corpse for Dr. Karolyi, but the man refused their efforts, so they went out to search for more bodies that the good doctor's students could use. They found a masoleum w/many bodies interred, so Nadyi left to get a larger wagon, leaving Janos there. Upon his return, Nadyi admonished Janos for falling asleep on the job, but the two grave robbers loaded the wagon to the hilt anyway and returned to their residence to await the next day to deliver the bodies. However, that evening, the coffins suddenly opened up and the corpses inside advanced on the surprised pair, who rushed out of the room and bolted the door. Nadyi told Janos that he knew what was happening....that the corpses were vampires. When asked how he knew, Nadyi, fangs bared, advanced on his partner, proving his point!

Reprinting

In Issue:

The Vault of Horror #5 published January 1982

In Content Item: Flag

Iskalde Grøss #3/1993 published January 1993
as På kistebunnen [Story on Interior Page(s)]

In Content Item: Flag

Vault of Horror #27 published April 1999
as Coffin Spell! [Story on Interior Page(s)]

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 7

Pinch!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Captain Pritchard; Borley

Synopsis: Pritchard had caught Borley going through his wallet and had determined to turn him over to the harbor Police when they got back to shore. So Borley, a three-time loser, struck the Captain over the head w/a lobster spike and dumped his body into the sea. Borley then sat back, had a few drinks and headed for port, vowing to sell the lobsters aboard and then take it on the lam. Greedily, he first lashed the wheel, then headed for the hatch to see how many lobsters he would be selling, but the ship pitched and in he fell. The lobsters set upon him, and as he lay there among them, being rended to death, he thought back to something he had said as he dumped the Captain's body overboard: "yer nuthin' but food fer the fishes!"

Reprinting

In Issue:

The Vault of Horror #5 published January 1982

In Content Item: Flag

Vault of Horror #27 published April 1999
as Pinch [Text Story on Interior Page(s)]

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

none

Advertisement on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Colorist(s): Marie Severin

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): E.C. Fan-Addict Club

Character(s): Melvin

Synopsis: Illustrated informational house-ad on how to join the club for only 50 cents.

Reprinting

In Issue:

The Vault of Horror #5 published January 1982

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Feature(s): The Vault-Keeper's Corner

Synopsis: VK's column contains all letters this time, from Michael Vecchio, Rhonda Phillips, Ron Montana, Ronald Merlo, Jim Hannah, Donna Bowers, Joseph Wagner Jr., Maragaret Anne Conner, S. Schwartzberg, Judy Ford and John Stanley. Subscriptions were also pushed along w/membership in the E.C. Fan-Addict Club.

Reprinting

In Issue:

The Vault of Horror #5 published January 1982

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

The Catacombs

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

Penciller(s): Bernie Krigstein [as B. Krigstein] (signed)

Inker(s): Bernie Krigstein [as B. Krigstein] (signed)

Colorist(s): Marie Severin

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten (except page 1); ? (page 1)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Pietro Miuta (villain, thief); Gino Alcari (villain, thief, death)

Synopsis: Pietro grabbed the sack of silver as Gino followed him out of the store and headed for their hideout. Deciding to hide the swag in the Catacombs, they took their wine w/them to mark a trail, and headed down into the eerie place. Reaching their desired spot, Pietro suddenly plunged a knife into the back of his partner, for his greed was too much. Grabbing the loot, he headed toward the exit, lamp in hand, became disoriented and hopelessly lost. He found his way back to Gino's body, and then......the lamp's light went out!

Reprinting

In Issue:

The Vault of Horror #5 published January 1982

In Issue:

B. Krigstein #1 published January 2002

In Content Item: Flag

Iskalde Grøss #5/1992 published January 1992
as Katakombene! [Story on Interior Page(s)]

In Content Item: Flag

Vault of Horror #27 published April 1999
as The Catacombs [Story on Interior Page(s)]

In Content Item: Flag

Messages in a Bottle: Comic Book Stories by B. Krigstein #[nn] published April 2013
as [untitled] [Illustration on Interior Page(s)]Page 6, panel 3 only

In Content Item: Flag

Messages in a Bottle: Comic Book Stories by B. Krigstein #[nn] published April 2013
as The Catacombs [Story on Interior Page(s)]

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 6

Notes: Gary Sadowski, in "Master Race and Other Stories", states in the introduction: "The splash page was originally laid out by Johnny Craig, but Krigstein asked for permission to break the opening into a series of panels, and sketched out what he had in mind. A reluctant Craig asked Bill Gaines for permission to do this and he agreed.....thus this is the only EC page ever completely laid out by Krigstein, and it was re-lettered according to Krigstein's specs."

Out of Sight...

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

Penciller(s): Graham Ingels

Inker(s): Graham Ingels

Colorist(s): Marie Severin

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (host); Mr. Evans [The Great Brain]; Benny; Hulda Larson

Synopsis: The circus barker began encouraging the crowd to pay to see the mental marvel of the age, the Great Brain, a man, once blindfolded, can identify any object being held up by his slow-witted partner, Benny. Then a mistake occurs and the Brain berates his partner privately, and Benny threatens to kill him. Benny then goes to see the only person who really cares and understands him: Hulda. But Evans catches them and Benny relents and goes back w/him, but still suffering through berating again and again. When Benny tells Evans that he and Hulda are going to wed, the Brain heads straight for her. Benny follows and finds Hulda in Evan's arms, not understanding that Evans is forcing her to his will. A few minutes later, Benny exits the tent and addresses the crowd, lifting a red oozing mass up for the people to see, and tells them: "Here is the one and only....Great Brain!"

Reprinting

In Issue:

The Vault of Horror #5 published January 1982

In Content Item: Flag

Iskalde Grøss #7/1992 published January 1992
as Hjernedød [Story on Interior Page(s)]

In Content Item: Flag

Vault of Horror #27 published April 1999
as Out of Sight... [Story on Interior Page(s)]

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 7