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Content Items (65 total)

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Illustration on Cover, Front

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Blank Page(s) on Interior Page(s)

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Notes: Illustration of a skull on the ground.

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Credits on Interior Page(s)

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Letterer(s): typeset

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Table of Contents on Interior Page(s)

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Pages: 2

Introduction

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword on Interior Page(s)

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Penciller(s): ? (illustration)

Inker(s): ? (illustration)

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Letterer(s): typeset

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Pages: 2

Foreword

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword on Interior Page(s)

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Colorist(s): ? (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

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Pages: 1

[untitled]

Illustration on Interior Page(s)

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Pages: 1

Sink-hole!

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)

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Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (inset); The Old Witch (inset); The Crypt-Keeper (inset); Aldous Barstow (corpse); Shirley Barstow; Rick Hudson

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Pages: 1

Notes: The cover title taken from the 1st story in the issue, from which the cover is based.

Look For This Seal...

Advertisement on Interior Page(s)

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Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Association of Comics Magazines Publishers

Synopsis: Ad promoting the seal of approval for comic magazines.

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Pages: 1

Sink-Hole!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Aldous Barstow; Rick Hudson (health inspector); Shirley Barstow (villain, wife of Aldous, death)

First Line: Well, well, well...

Synopsis: A lonely woman, who had joined a lonely hearts club, accepts a marriage proposal by mail, but when she meets him, he is actually much older than she had realized. After she meets the new area health inspector, Rick Hudson, and falls for him, she murders her husband and dumps him into the well on their property so she can carry on a romance with Hudson. Then she discovers that Hudson is married and leaving town. Disappointed beyond hope, she goes over to the well to draw some water to quench her mounting thirst and gets a REAL surprise!

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Pages: 8

Notes: Colors were previously attributed to Marie Severin, but it is unlikely that Severin had begun coloring at EC when this issue was colored (Cassell 2012, 33–34 and 171).
_________
Reference:

Cassell, Dewey, with Aaron Sultan. 2012. Marie Severin: The Mirthful Mistress of Comics. Raleigh: TwoMorrows Publishing.

Lend Me a Hand!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (cameo); Dr. Brown (Dr. Johnstone's assistant); Dr. Brown's nurse (cameo); a drunk (death); Dr. Harold Johnstone (villain, death)

First Line: H-m-m-ph!

Synopsis: Eminent physician Dr. Johnson is the victim of a car accident and loses his hand, which means his career is finished. After reading an article in a medical journal about keeping tissue alive by a chemical and mechanical apparatus, the doctor decides to kill a drunk to get a hand to replace the one he lost, with some very unfortunate results!

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Pages: 7

Notes: Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Colors were previously attributed to Marie Severin (see Indexer Notes for “Sink-Hole!,” above).

Trap

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

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Penciller(s): ? (spot illo)

Inker(s): ? (spot illo)

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Inspector Mattern

Synopsis: Inspector Mattern and Sergeant Finch were working homicide detail concerning four murders that had occurred under a full moon in the last four months. They laid a trap for the killer. As Mittern sat waiting to spring the trap, he looked up at the full moon and a strange tingling began coursing through his body....and he blacked out. When he awoke, he noticed a heavy weight on his chest, which he discovered to be Sgt. Finch. Then he noticed his hairy hands were covered in blood and realized that the trap he had set had worked and had caught the killer werewolf, and it turned out to be himself!

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Pages: 2

Notes: This text story was printed on the inner halves of the two pages, and to each side were EC house ads. One was for Weird Fantasy #1 [with a cover by Al Feldstein], and the other ad [with covers] promoted the Picture Stories From the Bible series: the Complete Old and New Testaments, the Old Testament #1-2 and the New Testament #1.

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Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (cameo)

Synopsis: In this issue's column, the VK first gives the reader voting results for the best tales from last issue, then discusses the requests for back issues of the VOH. He concludes the column by once again promoting the picture of himself [for 10 cents] and subscriptions to his mag.

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Pages: 1

The Mask of Horror

Story on Interior Page(s)

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Colorist(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (cameo); Ken Anders; Ander's fiancee; unnamed costume shop owner; unnamed woman vampire (villain, vampire, death)

First Line: I call this chilling tale...

Synopsis: Ken Anders stops off at an eerie costume shop to get a costume for a party, and the weird owner outfits him with a mask and costume that is supposed to represent his true self: that of a rotting corpse. His fiancée refuses to go to the party with him, so he leaves devastated. He puts the mask on and heads to the party, and meets a woman dressed as a vampire and falls for her. They head into the garden to unmask and he discovers she really is a vampire, who then attacks him. Anders drowns her in a lily pond....but then notes his reflection in the pond with terrifying results!

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Pages: 6

Notes: Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.
Based on the story "The Cloak" by Robert Bloch.

Dying to Lose Weight!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (cameo); Mrs. Van Klege (wealthy woman, death); Pierre (dress fitter); Tom Adkins (hen-pecked husband, death); Leena Adkins (Tom's wife); Sally Bates (death); Sally's mother; Charlie Street (death); Dr. Perdo (villain, death)

First Line: Hee, hee! Yes, it's me again!

Synopsis: In a small town populated by many fat people, a weird Dr. Perdo comes to town, offering to help those people through the use of a tiny weight-loss capsule. Four accept his offer and the capsule works on them to perfection. But then, the four people suddenly die horrible deaths, as if they had starved to death. Six months later, Perdo, in disguise, returns to the town, but is discovered and runs into the cemetery to hide in the mausoleum of one of his victims, where he comes face-to-face with the thing that had killed his victims: a giant tapeworm!

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Pages: 7

Notes: Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Colors were previously attributed to Marie Severin (see Indexer Notes for “Sink-Hole!,” above).

[untitled]

Illustration on Interior Page(s)

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Pages: 1

[untitled]

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)

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Writer(s): ?

Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron

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

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Pages: 1

Notes: The cover is based on the 4th story in the issue.

Colors were previously attributed to Marie Severin, but it is unlikely that Severin had begun coloring at EC when this issue was colored (Cassell 2012, 33–34 and 171).
_________
Reference:

Cassell, Dewey, with Aaron Sultan. 2012. Marie Severin: The Mirthful Mistress of Comics. Raleigh: TwoMorrows Publishing.

[untitled]

Promotional Material (from Publisher) on Interior Page(s)

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Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Two-Fisted Tales

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Reprint Notes: Promo ad for Two-Fisted Tales.

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Pages: 1

Southern Hospitality!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Claudia Jackson Scanlon (Arthur's wife); Mr. Jackson (Claudia's father, death); Martha Jackson (Claudia's aunt, death); Sebastian Cornelius Jackson (Claudia's great-grandfather, image only); Abner Scanlon (villain, a gigolo, death)

First Line: Heh, heh! Welcome to the Vault of Horror!

Synopsis: Abner Scanlon was a gigolo who disliked work and preyed on rich women. When he marries a young girl from one of the South's richest clans, he discovers that she has no money at all. Greedy for money, Abner sells the family's antique vase and begins living it up, leading to a violent outburst and Aunt Martha dying from a heart attack. When he removes great-great grandfather's picture out of a valuable frame in order to sell the frame, Claudia's father dies. Claudia later hears a scream from the attic, and enters to find Abner dead on the floor, pierced by a sword....

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Pages: 8

Notes: Some of the story is told in flashback.

Colors were previously attributed to Marie Severin (see Indexer Notes for this issue’s cover, above).

The Jellyfish!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Howard Norton (Charles' brother, business co-owner and chemist); Charles Norton (villain, business co-owner, death)

First Line: Here's a delighthful tale that I'm sure will make the hairs on the back of your neck crawl!

Synopsis: Charles and Howard Norton, of Norton's Pharmaceutical Company, are having an argument. It seems the company has received an order for one million hypodermic inserts for insulin, but can only make 500,000. Not wanting to lose the order, Charles muses that they could dilute each insert by half, and thereby still provide the one million inserts. Howard refuses, calling it criminal, and Charles calls him a spineless jellyfish! Charles dilutes them anyway and many patients die, with Howard going to jail. When he is released, Howard visits his brother, exacting his revenge in an unusual way.

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Pages: 7

Notes: Loosely inspired from Ray Bradbury's "The Skeleton," but this is an entirely new story.

Colors were previously attributed to Marie Severin (see Indexer Notes for this issue’s cover, above).

Two Raps!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): ? (spot illo)

Inker(s): ? (spot illo)

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Melvin Brigham

Synopsis: Consulting a medium, Melvin asks if he is to be doomed to the same death his uncle had suffered....and there were two raps, indicating yes. As he paid and prepared to leave, the medium told Melvin that she couldn't force the spirit back into the world beyond. Melvin thought the whole affair was clap trap as he hurried down the darkened road...that is until he kept hearing the low and mournful ghostly raps, and felt a definite choking sensation in his throat....as if some invisible being was strangling him to death. Brigham wailed in terror, "Can I be dying?" and the only answer was: two raps!

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Pages: 2

Notes: This text story appears on the inner halves of the two pages, with EC houses ads to either side. One side promotes Frontline Combat #1 [with a Harvey Kurtzman cover], while the other side promotes [with covers] the line of Picture Stories From the Bible: the Complete Old and New Testaments, the Old Testament #1-2 and New Testament #1.

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (head view)

Synopsis: The VK begins the column offering photos of ALL three Ghoulunatics for 25 cents, then follows up with last issue's story popularity poll results. Letters from Virgina Kessler, Jimmy Morgan and Charles K. Gloman III are printed as well.

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Daddy Lost His Head!

Story on Interior Page(s)

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Colorist(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (cameo); Martin Blackson; Kathy (his stepdaughter)

First Line: This is the story of the night that Kathy's...

Synopsis: Martin Blackson hates his stepdaughter Kathy because she reminds him of his wife's first husband. When Kathy meets neighbor Mrs. Thaumaturge, Martin intervenes and tells Kathy to leave that "witch" alone or she'll bake her in her oven! After Kathy's mother dies, Mrs. Thaumaturge gives Kathy a man-shaped candy doll. Although Kathy swears she'll never eat it, later while Martin cuts wood, Kathy bites the doll's left hand, then hears a scream as Martin has cut off his left hand. When he hears about the doll, Martin demands Kathy hand it over, but she proves it isn't evil by biting off its head!

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Pages: 6

Notes: Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.
Based on the story "Sweets to the Sweet" by Robert Bloch.

Reunion!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (cameo); Waldo Ansley (death); Lillian Ansley (Waldo's wife, death); Roger Kane (death)

First Line: Hee, hee!

Synopsis: Lillian was much too young when she married Waldo, and, soon, he began to age. One night at a party, she met Roger, fell in love and agreed to get a divorce from Waldo. Unfortunately, Waldo fell ill with polio and needed constant attention and Lillian told Roger she just couldn't go through with the divorce. They vowed to meet by the lake every five years to see if they can finally be together, but Roger is killed in a train wreck. Still, three years later, she visited the lake again, this time to be greeted by Roger's rotting corpse!

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Pages: 7

Notes: Script credit by Craig Delich.

Colors were previously attributed to Marie Severin (see Indexer Notes for this issue’s cover, above).

[untitled]

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Pages: 1

The Reluctant Vampire

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)

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Writer(s): ?

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

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

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Pages: 1

Notes: The cover title is taken from the 2nd story, from which the cover was based.

Artist of the Issue: Jack Kamen

Text Article on Interior Page(s)

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Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ? (photo)

Inker(s): ? (photo)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Artist of the Issue

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Reprint Notes: Text article on Jack Kamen with accompanying photo.

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

About Face!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Lydia Armstrong (animal trainer); King (lion); Steve (villain, Lydia's chauffeur)

First Line: Heh, heh! Well, gather 'round, kiddies...

Synopsis: Lydia was a circus lion tamer and considered the best, until one evening she was attacked and severely injured by a black panther. After her recovery, she took to wearing a veil and literally retired from the world. She began to pore over books on witchcraft, hoping to find a solution when her chauffeur, Steve, began to act as if he was in love with her. When he took her money and ran off with another woman, Lydia swore revenge and cast a spell restoring her face but, in Florida, Steve's face had become rotting flesh!

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Pages: 8

The Reluctant Vampire!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Mr. Cross (blood bank director); Mr. Drink (villain, a vampire, death)

First Line: Greetings, ghouls! Yes, it's me... the Crypt-Keeper... again!

Synopsis: Mr. Drink, a vampire, has a job as night watchman at the local Blood Donor Center, and he has used this job to secure his daily supply of blood, then doctors the books to make everything appear legitimate. But one evening, the record book is missing, forcing him to kill someone to replace the blood he has supped on. When Drink discovers that the blood center is to be closed unless the facility takes in twice the amount of blood it does now, Drink decides to kill more victims to restock the shelves. The center's director reports this to the Police, bringing the case to an unusual end.

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Pages: 7

Deception

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): ? (spot illo)

Inker(s): ? (spot illo)

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: crime, horror

Character(s): Melton

Synopsis: As Melton flew along in his plane, he thought sure he was going to beat a murder rap for killing Paul Robson by staging the killing to have been perpetrated by a right-handed man. In his mind, even if the Police eventually discovered that Melton used his right hand to commit the crime, he'd be out of the country by then and out of their jurisdiction. He chuckled at the thought of his deception! Suddenly, the plane's engine sputtered and died on him, so Melton donned his parachute and jumped out of the plane....but he couldn't reach the rip-cord ring! Two days later, his body was found in a crater made by his body....his parachute still unopened and the rip-cord ring in its place on the left shoulder strap....waiting to be pulled by the right hand!

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Pages: 2

Notes: This text story was printed on the inner halves of the two pages, with EC house ads to either side. One promoted Weird Fantasy #8 [with an Al Feldstein cover] and the other promoted the Picture Stories From the Bible line: the Complete Old & New Testaments, the Old Testament #1-2, and the New Testament #1.

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (head view)

Synopsis: The VK begins the column again pushing the photos of the three GhouLunatics for 25 cents, as well as subscriptions to his mag, followed by last issue's story popularity poll. Letters from Al Munchen, Alan Joseph and Gilbert Jarvis are printed as well.

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Pages: 1

Grandma's Ghost!!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Peggy

First Line: Here's a chilling tale about little Peggy and her...

Synopsis: Little Peggy is awoken from her sleep by her Grandmother, who is having a heat attack. She asks for her pills, but they are not to be found on the nightstand, and by the time Peggy finds them in another room, her Grandmother has passed away. After the funeral, Peggy's Aunt Helen and Uncle Lawrence were celebrating with each other, thinking they have inherited all of the old woman's money. But at the reading of the will, they learn the money goes to Peggy....at the age of 22....so they plot to kill her. Meanwhile, Peggy is seeking out the friendship of the gardner, who pays more attention to her that her aunt and uncle. That evening, Peggy tells her "new folks" that Grandma came to see her and told her that the gardner was a fine man to associate with....but her aunt and uncle say NO! The next day, all three go on a picnic and Uncle Lawrence sees an opportunity to push Peggy off a cliff. Unfortunately, he goes over the cliff instead when Peggy "sees" her Grandma and moves out of the way. Later that day, Aunt Helen is already counting the fortune as hers, and grabs Peggy by the arm to the basement, opens the furnace door to push her in when Peggy sees her Grandma again.....as does Helen....and Helen falls back into the flames! Peggy then becomes the responsibility of the gardner.

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Pages: 6

Notes: Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.
Based on the story "Mr. George" by Stephen Grendon.

Revenge is the Nuts!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (host); Doctor Blackpool

First Line: Hee, hee! I see by your leering faces...

Synopsis: At the eerie Croydon Insane Asylum, horrible screams are heard as patients are being whipped, and as Mr. Aldershot, a relative of a patient, is in Blackpool's office in response to a letter from his patient-relative. Blackpool tells him that these people are filled with evil spirits and his "treatments" are the only way to deal with the patients...and he kicks the man out. Blackpool then retreats to the dungeon-basement area and has the patient taken back to the ward, where the other patients are shocked by what has happened. As days drag by, Blackpool continues to tease and mistreat the patients, unknowing that the patients have decided to strike back. That evening, as Blackpool sat in his office, the door bursts in and the patients drag him to the dungeon, and to the cell of an insane patient named Olaf [many times maltreated himself], and gleefully watch as Olaf tears him apart!

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Pages: 7

Notes: Writer credits confirmed by Johnny Craig (1982).

[untitled]

Illustration on Interior Page(s)

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Colorist(s): ?

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Pages: 1

That's A 'Croc'

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

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

First Line: Special offer from Charlton Comics with each subscription...

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Pages: 1

Notes: The cover title comes from the 2nd story in the issue, on which the cover is based.

[untitled]

Promotional Material (from Publisher) on Interior Page(s)

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Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Mad Magazine

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Reprint Notes: Promo ad for Mad Magazine.

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

One Last Fling!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Olga (villain, Harry's wife, a vampire, death); Harry (knife thrower, death)

First Line: Heh, heh! You're right on time!

Synopsis: A knife-throwing act in Hungary was extremely popular. Harry woke up the next day and couldn't rouse Olga, whom he thought was dead. He made burial arrangements, then discovered that Olga was a vampire. Harry decided the act would change and go to the U.S. where Harry became her victim. She continued to feed on him, until one night, at the end of the knife-throwing act, he announced he was going to commit a murder, then threw a wooden stake at his wife's heart before collapsing in death on the stage!

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Pages: 8

Notes: Letterer credits by Craig Delich.

Colors were previously attributed to Marie Severin, but it is unlikely that Severin had begun coloring at EC when this issue was colored (Cassell 2012, 33–34 and 171).
_________
Reference:

Cassell, Dewey, with Aaron Sultan. 2012. Marie Severin: The Mirthful Mistress of Comics. Raleigh: TwoMorrows Publishing.

That's a 'Croc'!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (host); "Crazy" Coogan (zoo-keeper)

First Line: Hee, hee! So, who else?

Synopsis: At the local zoo, people crowd around the newest attraction: a pit with four crocodiles in it, and along comes Mr. Coogan, the zoo keeper and lover of these ferocious animals, to feed them their daily ration of meat. But when a young boy reminds him that these animals are MAN eaters and maybe they don't like being fed other types of meat, it makes him stop and think. That evening, he heads to town and kills someone and feeds them to his charges. Meanwhile, at the home of Norman Simms, family members discover him to be missing and they begin to backtrack his steps to locate him, without success. Back at the zoo, "Crazy" Coogan is over-seeing the cleaning of the crocodile pit when one of the men, Lou, discovers a ring on the floor and pockets it secretly. Later, in town, Lou stops in for a drink and sits down next to Norman Simm's relative, who has just learned others have disappeared in town mysteriously....then he sees Simm's ring on the finger of Lou, who tells him where he got it. Two and two are added together, and the angry men in the bar head for the zoo to confront Coogan. When Coogan sees them coming, he jumps into the crocodile pit, thinking these creatures will protect him.....instead, they devour him!

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Pages: 7

Notes: Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Now or Never!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): ? (spot illo)

Inker(s): ? (spot illo)

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror, military, war

Character(s): Lt. Edward Cragg

Synopsis: Lt. Edward Cragg’s submarine, "The Dolphin," was stuck in the muck 40 fathoms below the sea. But Cragg was determined to survive this situation, even if the others didn’t. There was just enough compressed gas to fire the torpedo tube once more, and he ordered his crew to fire him to the surface to get help. They did as he requested, but his speed slacked off to get to the surface. As he looked back, he discovered to his horror that the blast had freed his sub and it was rising to the surface. And the last thing saw through the glass into the ship were his men, in formation, saluting him!

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Pages: 2

Notes: This text story was printed on the inner halves of the two pages, with EC house ads to either side. One side promoted Weird Fantasy #9 [with a cover by Al Feldstein], while the other side promoted the Picture Stories From the Bible line: the Complete Old & New Testaments, the Old Testament #1-2 and the New Testament #1 [all with covers].

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Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper [cameo]

Synopsis: In this issue's column, VK first pushes the photos of the three GhouLunatics for 25 cents, then provides results of reader's voting on the last issue's stories. Then letters from Laurence Finley, Joan Shaffer and Al Munchen are printed, followed by a plea NOT to buy other company's imitation mags.

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Child's Play

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Colorist(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Milton Collins; Emma Collins

First Line: Ever been chased away from in front of that mean old crabby guy's house down the block?

Synopsis: As a group of boys were playing football in front of Mr. Collin's house, they were rudely told by him to get away from the front of his home or he'd call the Police. So they moved down the street, but when the football accidently fell into his yard, he wouldn't give it back. Later. Collin's wife, Emma, gave it back to the boys when Milton was asleep.....but he found out and slapped his wife around. The next day, as the boys were passing by the Collin's home, they yearned for some apples off his tree, but when they attempted to get a few, he came out, took his belt off and was going to hit them when his wife came out to put a stop to it.....and Collin's struck her instead. The next day, feeling sorry for Emma Collins, the boys waited until Milton left and then went to the door to surprise her with some candy.....but they were told she was dead. The next day, they watched the funeral and interment from a distance....and then plotted to scare the pants off Mr. Collins. That night, as Collins was resting on his backporch, he glimpsed movement in the darkness and an eerie voice, purporting to be that of his wife, began calling to him. As he walked out into the yard, a ghostly apparition suddenly appeared, asking him why he had killed her. He apologized for doing it, then pitched forward....stone dead!

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Pages: 6

Notes: Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Trapped!

Story on Interior Page(s)

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Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Bud Harrison (hobo, death); Marty (villain)

First Line: Heh, he! Well! Finally... it's my turn to 'entertain' you!

Synopsis: Inside a moving railroad boxcar, Marty encounters an old hobo, who informs Marty that the Smoky Mountain area is haunted. Soon a railroad policeman forces them to jump off the train, and the hobo dies. Marty makes his way to a farmhouse inhabited by an old man, whom Marty kills and buries. A mysterious, screaming fly follows Marty back to the house, so he decides the place is cursed, grabs his bag of swag, and runs out, getting caught in the sticky earth of the grave.....just like a fly gets stuck on flypaper!

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Pages: 7

Notes: Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Colors were previously attributed to Marie Severin (see Indexer Notes for “One Last Fling!,” above).

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Frankenstein Monster!

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Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

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

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Pages: 1

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Promotional Material (from Publisher) on Interior Page(s)

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Letterer(s): typeset

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Feature(s): Weird Science; Weird Fantasy

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Reprint Notes: Promo ad for Weird Science #15 and Weird Fantasy #14.

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Pages: 1

Fountains of Youth!

Story on Interior Page(s)

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Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Kenneth Martin; Eileen Martin (Kenneth's sister, death); Miss Blanchard; Madam DuBois (villain, death)

First Line: Heh, heh! Well, here we are together again...

Synopsis: Eileen responds to a newspaper ad asking for a traveling companion for a heavily veiled Madam DuBois, who is traveling abroad, even though her brother Ken is not too happy with the idea. Then she and Madam DuBois board a cruise ship. Unfortunately, Eileen mysteriously passes away, and Ken investigates. A shipboard doctor informs him that Madam DuBois is similar to a human vampire, who prolongs its life by sapping the youth of their victims. By the time the pair get to DuBois' cabin, her next victim is already withering and dying before their eyes!

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Pages: 8

The Monster in the Ice!

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Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (host); The Frankenstein Monster; Gerald Dawson and Herbert Campbell (geologists)

First Line: Hee, hee! Yep! It's me again!

Synopsis: As Gerald Dawson sits as his desk in a shack in the Arctic, Herbert Campbell enters, telling him that their Eskimo guide refuses to take them any further. Dawson goes to see Lomo in his igloo, and the Eskimo tells him of the monster in the ice, and that no one who sees it comes back in their right mind. Dawson & Campbell rig up a dog-sled and go to the site, spot the monster and dig its ice-encased body out and take it back to their shack. They show the body in ice to Lomo and he freezes in fear, especially when he is ordered to chip the body out of the ice! While that is happening, Dawson and Campbell kick back, telling themselves that this whole thing reminds them of Mary Shelly's book about Frankenstein. Suddenly, they hear a scream and a crash, and enter the adjoining room and see the window broken out and Lomo shaking in fear. Now they know the creature must be put back into the ice, so they go out and dig through the ice to water, and they hope to lure the monster into the trap. The monster shows up....jumps into the hole and drags both men down with him. One year later, the U.S. Air Force decides to build a base near that very spot and two airmen happen to spot the bodies trapped in the ice. So......they start digging out the bodies to see what they can determine what happened to them.....

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Pages: 7

Notes: Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.
Cover story.

Choice

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Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Synopsis: He had been sentenced to ten years in the sizzling cells of El Malein Prison out in the Sahara Desert, but he knew he couldn't make it. As the airplane he was in flew nearer to that prison site, he jumped out of the plane and pulled the ripcord on his parachute. He landed, and for the next five days, he braved the heat and whipping sand, trying to find water. Then he saw the tall pond fronds that indicated an oasis, and it renewed his waning strength. Just then, the fronds disappeared; it had all been a mirage! But he made his choice and he still had his freedom: the freedom to die in agony!

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Pages: 2

Notes: This text story was printed on the inner halves of the two pages, with EC house ads to either side. One promoted Weird Fantasy #10 [with an Al Feldstein cover], while the other ads [with covers] promoted the Picture Stories From the Bible series: the Complete Old and New Testaments, the Old Testament #1-2 and the New Testament #1.

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Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (head view)

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Pages: 1

Notes: VK's column begins with his campaign against the Old Witch and Graham Ingels, and a mock letter from his local draft board, followed by the reader's popularity poll for last issue's stories. Then letters are printed from Ellen Louise Phillips, Joe Carroll and Rand Rensvold, followed by the promoting of the photos of the three GhouLunatics!

Gone...Fishing!

Story on Interior Page(s)

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Colorist(s): ? (see notes)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Maxwell Larkin (death); Steven

First Line: Hee, hee! Yep! It's your old horror fiend, the Crypt-Keeper!

Synopsis: Max was a noted sport fisherman, but Steven hated the sport, which he considered cruelty to animals. Max outfitted his reel with the latest gadgets and cast into the water. Soon he got a strike and reeled in his beauty. Steven, sick to his stomach, went back to the car and drove off, taking Max's lunch with it. Spotting a candy bar on the beach, he shoved it in his mouth, never noticing the thin, silky, nearly invisible thread attached to it. When Steven returned, he saw the horrible sight of Max bobbing up out of the water and being drawn farther and farther out to sea!

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Pages: 6

Notes: Colors were previously attributed to Marie Severin (see Indexer Notes for “Fountains of Youth!,” above).

What the Dog Dragged In!

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Colorist(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Betty Marsh; Jerry the dog; Roger Cartwright

First Line: And now, come see...

Synopsis: Blind Betty's dog Jerry is hit by a car but cared for by wealthy Roger Cartwright, who returned her dog to her. Betty was happy to have company and invited him back, which he did and they soon grew quite close. One day, as Roger left her house in his car, he didn't see the truck coming from the other direction. Betty sent Jerry after him and day after day Jerry returned without Roger. Until one day Jerry came in with Roger.

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Pages: 7

Notes: Unauthorized adaptation of Ray Bradbury's short story "The Emissary."

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Staired in Horror

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)

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Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

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

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Pages: 1

Notes: The cover title was taken from the 4th story in this issue, from which the cover was based.

[The EC] Artist of the Issue

Text Article on Interior Page(s)

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Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ? (photograph)

Inker(s): ? (photograph)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: biography

Feature(s): Graham Ingels

Character(s): Graham Ingels (photo)

Synopsis: Biography of artist "Ghastly" Graham Ingels.

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Pages: 1

A Stitch in Time!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); sweatshop workers; Mr. Lasch (villain, sweatshop owner, death)

First Line: Heh, heh! It's 'sew' nice to see you again!

Synopsis: An old-fashioned sweatshop, run by Mr. Lasch, makes the women work 14 hours a day, 6 days a week, for a salary of $6, using dangerous, outdated machinery, and being treated like slaves. Complainers were forced to go the "scrap box”: a place where scraps of cloth and thread were thrown together and they would have to untangle it all and respool the thread, a job that usually drove the woman insane. But they had a plan to get even, much to Mr. Lasch's regret!

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Pages: 8

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

99 44/100% Pure Horror!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Benny Anderson (soap factory manager, death, in flashback); Mr. Hudson (soap factory owner, in flashback); Ernie Mattson (villain, death)

First Line: Ready for another hair-raising terror tale from my vast collection...

Synopsis: Life had been good to Ernie ever since he had become manager of the Hudson Soap Company, and his predecessor, Benny Anderson, had disappeared. Benny had been his boss, really giving him a hard time in the soap plant, until one day he knifed Benny and threw his body in the rending vat, and made bars of soap out of him. The best thing is that no one could prove what had really happened to Benny. Then came the night that Ernie had a date with a showgirl and decided to take a shower, using one of those bars of soap. Benny ended up getting revenge on Ernie.

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Pages: 7

Notes: Much of the story is told in flashback.

Script revisions from just Feldstein by Craig Delich.

Superstition!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

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Penciller(s): ? (spot illo)

Inker(s): ? (spot illo)

Colorist(s): ?

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Genres: horror

Character(s): Matison

Synopsis: Matison was just 200 yards from the sacred Zalunga temple during the secret rituals of the tribe, which meant certain death if he was discovered. When most of the tribe moved away from the area, he crept up on a lone guard, killed him and dragged him inside the temple, determined to photograph the proceedings. Hearing the Chief and the tribe returning, he spotted a platform with a coffin and decided to hide inside and film away. At the height of the ceremony, the Chief spotted him, Matison let out a scream, then realized that the casket he was in was going to be sacrificed to their gods.

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Pages: 2

Notes: The text story is found on the inner halves of the two pages, with EC house ads to either side. One side promoted Shock SuspenStories #1 [with a cover by Al Feldstein], while the other promoted, with covers, the Complete Old and New Testaments from the Picture Stories of the Bible series, Picture Stories From World History #2 and Picture Stories From Science #2.

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (head view)

Synopsis: VK begins his colume promoting the 1st issue of Shock SuspenStories, telling a little about each story therein and the artists who drew them. Then he talks about the next "EC Artist of the Issue," Jack Kamen, which appears in the Haunt of Fear #11, and finally again pushes the photos of the three GhouLunatics for 25 cents.

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Notes: The bottom half of this page features The Statement of Ownership, which lists Frank D. Lee as Business Manager.

Dead Wait!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Emil Duval (plantation owner, death); Kulu (villain, native); 'Red' Buckley (villain, death)

First Line: Here's a tale that's a real hair-raiser!

Synopsis: In an isolated plantation home on a tropic isle, 'Red' Buckley's former plantation boss lies dead at his feet. In the shadows, a native, Kulu, watches Buckley get into the home's safe and remove a black pearl, then they enter a boat for a three day trip to Banggai. As Kulu paddles down the river, Buckley tells Kulu he will be paid off at Banggai.....then 'Red' discovers that they are heading for a village instead. When Buckley turns around to question the native, Kulu kills him with a machette....and proudly walks into the village with his prize: a human head with red hair!

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Pages: 6

Notes: Script revisions from just Feldstein by Craig Delich.

Some of the story is told in flashback.

Staired... in Horror!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (host); Irma Leechman; Robert Hornsby

First Line: Hee, hee! Well, the fire's lit under my cauldron again...

Synopsis: Irma stared down at the grave of her late husband and smiled....just as a gentleman came near to pay respects to his late wife. As the two conversed, Irma gleaned that this old boy must have money, so she struck up an on-going affair with this Mr. Hornsby, and plotted to have him murdered for his insurance.....just the way she murdered her first husband, Herman, for his! Soon, Robert popped the question and Irma accepted, and after their marriage, they went to his palatial country estate. But suddenly, as she looked up the carpeted winding staircase, the scene came back to her of the lighthouse steps she went up with Herman....and where she pushed him over the railing to his death! Soon the bickering started....Robert wanted to still visit his former wife's grave and Irma forbid it, eventually leading to his very ill health. Then one night, Robert bolted from his bed for the cemetery to visit his beloved Ethyl one more time, where he died from a fatal heart attack on her grave. Back at the estate, Iram was contemplating tearing out the spiral staircase when she looked up to see the the rotting corpses of Herman and Ethyl coming at her. She raced up the spiral steps to escape into the balcony bedroom when she remembered that she had had them sealed shut! In the morning, all that was found were the remains of two rotting corpses, and the body of Irma.....smashed into tiny little pieces!

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Pages: 7

Notes: Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

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Feature(s): EC Archives

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Pages: 3

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Back Cover

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Letterer(s): typeset

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Pages: 1