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Content Items (45 total)

Till Death...

Illustration on Cover, Front

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

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)

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: Cover title taken from the story from which the cover is based.

A Bloody Undertaking

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

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig ?

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 (inset); The Old Witch (inset); The Crypt-Keeper (inset)

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: The cover title was taken from the story from which the cover was based.

Script, colorist and letterer credits by Craig Delich.

Johnny Craig

Text Article on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): ? (photo)

Inker(s): ? (photo)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: biography, non-fiction

Feature(s): Artist of the Issue

Character(s): Johnny Craig

Synopsis: Biography of artist Johnny Craig with a B/W photo of him.

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Pages: 1

A Bloody Undertaking!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Gilbert Podges (undertaker, death); Charlie Drayne (Gilbert's assistant, death); Wilma Podges (villain, Podge's wife, a vampire)

Synopsis: Mortician Gilbert Podges gives a young girl a ride from the train station and ends up marrying her. His mortuary business, however, takes precedence over a honeymoon. After he hires a new assistant, Gilbert notes the blood drained from the bodies is disappearing, and stories of a vampire on the loose worry him. The townspeople, however, believe Gilbert's new assistant to be the vampire, and so they track him down and kill him. Gilbert relaxes, but not for long.

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 8

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

...With All the Trappings!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Penciller(s): Graham Ingels [as Ghastly] (signed)

Inker(s): Graham Ingels [as Ghastly] (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (host); Pierre; Maria

Synopsis: People were starting to leave the town cemetery after the burial of Emile, and Pierre swore to Maria that he'd never be buried like that....his body being left to the worms and crawling things. With winter coming on and in need of money, Pierre set out more trap lines than ever before, a concern to Maria. Before he left to cover them, Pierre looked over the materials he'd just received on metal vaults. Three days later, after returning home, he found Maria dead on the floor, and went into town to check out those metal vaults, and discovered they cost $300......a year's worth of trapping for Pierre! Sitting at home dejected, with Maria's body near him, Pierre decides to put her in the ice house for preservation until he can raise the needed funds. Trapping that winter proved financially sound and Pierre went to town and ordered the vault and a funeral service for Maria, then happily headed home. As he entered the ice house to get her body, he froze in horror as he saw a lynx, which had stripped Maria's body of its flesh!

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Pages: 7

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

Prescription

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): William M. Gaines

Penciller(s): ? (illustrations)

Inker(s): ? (illustrations)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Manley

Synopsis: At the local drug store, Manley had just discovered that he had mislaid the ten Chloralex tablets ordered by the Animal Research Center.....pills that could instantly kill a human being.....were missing! Then he thought of the messenger he had just dispatched to Mrs. Lester's with a prescription.....could he have sent the Chloralex tablets to her in error? He had to get that box back, so he called Mrs. Lester on the phone....but three times it came back busy. He darted out the door, heading for her house, and when he rang her bell, she answered. He asked her if her prescription had arrived, and she said it had. Manley told her that box had been delivered in error and it must have it back immediately for another patient who's need was more urgent, and he assured her that her prescription would arrive within 30 minutes. Taking the box from her, he left quite relieved, to his drug store. All this had been too much and he reached into his vest and took out an aspirin from the case and popped it into his mouth....and felt it dissolve on his tongue. The next instant, he leaped to his feet with a severe burning sensation in his throat and he then a strangling sensation....and sprawled across the prescription table....dead. Just within reach of his hand was the box he had taken the pill from.....clearly marked "Hold for Animal Research Center!"

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Miscellaneous

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 Shock SuspenStoriess #2 [with a Wally Wood cover], while the other promoted the Complete Old & New Testament books from the Picture Stories From the Bible series, Picture Stories From World History #2 and Picture Stories From Science #2 [all with covers].

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (illustration)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

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

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

Synopsis: VK first relates reader voting on last issue's stories, then mentions that Wally Wood will be the next featured EC Artist of the Issue in Two-Fisted Tales #27. Then letters from 10 soldiers stationed in Korea, Ted Dahlman, Jack Hargett, William Richard, Jack Maxfield and Virginia Noulin were printed. Finally, there was the usual plug for the photos of the three GhouLunatics for 25 cents.

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Pages: 1

Impressed by a Nightmare!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Penciller(s): Joe Orlando (signed)

Inker(s): Joe Orlando (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Fred & Emma Dworkin

Synopsis: As Fred poured himself a cup of coffee, Emma told him that she'd had a nightmare about cutting her finger, and she couldn't stand the sight of the blood. He told her to forget it, but, sure enough, after he left, she cut her finger....just like in the dream. That night, she dreamed her little girl tripped and fell....and she did the next day. The next night she dreamed their son had an auto accident and that happened as well. Fred said that it was all coincidence....but when she dreamed next that her husband fell into the rollers of the giant printing presses at work, she sprang out of bed to stop him from going to work, only to discover he was already gone. In a panic, she ran down to his work site and rushed into where the presses were, and saw Fred atop the gigantic machine. When he heard her, he turned, slipped and fell into the printing press rollers!

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 6

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

The Death Wagon!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Penciller(s): Jack Davis

Inker(s): Jack Davis

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Herman Kitch; Amos Sink

Synopsis: Herman surveyed the beat-up car and told the man he wouldn't buy it, but when the man said he HAD to sell it, the price offered was a low $400. Once the deal was made, Herman, and his partner Amos Sink, took the car inside, rolled back the odometer, packed the transmission with sawdust and poured grease into the radiator....all to mask the auto's problems. Similar alterations were also done to other cars on their lot that they had purchased for a song. One day, an assortment of patrons came in and purchased these junkers, and all were involved in accidents....and the deaths of innocent people. Herman and Amos were visited soon after by a Police inspector, who threatened to get a warrant to examine all of the cars on their lot. To avert this, the pair spent nights fixing up every car on the lot....unaware that the dead, rotting corpses of their "victims" were moving in on them. The next morning, when the inspector returned with his warrant, the only car he found on the lot was an auto with the heads of Amos & Herman where the headlights should be, their eyeballs became parking lights, their hands became door handles, then ashen-white skin had become seat covers, and their other body parts elsewhere in the vehicle. This was truly a Kitch and Sink car!

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 7

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

Notes and Comments

Text Article on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): John Benson; Bill Mason

Letterer(s): typeset

Editor(s): John Benson

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 5

Seance!

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

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

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)

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: The cover title was taken from the story from which the cover was based.

[untitled]

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

Credits

Penciller(s): ? (various)

Inker(s): ? (various)

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): EC Comics

First Line: If you like the tales in this magazine...

Synopsis: EC house ad, with covers, promoting Frontline Combat #5, Shock SuspenStories #1, Two-Fisted Tales #26, Weird Science #13 and Weird Fantasy #13.

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Pages: 1

Seance!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Madame Gilda (medium); John Chalmers (death); Mrs. Chalmers (John's wife); Ben Ganther (villain, confidence man, death); George Dent (villain, confidence man, death)

Synopsis: John Chalmers gives $20,000 to several confidence men, mentioning to them that Madame Gilda didn't approve. The fleecing of Chalmers continues until one day when Chalmers overhears them call him a sucker. Chalmers threatens to sue and the two men force his car off a cliff. Chalmer's wife tells them that, with her husband gone, she's thinking of withdrawing his money from their firm, but she must have a seance first to talk it over with her dead husband. At the seance, George gets his revenge to everyone's surprise.

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 8

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Kickin' the Gong a Round!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Penciller(s): Jack Davis

Inker(s): Jack Davis

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Patty Marko; Jake Houseman

Synopsis: Marko had worked his way from the slums to a pro boxing career, and easily knocksout his last opponent before the championship match he'd waited to fight in. Marko returns home to his wife and little son when suddenly he has two visitors that pull a gun on him and take him away to the training camp of the man he is to fight next: Jake Houseman. Houseman offers to pay Marko any sum he asks to lose that fight, but refuses and is allowed to leave. The night before the big fight, Marko is ready for the bout when his wife enters and tells Patty his son has been kidnapped, and the note tells him to lose that fight...or else. He tells her that he'll do as they ask, but that he WILL get even. The next night, Marko takes a terrible beating....and falls over in the 7th round....dead! Six months later, at Houseman's training camp, a rotting corpse bursts through Houseman's door, forcing the champ to run outside, where he sees all of his men slaughtered. The corpse of Marko then drags Houseman to the sparring ring and proceeds to rip Houseman to shreds with his bony hand!

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 7

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

Paradise!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): William M. Gaines

Penciller(s): ? (illustrations)

Inker(s): ? (illustrations)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Flath

Synopsis: As Bracken's body sunk into the muck, Flath began to smirk as he sloshed back to his boat, realizing that soon the jungle insects would strip the body clean of its flesh. He marveled at this paradise, where he could so easily dispose of a body so easily. As Flath paddled laborously through the reeds, he sweated terribly, and all he could think of was getting out of this channel He could see the prow of his other boat, dreading having to get out of his canoe and wade five yards to that boat with only his head above water. Upon reaching the boat, he started pulling himself out of the water and discovered that he had leeches all over him. He swatted them off, only to have others attach themselves, weighing him back down into the water....crawling into his mouth and nostrils, until Flath disappeared beneath the surface. Yes, indeed this WAS a paradise for getting rid of a man without a trace!

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Miscellaneous

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 promotes Shock SuspenStories #3 [with a Wally Wood cover], while the other side, with covers, promotes the Complete Old & New Testaments in the Picture Stories From the Bible series, Picture Stories From Science #2 and Picture Stories From World History #2.

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (illustration)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

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

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

Synopsis: VK starts off with a lengthy letter from Mrs. Arline Grandou Phelan from Kansas City, Kansas, critizing EC for publishing pure rubbish, saying they should be outlawed. Al Feldstein and Bill Gaines then spend most of the column defending the EC books before turning the column back over to VK, who puts in a last-ditch plug for the photos of the three GhouLunatics for 25 cents.

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Pages: 1

Practical Yolk!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Penciller(s): Jack Kamen (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Kamen (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Fredrick Hamilton

Synopsis: Fred Hamilton having visited the Belgian Congo for a hunting expedition, was now on his way home with B'uuna, his servant, to wed his fiancée, Louise. Louise presented B'uuna with a present: an Easter egg with a scene of a rabbit and tiny eggs inside. He thanked her, but sensed something wasn't quite right. From a conversation B'uuna overheard, he believes Louise did not want to marry his new master. As Louise left the apartment she was grabbed from behind. Fred awakened to B'uuna's chanting in the hall. To Fred's horror, B'uuna handed him the Easter egg, with his fiancée now inside!

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 6

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

Collection Completed!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Penciller(s): Graham Ingels [as Ghastly] (signed)

Inker(s): Graham Ingels [as Ghastly] (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (host); Anna and Jonah Tillman

Synopsis: Anna had always loved animals and one day she saw a stray cat and brought it in to feed, but Jonah didn't approve of her habit of taking in every stray animal she came across. To get even at Anna, Jonah started his new hobby: taxidermy, and his first "patient" was going to be the mouse running around their home. He caught it, stuffed it, then went outside to lure a squirrel, then a bird, and then a dog to practice his craft on. Anna screamed at him until she was blue in the face, but it did no good. One day Jonah came to her and said that his collection of stuffed animals was almost complete....he smiled and left. Meanwhile, Anna kept calling the cat she'd found a few days earlier, then, when it couldn't be found, realized what her husband had meant. Running to the basement, she found the cat freshly stuffed.....with a crazed look in her eye, she turned toward Jonah, knife in hand, and told him that his collection still lacked one more thing. The next day, a neighbor found Anna in the basement, babbling incoherently, stroking her stuffed cat, and sitting next to.....her stuffed husband!

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 7

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

Graft in Concrete

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

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror!

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

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

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

untitled

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

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Weird Science; Weird Fantasy

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

Synopsis: House ad, with covers, promoting Weird Science #15 and Weird Fantasy #14.

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Pages: 1

Two of a Kind!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig

Inker(s): Johnny Craig

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Willow Dree (actress, vampire); Al Bolton (photograhper, in flashback); Bradbury Phillips (actor, ghoul)

Synopsis: Actress Willow Dree never had been successfully photographed, all attempts ending with a photo displaying only the background. Fellow star Brad Phillips suggests the two get away from all photographers and go on a skiing trip together. Unfortunately for the pair, they get snowbound in a cabin after a blizzard. Several days later, when a rescue team comes upon the cabin, they discover a horrifying scene inside.

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 8

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Graft in Concrete!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Penciller(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Godfrey Hornsby; Mayor John Applegate

Synopsis: Hornsby threatened the Mayor to get the road contract he was after and had a document that proved the Mayor had gotten a kickback on the sale of land for the new school. The City Council members, also having skeletons in their closets, agreed to Hornsby's request and a road was built through the property containing a cemetery. The next morning, state troopers discovered the council's empty car, with the area all around the car neatly paved. And as they looked more closely, they discovered the bodies of the council neatly inset into the road's fresh new pavement!

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 7

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

Joker!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): William M. Gaines

Penciller(s): ? (illustrations)

Inker(s): ? (illustrations)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Jacques Carigot

Synopsis: Jacques slowly climbed the stairs to the guillotine, smiling as he did so....a sure trait of the man named "Jacques the Joker." He was to die that day for the deaths of 20 innocent people at his hands.....a man thought of as the deadliest killer ever to walk the streets of France. The Chief Jailer stood at the base of the platform, wondering why this man asked for a bottle of purple ink and some paper as his last request....until he figured out that Carigot would swallow the ink and poison himself, so he had substituted harmless vegetable dye for the ink! Just then, the executioner had Carigot get to his knees and take his position below the sharpened blade. As he unwrapped the scarf around Carigot's neck, he was shocked to see a succession of crude dashes around the neck with these words: "Please cut along the dotted line! Thank you.....The Joker!"

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 2

Notes: This text story is found on the inner halves of the two pages, with EC house ads to either side. One promotes Shock SuspenStories #4 [with a Wally Wood cover], while the other promotes, with covers, the Complete Old & New Testaments in the Picture Stories From the Bible series, Picture Stories From Science #2 and Picture Stories From World History #2.

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (illustration)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

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

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

Synopsis: VK's column starts off with letters from Jim Svoboda, Jerry Wise, Alvin Bowker, Larry Barnes, James Aguilera, Bernard Dewey, Ernest Shute and an unnamed person --- all of whom are writing in response to Mrs. Phelan's letter a few issues back criticizing EC comics as garbage. The VK reviews reader's voting on the previous issue's stories, plugs the 2nd Annual Tales of Terror anthology and the photos of the three GhouLunatics, as well as subscriptions to his mag.

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Pages: 1

Half-Way Horrible!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Penciller(s): Sid Check [as S. Check] (signed)

Inker(s): Sid Check [as S. Check] (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Zachary Boxer

Synopsis: Zachary was the undertaker in town and was at the door of an apartment, whose tenant had called him. As he entered, the odor of incense was almost over-powering as the person inside said to keep the light off. He informs Boxer that he visited his doctor not long back and was told he had some sort of mental problem that he needed professional help with. And the psychiatrist inform this man he had schizophrenia and needed therapy on a regular basis. Even with this, the man's spells caused him to do things he normally never would, as his dark side became more and more predominant. Then it happened....he went in for his normal session, and, an instant later, saw the psychiatrist's mutilated body lying at his feet. He decided to leave the country for Haiti, went to see a voodoo witch doctor and asked him to destroy his evil half. The witch doctor created a doll....half evil and half good, and stuck a pin through the evil half and told the man it had been destroyed. As the man finishes the story, and turns on the light, he tells Boxer the reason why he was called: to embalm his rotting, evil half of his body!

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 6

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

Hook, Line, and Stinker!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Bill Gaines (co-plot); Albert B. Feldstein (co-plot, script)

Penciller(s): Graham Ingels [as Ghastly] (signed)

Inker(s): Graham Ingels [as Ghastly] (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (host); Stanley (death); Emma (Stanley's lover); Bernice's maid; Bernice (villain, Stanley's fiancee)

Synopsis: Bernice, after a 15-year romance with Stanley as his fiancee, was tired of his Saturday fishing trips and all the fish-mounted trophies she had to care for. She wanted to get married, and, so, one Saturday morning, she followed him on one of his trips where she discovered that Stanley was two-timing her with another woman. Bernice decided that there was to be one more mounted trophy in her home: that of Stanley!

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 7

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Strictly from Hunger

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

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

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)

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: Cover title taken from story from which the cover was based.

MAD #1

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

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Mad

Character(s): Harvey Kurtzman; Bill Elder; Al Feldstein; Wally Wood; Johnny Severin; Jack Davis; Bill Gaines

Synopsis: House promotional ad for MAD #1 [cover by Harvey Kurtzman].

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Pages: 1

Silver Threads Among the Mold!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Cedric Harrington (sculptor); Christine (villain, model, death); Gary (villain, Christine's lover)

Synopsis: Cedric, a sculptor in love with his model Christine, offers to silver-plate a life-sized statue of her as a gift, hoping she will accept his marriage proposal. One day, he accidentally over-hears a phone conversation between the model and her lover as they conspire to kill Cedric and run off with his money. When Gary comes to Cedric's studio one day looking for Christine, he finds her, but not exactly the way he had hoped.

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 8

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

People Who Live in Brass Hearses...

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein; Bill Gaines

Penciller(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Lionel Byrd

Synopsis: The children ran up to the hearse as Mr. Byrd drove by, yelling things at him as he made his way to the general store. They couldn't understand why a man, who was NOT an undertaker, would drive such a contraption. The townsfolk were scared of the man, who lived in a rented, deserted house. Whenever Lionel would come to town, the kids would look in the back of the hearse and only see a curtain partition, wondering what was behind it. The answer began when Lionel first moved to town....before he ever owned the hearse, and a couple of fugitives came by his house, looking to hide out from the law. When Lionel told them to leave, they shot him dead, and dug a grave to bury him behind the cabin. When they re-entered the cabin, there he was, holding a shotgun on them, and telling them they had killed his siamese twin! As he stepped forward, they could see the dead corpse still attached to Lionel, who tied the pair up and threw them in the grave they had prepared for him. Now we know why Lionel had that curtain in the back of his hearse!

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Pages: 7

Treasure!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): William M. Gaines

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Henderson

Synopsis: Henderson was watching his partner diving into the water from their boat, trying to locate the valuable oyster bed that was shown on a map and they had been trying to find the last two days. Then, his partner discovered a huge oyster with a giant pearl inside....but before he could do anything, Henderson pushed his partner back into the water, followed him and knifed him in the chest, and cut the airhose. He was going to tell the crew aboard the boat that his partner had been killed by an octopus, but before he re-surfaced, he was attacked by a giant octopus himself. He passed out, and when he awakened, he discovered the octopus had torn off one leg and a savage tentacle was wrapping around his other leg. All Henderson could do was pray for a quick death!

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Pages: 1

Notes: The text story was printed on the inner halves of the two pages, with EC house ads to either side. One promoted Weird Fantasy #15 [with cover by Al Feldstein], while the other promoted, with covers, the Complete Old and New Testament editions in the Picture Stories From the Bible series, Picture Stories From Science #2 and Picture Stories From World History #2.

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (illustration)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

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

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (spot illustration)

Synopsis: VK presents more letters about Mrs. Phelan's criticism of EC mags from E. Manning, P.O. Hagan, Mrs. R.K. Colgin, Dorothy E. Padolick, Johnny Knisely, C. Fanning, Mary Margaret Bye, Bob Hoopengarner, , D.C. McLarty, Hardy Myers, Ralph Becker, Hector M. Cuellar, Felix Canps III, George Ramming, Mrs. L. Collins and Mrs. J.L. Rakes. Finally he pushes copies of Tales of Terror Annual #2, photos of the three GhouLunatics and subscriptions to EC's mags.

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Pages: 1

Strictly from Hunger!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Penciller(s): George Evans [as Geo. Evans] (signed)

Inker(s): George Evans [as Geo. Evans] (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

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

Synopsis: The posse stood before the mouth of the dark cave, where they had trailed a creature that had killed ten of their own, stripping their flesh from their bones. Doc told them he'd seen this creature long ago....before it came to look like it did now. Pete came to see Doc with a lump on his arm, which he discovered was cancer, and he only had a few months to live. Dejected, Pete went to see the Old Hag up on Baldy Mountain, and she hexed him so that he'd never die....IF he'd agree to never ask her to un-hex him. When Pete returned later to see Doc, his arm had been taken over by the cancerous tumor....and slowly more of his body was taken over until all the healthy cells were destroyed and all that was left were cancerous cells gone wild. Just then, the oozing thing emerged from the cave, and the men threw searing torches at it until it retreated back into the cave. Then the men blocked up the entrance.....and prayed no one would ever uncover that entrance!

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Pages: 6

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

A Grim Fairy Tale!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Bill Gaines (co-plot); Albert B. Feldstein (co-plot, script)

Penciller(s): Graham Ingels [as Ghastly] (signed)

Inker(s): Graham Ingels [as Ghastly] (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (host); townspeople (many die); Siegfried (villain, a pompous King, death); Gwendolyn (villain, a pompous Queen, death); a pompous Lord High Advisor (villain)

Synopsis: A tiny kingdom was overrun with rats and the people decided they'd had enough and proceeded to kill most all the rats. The rulers were a pompous King and Queen, who lived in a castle whose moat the rats couldn't cross over. The Queen had pet white mice she loved, and when she learned that the townspeople had nearly killed off all the rats, which were related to her mice, it became a crime to kill any rat! Furious, the townspeople invaded the castle, captured the royal couple, shoved starving rats down their throats and sewed their mouths shut, and then watched as the rats ate their way out!

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Pages: 7

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Till Death...

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

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

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)

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Pages: 1

Notes: Cover title taken from the story from which the cover is based.

untitled

Advertisement on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): Bill Elder [as Elder] (signed)

Inker(s): Bill Elder [as Elder] (signed)

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Mad

Synopsis: Promotional ad for MAD #2 [with cover by Jack Davis].

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Pages: 1

Till Death...

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Donna (Steve's wife, death); Steve (death); Jebco (servant)

Synopsis: Steve's new wife falls ill, dies and is buried. Steve's servant, Jebco, tries to fill the void, but the despair is too great. But Jebco says there is a way to have her back, and secretly he removes the corpse of Donna from her grave and puts it through a voodoo ritual and she walks again, as a zombie! Steve is overjoyed until she begins to decompose. When Steve, in vain, tries to kill her, he drinks poison to end it all. But loyal Jebco puts him through the same voodoo ritual, and he returns as a zombie to be with his love forever!

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Pages: 8

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

The Chips Are Down!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein

Penciller(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Sigmund Darby; Averill Henning; Dilbert Field; Colonel Turner

Synopsis: Sigmund was buzzed on his intercom that Colonel Turner was there to see him and his two partners, Henning and Field. The Colonel was there to tell them that their sawmill had been chosen ror a highly secret government contract to produce thin wooden discs, at a rate of 60,000 per month. They agreed, but then wondered how they could produce that many until Field arrived at a solution with a new type of saw. Later, Henning and Darby muse over a way to keep all the profits for themselves, cutting Field out by engaging him in poker matches and taking him to the cleaners by winning his share in the saw mill.....which they did. After he walked out of the game, he shot himself and was buried.....and as Darby and Henning walk away, they muse over the marked deck they had used on Field. What they didn't see was a rotting hand rising from Field's grave that followed the two back to the mill, where screams are heard. The next morning, the mill foreman walked into open up and saw Darby and Henning standing stiffly next to the cutting machine in a pool of blood. When he touched them, they fell over.....minutely sliced into thousands of thin layers!

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Pages: 7

The Defiler

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): William M. Gaines

Penciller(s): ? (illustration)

Inker(s): ? (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Trader Trask

Synopsis: Trader Trask, an unscrupulous trader on Africa's west coast, used whiskey to cheat the natives out of their valuable ivory, gold, timber and raw rubber. His ship was full of this cargo after his "dealings" with the natives and was preparing to sail off when he saw a tempting silver pendant hanging around the neck of an Arab. He was able to see a strange writing on its reverse and wanted to buy it....but the Arab refused. The next day, Trask walked into the Arab's tent, grabbed the pendant, slit open a pig and shoved the pendant inside....defiling the object. He then pulled it out and threw the pig at the merchant and left. The next morning, Trask was found in bed....his stomach ripped open and the pig stuck into his belly.....while the Arab once more proudly wore the pendant.....able to do so because of what was written on the back of the pendant: it said that only a swine would defile this object....so to cast away sacrilege, it could be annointed with a larger swine's bile: that of Trader Trask!

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Pages: 2

Notes: This text story is found on the inner halves of the two pages, with EC house ads to either side. One promotes Weird Fantasy #16 [with cover by Al Feldstein], while the other promotes, with covers, the Complete Old and New Testaments of the Picture Stories From the Bible series, Picture Stories From Science #2 and Pictures Stories From World History #2.

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (illustration)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

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

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (spot illustration)

Synopsis: VK features letters from Willy Reith, Robert Goldstein, B.D. Velvin, Jr., Walt Bowart, Mrs. C.H. Lindles, Gene Schaffel, George Salaida and Bobbie Kelley. Barbara Matson sent in some "torrid terror tunes" for the E.C. Horror Hit Parade, then told readers that writer Ray Bradbury has given permission to EC to adapt some of his stories. VK also pushed subscriptions to EC mags.

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Pages: 1

For How the Bell Tolls!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Al Feldstein

Penciller(s): George Evans (signed)

Inker(s): George Evans (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault-Keeper's Grim Fairy Tale!

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

Synopsis: Long ago, in a far-away land, there was a castle which had a belfry and a large bell hanging in it. Every time there was a special occasion, the royal bellringer plied his trade, watched for over 34 years by his apprentice....but never given the chance to ring the bell once in all that time! On the Queen's birthday, the royal bellringer, now very old, was told to ring it all day long....but his apprentice wanted to do it. When he was told no, he pulled down an axe from the wall and killed the royal bellringer....just as the King walked in. The King sentenced him to death and wouldn't listen to the man's pleas to ring the bell....that is, until the Queen's birthday. The bell tolled loud and clear...but became more muffled throughout the day. Why? Because the apprentice got to ring that bell....his body was the clapper!

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Pages: 6

We Ain't Got No Body!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Bill Gaines (co-plot); Albert B. Feldstein (co-plot, script)

Penciller(s): Graham Ingels [as Ghastly] (signed)

Inker(s): Graham Ingels [as Ghastly] (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Witch's Cauldron!

Character(s): The Old Witch (host); Henry Bodwin (Norton's brother, department store owner, death in flashback, a walking corpse); Mr. Yeson; Flaggerty (a policeman); Norton Bodwin (villain, also in flashback); Charlie (villain, death, in flashback); Sidney (villain, death, in flashback)

Synopsis: The rotting corpse of Henry Bodwin confronts his brother Norton, and reminds him about when his two buddies and he conspired to kill him over the will in which Henry had made Norton his beneficiary: for $20,000 with double indemnity. The trio pushed Henry under the wheels of a train, killing him, but all they ever found was the man's torso, without arms or legs. The check for $40,000 was a reason for the three to celebrate, until strange events led to retribution by Henry and peace in the grave at last.

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Pages: 7

Notes: Script and letterer credits by Craig Delich.

E.C. Fans!

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

Credits

Writer(s): Russ Cochran

Penciller(s): Al Feldstein (illustration)

Inker(s): Al Feldstein (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

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Pages: 1

Notes: Advertisement for the Complete Weird Science.

Russ Cochran Presents the Complete EC Library

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

Credits

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

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Pages: 1

Graft in Concrete

Illustration on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror!

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

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Pages: 1

Notes: On back cover.
The cover title is taken from the story from which the cover was based.