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Content Items (58 total)

Two-Timed

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 Witch's Cauldron!

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

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Pages: 1

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

...And All Through the House...

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

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Pages: 1

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

[untitled]

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

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): EC Fan-Addict Club

Synopsis: Illustrated ad, with coupon for the EC Addict Fan Club.

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Pages: 1

...And All Through the House...

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); Santa Claus

Synopsis: A terrific thud w/the fireplace poker and her husband Joseph lay dead on the floor. But then she heard her little girl upstairs, who asked her mommy if Santa Claus had come yet, and was told no and to go back to sleep. The wife then returned downstairs, cleaned off the poker, turned on the radio and heard an announcement of a maniac woman-killer dressed as Santa on the loose in the area. She wondered how she would be able to get rid of Joseph's body, when there was a knock at the door. She looked outside and saw a Santa at her door, the woman-killer, and paniced knowing she couldn't call the Police w/her husband's body there on the floor. Quickly she ran to every door and window, locking them, putting Joseph into a closet and then trying to board up windows from the inside. Going upstairs to check on Carol, her daughter, the woman was terrified when she found the little girl gone.....but more terrified when she went downstairs to see Carol having let in "Santa Claus"!

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Pages: 8

Tombs-Day!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Jack Oleck ?

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); Prof. Burton; Melody Allen

Synopsis: The expedition, led by Professor Burton, neared the Pyramid of Khafra, the scene of the disappearance of a previous expedition. As they passed by the Sphinx, in legend called the "Father of Terrors", he told the accompanying journalist, Miss Allen facts about the previous expedition. Reaching the entrance to the pyramid, all entered to make a preliminary investigation when suddenly the massive stone panel they had entered through closed behind them, and a booby-trap killed of one the explorers. The group headed down some passages to find a possible exit, and as they proceeded, one by one members of the group were killed, leaving only Burton and Allen alive. As they made their way deeper into the pyramid, Burton told her that legend said the sphinx actally lived at one time, but Allen pooh-poohed the idea. Suddenly they came upon King Khafra's tomb, crawled through a passage and reached the interior to find all of Khafra's wealth and some hieroglyphics stating the legend of the sphinx was true.....just before the living sphinx sprang out and killed them!

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Pages: 7

Space to Breathe!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ? (illustration)

Inker(s): ? (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Lionel Blivet

Synopsis: Lionel reached the top of the Waraiji Mountain range on a deserted dirt road, stepped out of his car and then turned on the radio. Up here, he could breathe....relax in the open air, and as he readied himself to scale a crude path to the top, he mused that he should flip off the radio in the car so that the battery wouldn't run down. But before he could do so, a large blur flew past him into a cave, so he decided to explore, and forgetting to turn the radio off. As he entered the cave, something brutally hit him and knocked him down, so he moved out of the cave only to be attacked again by many of the creatures who savagely ripped at his body: huge, horrible man-killing BATS! And as he tasted the blood in his mouth and as his last ounce of consciousness ebbed away, all he could think of was the car radio and that he had left it on.....and that the battery was going to ..........!

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Pages: 1

The Complete Crypt

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

Credits

Writer(s): Russ Cochran

Penciller(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Letterer(s): typeset

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Pages: 1

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

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

Synopsis: VK starts off his column touting EC's newest mag, Panic, then prints letters from Rosemary Cage, Richard Gunst, Allan Katz and Jerry Simonetti, plus some "Perverted Poetry" from Michael Reynolds, Larry Tucker, Arnold Hageman, Kreda Freeman and Paul H. Cox. He closes out the column pushing subscriptions for the Vault of Horror and memberships in the EC Fan Addict Club.

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Pages: 1

Beauty Rest

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Jack Oleck ?

Penciller(s): Jack Kamen [as J. Kamen] (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Kamen [as J. Kamen] (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Helen Curtis; Joyce Noble

Synopsis: Helen gazed out the window of the room she shared w/Joyce as the latter bid goodnight to a Mr. Boxer, the man she told Helen would help her to win a beauty contest the next day: "Miss Corpse of 1954"! Helen decided to play a trick on her roomie: she'd drug Joyce's drink w/sleeping pills, take a note Boxer had given to Joyce and appear in her place the next day. Helen gave the note to the man in charge, got into her suit and won the contest, being told to report that evening to an address for the award presentation. Arriving home, Helen found Joyce dead in bed [from an overdose of those pills], she called the Police and reported it as a suicide. Later Helen reported to the address she was given, but told the people there she had taken Joyce's spot.....a bad move, since she discovered that the wonner had to ACTUALLY be a corpse to win. That's the last she knew as the men came at her with scapels, rubber tubes and embalming fluid!

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Pages: 6

Shoe-Button Eyes!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig

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)

Synopsis: The little boy celebrated the best Christmas he ever had because he could now see! Born blind, all he ever knew was the love of his mother, and the companionship of his teddy bear. One day, however, his mom introduced the little boy to his new step-dad.....a man who made fun of the little boy and mis-treated his mother. He always said that the little boy had "shoe-button" eyes, just like his teddy. One day, the little boy's mother became deathly ill from over-work, and he asked his step-dad to help her. He abused her and took the boy's bear and ripped the eyes off of it. Later he asked his mom of she'd think Santa would bring him a new pair of eyes for the bear, and the mother, in spite of her condition, went out and got new buttons and sewed them on for the child. When the step-dad later found the woman dead, he cursed her still form and slapped the little boy around, knocking him unconscious. Early Christmas morning, neighbors heard screams coming from the house, and when they entered, they found the dead form of the step-dad w/his eyes replaced by buttons and the bear sitting near-by, button eyes missing....and smiling. The little boy? Well, he could now see......from a special place up in heaven!

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Pages: 7

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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Pages: 6

Two-Timed

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 Witch's Cauldron!

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

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Panic

Synopsis: Ad, with coupon, for Panic Comics.

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Pages: 1

Twin Bill!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig

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); Larry Bannister

Synopsis: Larry stood there in the dark, sweating profusely, waiting for them to come: his wife and her lover. He remembered the night he caught them in each other's arms....how he made them take shovels and forced them to dig a grave, made them get in and how he covered them over with the dirt....alive! Then how he returned to the lodge and tried to make a get-away in the car....but the battery was dead. So he took the car of his wife's lover and headed to town to get a new battery, but couldn't get one. How he later drove lover boy's car to the other side of town and how he reported his wife's "disappearance" to the Police. Yet, two weeks later....no one had found that car or them. So he drove back to the lodge where his car still sat....then he remembered that his wife had a spare set of keys in her purse, so he headed back to the grave to dig up the bodies so he could get the purse.....but the grave was empty! As he headed back for the lodge, he saw two figures following him, so he ran to the lodge as fast as he could.....and lay in wait, believing them NOT to have died in that grave. Now he heard someone enter the room and as he snapped on the flashlight, he saw two rotting corpses coming at him, and he fired at them....the last thing he ever did!

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Pages: 8

Witch Witch's Witch!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig

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); Eric Holbein; Helena

Synopsis: Eric was coming home to Blumstedt with his new wife.....who was not the girl to whom he had been betrothed since childhood. As he entered the house, he was met by his former betroth, Alicia, her Mom and his Mom, all of whom harshly berated him for bringing shame to them all. Eric's mother soon passed away, but Helena wouldn't go to the funeral. Days later, the ladies from the local church saw Helena and told her not to attend their meetings....and the leader of that group soon died. Talk began to surface saying Helena was a witch, and they thought it true when Helena walked down the street and a woman, Alicia's mother, fell dead. A mob formed and went after Helena, and, when Eric tried to intervene, they killed him and began stoning Helena to death, when she stood and chanted a few words and all the people turned to rats and scurried away. In the midst of it all was the most ugly and hideous creature of them all: Helena....the witch!

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Pages: 7

Cooler

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ? (illustration)

Inker(s): ? (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Scott

Synopsis: Scott ran breathlessly after his escape from Cragmore Prison, supposedly escape proof. Yes, there was snow on the ground and it was quite cold, but this was the only time of year that the lake that entirely surrounded the prison was frozen. Then he heard the alarm from the prison and knew that he'd be spotted.....unless.....unless he let homself down through a hole in the ice and stayed there until his pursuers gave up the hunt. Minutes passed, until he no longer heard the sounds of footsteps. Then he searched again for the hole he had gone through, but he couldn't find it. As time passed and his body became stiff in the frigid water, he managed to smile and think to himself in his last few seconds: "At least they won't take me back to the cooler!"

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Pages: 1

Notes: The last half of this page was the annual Statement of Ownership piece, listing Frank D. Lee as Business Manager.

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Vault-Keeper's Corner

Synopsis: VK first spouts off about Editor Gaines' being featured in a new mag called "Tops," then printed letters from Bill Spicer, Malcolm Biggs, Donna Lee Fernetti, Jack Laws, Dave DeChaine, Vera Bernard, Larry Hawkins and Art Walker before pushing copies of the two new EC 3-D mags as well as subscriptions.

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Pages: 1

Pipe Dream

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig

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

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

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Chen Chu Yang

Synopsis: Chen begins his tale while frequenting an opium den, a place where he can have drug-induced dreams that give him power and importance. But several visits to this drug den proffered a dream of his wife dying, later his son dying in battle, and finally his daughter's husband being murdered. The unfortunate side to these dreams was his daughter being blamed for the killing and was put to death for it. Now, Chen lay once again in the opium den.....to have yet another dream!

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Pages: 6

Two-Timed!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Jack Oleck ?

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); Dickie [later called Tom]; Constable Phyfe

Synopsis: It was 1900 and little Dickie lay in his bed until he heard a sound he thought was his Mom and Dad returning home. Instead it came from outside, and he followed the sound until he saw a man viciously beating a woman tyo death, and then advance on him, grabbing him about the throat until he lost consciousness. When he awoke, his parents were there with Constable Phyfe, who found a scorched area near the boy. The crime was never solved and fiftenn years passed....the young man grew up, married, but later discovered his wife was cheating on him. So he later confronted his wife, took her out into the woods and began to beat her. He looked up to see a young kid watching and attacked him....then realized that the young kid was acually HIMSELF! He remembered the event 15 years earlier and that there was a shot, so he searched his wife's body and found the gun. Satisfied that his wife could no longer shoot him, he drenched his wife's body in gasoline and set it afire, Then a shot rang out and he staggered, falling onto his wife's blazing body. Just then Constable Phyfe pulled him out of the flames and the two talked, Tom discovering that, back then, the little boy had a scrap of paper on him that carried TODAY'S date, and he came back to the scene to investigate!

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Pages: 7

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

Take Care

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

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Pages: 1

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

[untitled]

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

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): Bill Elder (signed)

Inker(s): Bill Elder (signed)

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Panic

Synopsis: Black & white EC house ad for Panic.

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Pages: 1

Surprise Party!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig

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); Drusilla (cameo); Jerry Adams

Synopsis: Jerry Adams arrived in a small town on a rainy night, checked into a motel and headed out to see a movie. He hits a detour and turns off on a dirt road [which isn't on any map] and gets lost, gets out and walks a it until he spots a house. As he approaches it, he sees that a party is in progress, and is invited to join in. He thoroughly enjoys himself, dancing the hours away w/his beautiful hostess. Then it dawns on him that the band plays only one tune the entire night, and his hostess tells him that it was the tune being played on the night of the fire. When he tells the crowd his name, they suddenly turn on him.....the flesh falling from their faces, as they explain that, back in 1884, his hostess was celebrating her engagement to Roger Wertham, but a rival suitor, named Adams, set fire to the house, killing everyone in it. Since then, on the same night, all the people "return" to re-enact that night until their deaths could be avenged. Now, that Jerry Adams has shown up, they now avenge themselves on him, his ancestor!

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Pages: 8

Chop Talk!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

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); Emil Voight; Anna; Heinrich

Synopsis: Emil and Anna said their last goodbyes to each other in the park.....their affair was to be over. But Emil decided to end it permamently: he killed her, and her husband came along, witnessed the act, stuck Emil and carried his dead wife away. But he returned and grabbed Emil and turned him into the Police....a trial was held and Emil was sentenced to have his head chopped off. Little did he know his executioner was Heinrich, the husband of the dead woman, and he proceeded to tell Emil how a person dies at the block. Emil lost consciousness and dreamed of that gory moment....then suddenly awoke. For days he agonized, until the day he decided to accept his fate and went to the block cheerfully. When Heinrich saw this, he lost his temper....killed Voight, then swallowed poison to be with his Anna. Suddenly, a voice called out to Emil Voight in a strange afterlife.....the voice of Heinrich, who proceeded to kill Emil again and again and again.....for all eternity!

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Pages: 7

Sharp

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ? (illustration)

Inker(s): ? (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Milton Canasta; Aunt Bridger

Synopsis: As long as he could remember, Milton had hated his Aunt Bridger, who spent her days squandering the Canasta fortune, while Milton scrapped just to get by. To make matters worse, she was squandering it away on antique jewelry....jewelry she couldn't even see because she was blind! So he decided to credep into the house....right past her and grab handfuls to sell. Then, as he placed an odd snake ring on to his finger, Aunt Bridger walked into the room, catching him in the act, and he said he was on his way out. As per her usual custom, she required a firm handshake before his departure, and they shook hands.....but Milton felt the sensation of a pin prick. And as he walked out of the house and down the street, he noted the finger the ring was on was now a purplish-red....pain screamed through his body, which began to suffer from convulsions. As he lay dying, he now realized the ring was loaded w/poison.....and soon....very soon....his eyes saw nothing!

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Pages: 1

Do People Laugh At You for Reading Comics Books?

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

Credits

Penciller(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Mad comics

Synopsis: EC house ad for MAD Comics.

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Pages: 1

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

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

Synopsis: VK presents a pieces of perverted poetry from John Wykoff and G.R.D., then some Pulsating Pograms from Larry Hauck and Also Betro, then some Morbid Movies from Bob Burg, then some Lurid Lyrics from Pete Oliphant, and finally new lyrics to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" by E. Nelson Bridwell. Finally, VK prints letters from L.P. and Ritchie Brocket, then pushes the EC 3-D mags and subscriptions to the Vault of Horror.

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Pages: 1

Take Care

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Jack Oleck ?

Penciller(s): Al Williamson (signed)

Inker(s): Angelo Torres (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Jefferson Bates (trustee of estate, death); Albrecht Dench (caretaker of estate, death); Avery Ballusk (former owner of estate, death); Rudolph Dregg (Ballusk's butler)

Synopsis: The former butler to Avery Ballusk waited on the owner hand and foot, but seemed only interested in inheriting his money after Ballusk's death, which soon came, at the end of a rope. The butler disappeared soon after, and a trial could provide no evidence that the "butler did it"! It is to this house that appointed trustee and his caretaker companion venture into the home for the first time to look it over, but they never walk out alive!

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Pages: 6

Notes: Inker credit changed. Previously credited to Williamson as pencil/ink because he signed the story. However thanks to some sharp eyes at the GAC, Torres has signed a picture in the next to last panel.
Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Oh! Henry!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Otto Binder

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); Lionel Hart

Synopsis: Lionel Hart, plainclothes detective, stared at the $10 bill in his hand and his thoughts raced back to when he had just started on the force. He made many arrests, not listening to phony stories from the guilty....but one day he caught an old lady for shoplifting, and she pleaded for him to understand that the food she took was for her sick, paraylzed husband, Henry. But Hart wouldn't listen and he took her in, got a conviction and had her thrown into jail. But curiousity got the better of Hart, so a month later he decided to check the woman's story out, and went over to her home.....and found her husband dead....in his wheelchair! Hart blamed himself, but just then, he whirled to see the old lady behind him enter and thank the Lt. for keeping her husband company. Hart offered her money, which she wouldn't accept, but she did fix him tea....w/rat poison, and as Hart sat there, paraylzed himself, the old woman came at him w/a huge knife, and began cutting the flesh first from his feet, mumbling something about Henry needing "something to eat!"

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Pages: 7

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

The Catacombs

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

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Pages: 1

Notes: The cover title was taken from the story 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.

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Pages: 1

Notes: 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)

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!

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Pages: 8

Coffin Spell!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

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); 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!

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Pages: 7

Pinch!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(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!"

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Pages: 1

[untitled]

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

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): Jack Davis (signed)

Inker(s): Jack Davis (signed)

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.

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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.

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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)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Pietro Miuta; Gino Alcari

Synopsis: Pietro grabbed the sack of silver as Gino followed him out of the store and headed for their hideout. The take was good, goods worth 4000 lire that some American might purchase for much more. Deciding to hide the swag in the Catacombs, they took their wine w/them and headed down into the eerie place, lined w/mummies of the long departed. 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 back down the unlit passages toward the exit, lamp in hand, but became disoriented and hopelessly lost. He found his way back to Gino's body, and, picking him up, and begging the man to show him the way out as Pietro carried him along. And then......the lamp's light went out!

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Pages: 6

Out of Sight...

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

Penciller(s): Graham Ingels

Inker(s): Graham Ingels

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!"

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Pages: 7

[untitled]

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

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Colorist(s): ?

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)

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Pages: 1

Proof...of 8 Brands Tested, Panic is Best Imitation of Mad

Promotional Material (from Publisher) 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): Panic

Synopsis: House ad for Panic Comics.

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Pages: 1

Deadly Beloved!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

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); Drusilla (cameo); Edward Leeds; Eloise Fontagne

Synopsis: Edward's car overheats and is forced to stop and seek out help. He spots a stately mansion in the bayou, and enters, finding it burnt out inside. A lass named Eloise welcomes him and begins telling him of the home's history, and said her entire family had died in the fire, then shows him around. Edward encounters several near-fatal accidents while on this journey, then comes under her spell and discovers that she wants him dead in order to join her, since she was already dead. He flees the home, but the longing becomes too great and he heads back to the mansion, where she awaits him!

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Pages: 8

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Top Billing

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

Penciller(s): Reed Crandall [as R. Crandall] (signed)

Inker(s): Reed Crandall [as R. Crandall] (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Blye; Nash; Winton

Synopsis: Three actors find themselves at the stage entrance of mysterious Woltam Theatre. A rehearsal of Hamlet stops when a vital prop turns up missing. Winton offers his acting services and is accepted, leaving the other two jealous. Blye kills both of his partners, and the director has no choice but to give Blye the role. But while preparing for the role, Blye discovers that the skulls used for the Yorick scene end up disappearing.

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Pages: 7

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Show Stopper!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ? (illustration)

Inker(s): ? (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Grendat the Clown

Synopsis: Grendat thought that no one would notice him pick-pocketing the crowd at the carnival, and soon he spotted an old man entering a darkened alley. He followed, but the man saw the clown and began to yell, which was suddenly stilled with the clown's knife. He then slipped away into the crowd to establish an alibi once the body was found. He spotted the flying rings and grabbed one and began to perform, drawing a crowd. Hanging upside down, he failed to see a brick wall drawing nearer and suddenly he hit it full force. As he laying dying, he heard someone in the crowd saying the act was "terrif!"

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Pages: 1

E.C. Went to Sea in Search of Another New Trend...

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

Credits

Penciller(s): Wally Wood [as Wood] (signed)

Inker(s): Wally Wood [as Wood] (signed)

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: adventure

Feature(s): Piracy

Character(s): Bill Gaines (likeness); EC artists (likenesses)

Synopsis: House ad for Piracy Comics.

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Pages: 1

[untitled]

Letters Page on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Vault-Keeper's Corner

Synopsis: VK begins his column trying to convince readers that he is a man, then presents several gory poems sent in by Mrs. R. Kindler and Sheldon Hack, then a limerick from Jim Seff, and "Horror Hit Parade" tune titles from Don Donaldson, Robert Versandi, John Speight, Judy Louther, Richard Fragola, Betty Farkas and Bonnie Brady. The column concludes w/a letter from Joanne Schmidt and a subscription plug.

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Pages: 1

The Purge

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)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Sir Benjamin; King Horace; Alicia

Synopsis: King Horace is called to the cell of a lovely lady and he asks her why she wants to see him. Alicia tells him that she was controlled by the devil and wanted to be purged of him. So the King goes to see his court wizard who says he can do the difficult task, but he has much difficulty, and is given seven days to succeed or lose his head.

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Pages: 6

All for Gnawt

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

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); Millie Mumford; Alvin Tuttle

Synopsis: Millie is drinking herself into a stupor, lamenting that her previous four husbands had not left her the funds she craved, but to find another husband would be difficult considering her looks and weight. Spotting an ad in the lonely hearts magazine from an elderly gentleman wanting a woman who would learn to love him, she goes to his home and learns the old geezer is worth $400,000, but his house is overruns with rats. Swallowing her pride, she returns from a local bar.....maybe she shouldn't have!

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Pages: 7

Notes: Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

An Harrow Escape

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

Credits

Penciller(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Inker(s): Johnny Craig (signed)

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

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

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Pages: 1

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

[untitled]

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

Credits

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): MAD & Panic

Synopsis: House ad for MAD magazine and Panic Comics.

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Pages: 1

Old Man Mose!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig

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); Drusilla (cameo); Mose; Ned Rogers

Synopsis: Ned stopped his wagon when he saw townspeople throwing stones at old Mose, a man they thought worshipped the Devil since he lived in the Black Church. He chased them off, then invited the man to his home, where he was welcomed by Ned's wife. The next day Ned went to town for supplies and the folk there warned him of the old man, but he paid them no mind. Late that night, he heard a noise and discovered old Mose coming in, supposedly from a late night walk. But the townsfolk told Ned the next day about sacrificial killings that had occured in the area, the latest being last night, and once again they blamed Mose for it. Ned covered for Mose, but rushed home to find the still form of his wife on the floor and Mose in the doorway....with scratches to his face. Ned pounced on Mose and beat him to death, but then heard the last words of his dying wife tell him that Mose was protecting her from an escaped prisoner, whose still form lay outside the door!

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Pages: 8

An Harrow Escape!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

Penciller(s): Joe Orlando (signed)

Inker(s): Joe Orlando (signed)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Crypt of Terror

Character(s): The Crypt-Keeper (host); Captain Grady; Lt. Morton; Kip Fowler

Synopsis: Captain Grady's ship approached the seemingly derelict "Sea Witch", boarded her and found the entire group on board slaughtered....that is, except for one Kip Fowler, who was barely able to tell them the story of how the ship had been caught in a bad storm and forced ashore. They had spotted a castle where they were met by a strange man, who invited them in out of the rain. That night, Kip roamed the castle and found coffins! He hurried back to the room of a female passenger and saw a vampire bending over her, and he drove a wooden stake thru its heart as it jumped at him. The passengers then headed back to their boat and shoved off, but Kip discovered the woman had already been bitten and was a vampire herself. At that point, Fowler passed away, and the Captain & Lt. Morton noticed the female lying near, and the Captain raised a wooden stake and plunged it into her heart. Both went up on deck....then Morton remembered that she had bitten Fowler, and both whirled to see the vampire....Fowler, leaping at them!

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Pages: 6

This Is An Appeal For Action!

Text Article on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Johnny Craig ?; Bill Gaines ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Feature(s): A Special Editorial

Synopsis: This was an editorial request to readers to write letters to the Senate Sub-Committee on Juvenile Delinquency in support of comic magazines as being "harmless" entertainment. It was at this time that comics were under fire by "do-gooders" wanting to rid the nation of this type of entertainment.

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Pages: 1

Notes: No doubt this piece was written either by Editor Johnny Craig or Managing Editor William Gaines...or both.

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 Fantasy.

The Pit!

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)

Letterer(s): Jim Wroten

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Feature(s): The Vault of Horror!

Character(s): The Vault-Keeper (host); Felix Johnson; Lila Johnson; Aaron Scott; Beatrice Scott

Synopsis: Felix and Lila Johnson and Aaron and Beatrice Scott both had competing money-making attractions: the Johnson's with cock fighting, the Scott's with vicious dogs. Arguments brewed between the two couples, as they discovered that each of the wives were trying to outdo each other to draw paying crowds (the husbands thought the activities were cruel and inhuman). To the husbands involved, there was only one solution to their "problem" women and competing "businesses": they put the two women into the arena and let them go at each other!

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Pages: 6

E.C. Went to Sea in Search of Another New Trend.....

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

Credits

Penciller(s): Wallace Wood [as Wood] (signed)

Inker(s): Wallace Wood [as Wood] (signed)

Letterer(s): ?; some typeset

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Piracy

Synopsis: EC house ad for their new comic, Piracy.

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Pages: 1

Bloodsuckers

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ? (illustration)

Inker(s): ? (illustration)

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: horror

Character(s): Storch

Synopsis: Storch felt the bullet in his shoulder as he peered over to see the dead form of one Quint Barlow, and he knew he'd better leave town before they strung him up for the killing. He jumped onto his horse and rode, fearing the "bloodsucking" sodbuster friends of Barlow's might catch up with him. He was weakening from the loss of blood and decided to stop and hide in a field of grain to rest up and dig the bullet out of his shoulder. He passed out, but soon awaoke to a strange whirring sound, which he recognized to be hungry locusts invading the grain field. He tried to rise and get away, but he was too weak and the locusts soon came upon him, and didn't leave until his bones had been picked clean!

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Pages: 1

Ashes to Ashes!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Carl Wessler

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); Emil Frankenstein

Synopsis: Emil sat at his desk in the old Frankenstein mansion writing in his diary about how his infamous Father had tried to create life from a miasmic swamp. Only partially successfully, it was Emil who took over the experiment and successfully created a newborn infant. However, he didn't know if this infant would one day be able to reproduce. He took the child to a local hospital, switched it for a newly dead infant, and then followed the progress of the child from there. The young lady, Louisa, grew up and fell in love with Karl, but her Father, drunk as usual, came into the engagement party with a gun and tried to kill the young man. His shot went astray and his his daughter in the stomach and she fell to the floor, her body reverting to the greenish-black ooze it had been taken from in the swamp years before. Emil has his answer!

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Pages: 6

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

Take Care

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 Vault of Horror!

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

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Pages: 1

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