EC Comics: The Original Outlaw Comics

[@julianhermanubis6800]

The showdown in the United States Senate between William Gaines (publisher of EC Comics) and Senator Estes Kefauver (a major political figure of the early to mid-1950s) is one of the most surreally funny things in American political history.

[@jeffreydowson6666]

The reprints in the 90s were the first comics I ever bought from the local newsagents. I got the EC Archives from Dark Horse now. In Australia in the early/mid 90s they used to play Tales From The Crypt show from like 1130pm and then they had Forever Knight and Monsters on, so I never used to get enough sleep when I was a teenager.

[@russworks2882]

EC's Leroy lettering was done by the same couple that worked on Wonder Woman, and about a million other 50's comics at places like Fox and Avon. Their name was Wroten and if that sounds too on the nose, one of DC's best letterers was Joe Letterese, who designed iconic logos for books like the Flash and G.I. Combat (and lettered the sound effects on the Batman TV show.) Their names were their destinies.

[@reprintranch]

Another terrific piece, fellas. Great point about this book being a budget alternative to the Taschen $200 tome. A few comments -- The book's about 250 pages long. Roughly 160 pages are devoted to the comics, 80 pages to the TV series, and 10 pages to index, etc. Speaking of the index, the book's biggest flaw (in my opinion) is that it does not mention Bernard Krigstein in the text, and only reproduces four pieces of his artwork (the two panels from "The Bath" referenced in the video, plus the cover to Piracy issue 6 and the final panel from "The Purge," which is nothing to brag about.) Second-biggest flaw is that the New Direction titles are given only one page of coverage -- no mention of "Master Race," either. Third-biggest flaw is that the science fiction titles aren't given much attention -- though this book is mainly focused, necessarily, on EC horror. Best thing about the book is the inclusion of a previously unpublished Jack Davis story from the Picto-Fiction titles, "The Mother." (It's at the back of the book, so you guys didn't make it to the story in this vid.) Davis gets a lotta love in this book, probably has more presence page-for-page than any other artist. Second-best thing is the inclusion of four stories that well represent the EC horror output -- one each by Feldstein, Ingels, Davis and Kamen. Third-best is that author Diehl included a good amount of contextual detail, concerning the origins of the comic industry, EC's competitors, the Kefauver hearings, etc.

[@fletchkeilman2205]

Man. Again with my childhood comics. You guys are psychic. Love this channel

[@funkyweapon1981]

My first exposure to EC was actually a joke book that was in my middle school library.

[@stevena488]

The EC guys were the cats who taught me "Oh... This Is how you make comics". I reverse engineered how Kurtzman did the layouts (there's an image of his thumbnails and I still go back and stare at them just to figure out how layouts work, is my layout as readable as a Kurtzman comic? Also I tried inking like Wally Wood because Jack Davis gorgeous brush work was one of the most intimidating things I've ever seen in terms of inking. Brilliant overview guys

[@florianneumann9441]

You might also like this ^^ Part 2 coming soon... Bernard Krigstein: Legacy of Genius, Beyond Master Race Part 1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWGkn3evaL6GqaM

[@plateoshrimp9685]

You guys have really reminded me of my love for comics. Thanks!

[@gmosphere]

My first exposure to EC comics was this cheep paperback that contained alot of the Ray Bradbury adaptations. I picked it up at a flea market.

[@julianhermanubis6800]

My favorite EC artist is Graham Ingels, but the guy's life really went off the rails for a while after the Comics Code came into effect.

[@bannedinallston]

I know you guys have reviewed other Wally Wood works, I'd love to see you guys dive into those black and white EC artist collection hardcovers that Fanta puts out....some of the strongest line work in the game, even 60, 70 years on

[@1971thedoctor]

I always pick up in the back issue bin at my LCS when available reprints from Gladstone of any EC title, mostly like the horror,sci fi ,and war comics,

[@chesscomix6]

Thank you for the drawing info

[@Homeschoolsw6]

27:24..." diet pills " Like Dr. Venture.