Christian Laspada
Hello, boils and ghouls, I’m glad you could make it to Comic Watch’s Crypt party. I hope you’re in the mood for a terrifyingly tasteless tour of horror history. You’re in for a fright as we explore the ex-SCREAM-ly iconic EC Comics and its legacy through movies and TV. Our tour schedule includes gore, ghouls, and gags so BOO-ckle up.
A Horrid Horror History
Entertaining Comics, or EC Comics, was an American comic book publisher that specialized in horror fiction, crime fiction, dark fantasy, and science fiction from the 1940s through the mid-1950s. EC Comics is most known for the Tales of the Crypt series, but other popular titles included The Vault of Horror, Weird Science, and Mad. Originally named Education Comics, the company initially focused on educational child-oriented stories about the Bible and cute animals. However, after the death of owner Max Gaines, his 25-year-old son William Gaines took over and began printing more mature stories. EC Comics’ innovative approach to storytelling and artwork had a profound impact on the comic book industry. The company hired top-notch artists and writers such as Al Feldstein, Wally Wood, and Harvey Kurtzman. Together, they raised the bar for comics in terms of quality and creativity, crafting unforgettable stories and visuals. EC’s horror comics became a massive hit, largely thanks to quirky characters, ghastly stories, and alliteration-filled puns. EC also popularized the use of twist endings, a narrative technique that would become a staple for the horror genre.
However, raising fears of juvenile delinquency in the 1950s led politicians and the social elite to look at movies, music, and comic books as blame for teenage anarchy. Unfortunately, due to increased censorship and the new Comics Code Authority (CCA), EC Comics became defunct in 1956, only running issues of Mad Magazine. Despite this, the legacy of EC Comics still lived on, as famous fans such as Stephen King and R.L. Stine spread their love for these creepy cartoons. What really solidified EC Comics’ legacy was the numerous adaptations that have graced the big and small screen.
From the Tales from the Crypt cartoon series to the Demon Knight movie, these are some of the best adaptations that made EC Comics a relic.
Tales from the Crypt (1972)
The first on-screen adaptation of EC Comics came in the form of 1972’s Tales from the Crypt. A British horror directed by Freddie Francis, the film showcases five tales lifted from the pages of The Haunt of Fear and Tales from the Crypt comics. The story follows five strangers who encounter the Crypt Keeper, who tells them stories of how they will die. The movie was produced by Amicus Production, who, at the time was releasing similar horror anthologies films such as Dr. Terrors House of Horrors (1965) that were loosely influenced by EC Comics. They required the rights to EC Comics’ Tales from the Crypt to produce this movie, with Gaines’ one stipulation being that he retained script approval.
The film was a hit, earning over $3 million at the box office. What really makes this film successful is how much it feels like the comics. No matter who is watching it, you can’t help but feel the childlike wonder of watching the Crypt Keeper on the big screen. The film strikes the perfect balance of sternness and campiness, perfectly reflecting the feel of EC Comics.
The Vault of Horror (1973)
Following the success of Tales from the Crypt, Amicus Productions released The Vault of Horror, a 1973 British anthology horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker. The movie centers on five men trapped in an office building who decide to pass the time by sharing nightmares. Unlike its predecessor, none of the stories in this film are from The Vault of Horror comics and instead mainly from the Tales from the Crypt and Shock SuspenStories comics. The movie actually omits the Vault Keeper character from the original namesake comics.
The movie has the same vibes as its predecessor but didn’t hit the mark with audiences. It is more of the same but lacks the suspense and emotional depth the 1972 film’s stories had. The cast of the film is the strongest part, powering through stories that aren’t the most solid. Despite negative reviews, the film is still a fun time, although it is more comedy than horror.
Tales from the Crypt (1993-1996)
In 1989, HBO released the “Tales from the Crypt” TV series, a horror anthology hosted by the Crypt Keeper. The series ran for 7 seasons from 1989 to 1996 with 93 episodes filled with horror stories from issues of The Haunt of Fear, The Vault of Horror, Crime SuspenStories, Shock SuspenStories, and Two-Fisted Tales. The show was a hallmark for EC Comics as HBO’s allowance of graphic gore, nudity, and violence freed the stories of the censorship that ruined the company. The series was heavily bolstered by the pun-loving wisecracking Crypt Keeper, who was voiced by John Kassir and brought to life by puppeteers.
The Crypt Keeper in this series differed heavily from the one in the 1972 film. He was less refined and was missing a nose. However, this made him a pop culture sensation with the series getting high critical acclaim. The series became so popular that celebrities being featured was the cool thing at the time, with noted features from Kirk Douglas, Demi Moore, Brad Pitt, Christopher Reeve, Martin Sheen, Steve Buscemi, Dan Aykroyd, and Ms. Jessica Harper. Tom Hanks and Arnold Schwarzenegger even directed a couple of episodes. The popularity of this series also led to the spin-off series Perversions of Science, which was an anthology based on EC Comics’ Weird Science, Weird Fantasy, and Incredible Science Fiction.
Tales of the Cryptkeeper (1993-1999)
Running concurrently with HBO’s “Tales from the Crypt” was the animated horror children’s show Tales from the Cryptkeeper which ran for 5 seasons from 1993 to 1999. The series was hosted by the Crypt Keeper, who was more friendly than fiendly in this adaptation. It brought in other characters from the comics such as The Vault Keeper from The Vault of Horror and the old Witch from The Haunt of Fear. This was a significantly milder version of the HBO show that cut all of the blood, gore, profanity, and sexual content. The series introduced the fictional city of Gravenshurst, California where most of the episodes took place.
This is my personal favorite adaptation of EC Comics as it’s the series I grew up watching. Horror for children is relatively rare, so this show felt revolutionary when I watched it. The show was perfect for the weird kids who loved horror, with iconic episodes like “Monster Ate My Homework” and “The Weeping Woman”.
Demon Knight (1995)
EC Comics came back as a feature-length film with Ernest Dickerson’s 1995 black horror comedy film Demon Knight. The film was presented by the HBO series Crypt Keeper. The film tells the story of high-level demons who rally lower-level demons as warriors in an attempt to obtain a key containing the blood of Christ. The key is guarded by immortal warriors, the titular Demon Knights. The Crypt Keeper isn’t the star of this film but is featured in scenes at the film’s beginning and ending.
The film received mixed reviews, with the biggest complaint being it was neither funny enough nor scary enough to satisfy. The movie does have some interesting special effects with an appropriate amount of gore. However, the main issue is the movie feels slow and is generally boring. The film wasn’t a total flop, having small releasing in theaters and getting a box office of $21.1 million compared to the $12 million budget.
Bordello of Blood (1996)
Despite the negative reviews of Demon Knight, HBO released a s spinoff 1996 horror comedy film Bordello of Blood. The raunchy film follows a wisecracking private eye as he investigates a funeral home that moonlights as a vampire bordello. The Crypt Keeper returns for this film, acting as the main narrator.
The film is now a cult classic, but at the time it received negative reviews from fans of the HBO series. The film’s smaller budget of $2.5 million can be felt with the film feeling out of touch and not funny. The movie still managed to make a profit of $5.6 million at the box office. Although it’s not the greatest adaptation, the film still continues the legacy of EC Comics.
I hope you had a horrid time learning about the BOO-tiful history of EC Comics. The legacy of EC Comics has been felt across America, with appalling acidic adaptations still being released today. Although 1950s censorship brought an end to the comics, EC’s stories and characters have stayed the GHOUL thing to keep us entertained. That’s all from me, boils and ghouls. Bugs and hisses.
