Catacomb of Torment Pays Tribute to the Most Iconic Horror Comic Cover of All Time

1954's Crime SuspenStories #22 mightiness good beryllium the astir infamous and iconic fearfulness comic ever published. Even if the sanction of that contented doesn't ringing a bell, you've nary uncertainty seen the representation of a antheral wielding an ax and holding his wife's severed head. That comic, arsenic overmuch arsenic immoderate other, inspired the anti-comics backlash of the '50s and the instauration of the Comics Code Authority, and led to the demise of steadfast EC Comics.

Thankfully, EC Comics precocious returned from the sedate arsenic a caller imprint astatine Oni Press. And it's lone fitting that the latest EC Comics merchandise pays tribute to Johnny Craig's much-maligned portion of screen art. IGN tin exclusively uncover creator Jay Stephens' screen to Catacomb of Torment #1, portion of an ongoing bid of classical EC tributes. Check it retired below:

Art by Jay Stephens. (Image Credit: Oni Press)

For comparison, here's Craig's archetypal screen to Crime SuspenStories #22:

Art by Johnny Craig. (Image Credit: EC Comics)

Catacomb of Torment is 1 of respective caller EC books launching arsenic portion of the imprint's "Summer of Fear" promotion. This fearfulness anthology bid features enactment by John Arcudi, Marguerite Bennett, Dan McDaid, Matt Kindt, David Lapham, & Tonči Zonjić. It'll beryllium joined by Corinna Bechko and Andrea Sorrentino's Blood Type and J. Holtham, Kano, Ann Nocenti, David Rubín, and Greg Smallwood's Cruel Universe 2.

"Our EC Comics enactment is not lone the best-selling enactment of comics successful Oni's near-30-year history, they're besides an insanely amusive happening to enactment on," said Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson successful a statement. "So, aft exceeding our ain already-high expectations with Epitaphs From the Abyss, Cruel Universe, and Cruel Kingdom past year, we're challenging ourselves to get bolder and bigger – and bloodier! – connected each fronts arsenic EC enters the 2nd twelvemonth of its milestone resurrection."

"Working connected EC for the past twelvemonth has been incredibly inspiring for everyone moving connected the bid – from the squad astatine Oni to our partners gathering these bite-sized worlds astatine each level of production," said Oni Press Editor successful Chief Sierra Hahn. "It's a existent joyousness to proceed bringing these entertaining morality tales to beingness with the champion storytellers successful the business. This summer's slate of comics is nary exception."

Get a person look astatine some Blood Type and Catacomb of Torment successful the slideshow assemblage below:

Summer of Fear kicks disconnected with the merchandise of Blood Type #1 successful June 2025.

For much classical comic publication art, cheque retired our picks for the astir iconic superhero comic publication covers of each time.

Jesse is simply a mild-mannered unit writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intelligence thicket by following @jschedeen connected BlueSky.