TALES FROM THE CRYPT
THE HAUNT OF FEAR, THE VAULT OF HORROR
THREE DIMENSIONAL TALES FROM THE CRYPT OF TERROR


"THE CRYPT-KEEPER", 'THE OLD WITCH"
"THE VAULT-KEEPER", "DRUSILLA"



Entertaining Comics, more commonly known as EC Comics, was an American publisher of comic books, which specialized in horror, crime, satire, military, dark fantasy, and science fiction from the 1940's through the mid-1950's. In 1954/55, censorship pressures prompted it to close its horror and science fiction comics, and by 1956 the only comic left was "Mad".

EC produced three horror titles, who each had their own horror host.

The three horror titles featured stories introduced by a trio of horror hosts (The GhouLunatics):
"The Crypt-Keeper" introduced "Tales From The Crypt";
"The Vault-Keeper" welcomed readers to "The Vault Of Horror"; and
"The Old Witch" cackled over "The Haunt Of Fear".
Each of the three hosts featured in each other's titles.

"TALES FROM THE CRYPT"
"Tales From The Crypt" was a bi-monthly horror comic anthology series published from 1950 to 1955, producing 27 issues
(the first issue with the title was #20), previously titles being "International Comics" (#1-#5); "International Crime Patrol" (#6); "Crime Patrol" (#7-#16) and "The Crypt of Terror" (#17-#19) for a total of 46 issues in the series.




"The Crypt-Keeper" was the primary host of "Tales From The Crypt". He was introduced to the public in "Crime Patrol" #15, and he continued with that magazine through its changes in title and format. He was a frightening presence in those early issues,"Tales From The Crypt" a sinister hermit sitting framed in the lightless crypt's half-open door, his face all but hidden by the double curtain of his long white hair."Tales From The Crypt" But he soon evolved into a more comedic horror host, delivering an irreverent and pun-filled commentary to lighten the horrific tone of the stories he introduced.

The Crypt-Keeper's duties were not limited to hosting. He would occasionally appear as a character as well, and these appearances give the reader a glimpse of his biography. "The Lower Berth" (Tales from the Crypt #33) gives an account of the circumstances surrounding his birth. "While the Cat's Away" (The Vault of Horror #34) conducts a tour of his house above and below ground. "Horror beneath the Streets" (The Haunt of Fear #17) tells how he and his fellow GhouLunatics got their EC publishing contracts. All three hosts would appear together from issue 22.


In 2007, Papercutz, an independent comics publisher began running a new series of original "Tales From The Crypt" comics.
The first issue was published in June 2007, with a cover drawn by Kyle Baker. All three of EC Comics' horror hosts appeared in the issue, drawn by Rick Parker. Contributors to subsequent issues have included well-known horror talents Joe R. Lansdale and his brother John L. Lansdale, Don McGregor, James Romberger & Marguerite Van Cook, Mort Todd, and Chris Noeth. The new version has a smaller digest size with a graphic novel style book binding. There have been a total of 13 issues (9 graphic novels) published by Papercutz, with the last issue being published 28 September 2010.

In 2016, Super Genius Comics would relaunch "Tales From The Crypt" for two issues.

"THREE DIMENSIONAL TALES FROM THE CRYPT OF TERROR"

Three Dimensional E.C. Classics was a quarterly comic book anthology series published by EC Comics in 1954.
"Three Dimensional Tales From The Crypt of Terror". It recycled stories from EC's horror lines exclusively: "Tales From The Crypt" and "The Vault Of Horror". It also recycled the "Tales From The Crypt" "The Crypt-Keeper" as host.

"THE HAUNT OF FEAR"
"The Haunt Of Fear" was a bi-monthly horror comic anthology series published in 1950. The first issue being May/June 1950 and last being November/December 1954 issue, compiling a total of 28 issues.

The Western comic book series "Gunfighter" morphed into "The Haunt Of Fear" from issue 15, but renumbered itself at issue 18 as issue 4.






Although EC's horror stable consisted of three separate magazines, there was little beyond their titles to distinguish them. Each magazine had its titular host, but the hosting duties for any one issue were typically shared with the hosts of the other two. Thus, a single issue of "The Haunt Of Fear" would contain two stories told by "The Old Witch", one by "The Crypt-Keeper" (of "Tales From The Crypt") and one by "The Vault-Keeper" (of "The Vault of Horror"). The professional rivalry between these three GhoulLunatics was often played for comic effect.
"The Old Witch" was the last to make her appearance. The first issue of "The Haunt Of Fear" had no host. The second issue debuted The Witch's Cauldron, a feature with "The Old Witch" introducing herself in a story drawn by artist Jack Kamen. The third issue featured a Craig cover depicting three GhoulLunatics stepping out of doorways and launched a letter column, "The Old Witch's Niche." Thereafter, "The Old Witch presided over the magazine as its comedic horror host, delivering an irreverent and pun-filled commentary to lighten the horrific tone of the stories she introduced. In spite of her slow start, "The Old Witch" would prove to be the most visible of the GhoulLunatics in their initial run. Not only did she appear in virtually every issue of "The Haunt of Fear", "Tales From The Crypt" and "The Vault Of Horror", she also appeared in the final story of "Crime SuspenStories" in every issue from #3 through #16.

The character of "The Old Witch" was inspired by "Old Nancy", the witch of Salem, host of Alonzo Deen Cole's radio series, "The Witch's Tale". "The Old Witch's" own account of her origin may be found in "The Haunt of Fear" #14's "A Little Stranger!" which details the circumstances surrounding her birth.

"THE VAULT OF HORROR"
The Vault of Horror was a bi-monthly horror comic anthology series published in the early 1950s. "The Vault Of Horror"
was first issue was April/May 1950 issue and ceased publication with its December/January 1955 issue, producing a total of 29 issues.





"The Vault Of Horror" was originally "The War Against Crime"; but from issue #12, it changed to "The Vault Of Horror". "The Vault-Keeper" became the title's sardonic host and commentator, occasionally sharing duties with "The Old Witch" and "The Crypt-Keeper".

"The Vault-Keeper" was the primary host of "The Vault Of Horror". A single issue of "The Vault Of Horror" would contain two stories told by "The Vault-Keeper", one by "The Crypt-Keeper" (of "Tales From The Crypt") and one by "The Old Witch" (of "The Haunt Of Fear"). "The Vault-Keeper" was introduced to the public in "War Against Crime" #10, and continued in that magazine through its change in title and format. He was a frightening presence in those early issues, an ancient inquisitor, hooded and robed, presiding over the empty dungeon of his bloody past. But he soon evolved into a more comedic horror host, delivering an irreverent and pun-filled commentary to lighten the horrific tone of the stories he introduced.

Although "The Vault-Keeper" was originally designed by Feldstein, Craig is the artist most associated with the character, having drawn all his lead stories in "The Vault Of Horror" with the exception of two. Craig also drew "The Vault-Keeper" in his guest appearances in the other comics, although another artist frequently drew the rest of the story. For the final four issues of "The Vault Of Horror", "The Vault-Keeper" was joined by "Drusilla", a beautiful but silent co-host in the Vampira mode.



In 2020, EC Comics - from "Classic Horror Comics Label",
was inducted into "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame"
- Behind the Screams induction.


In 1972, based on the EC Comics, a "Tales From The Crypt" movie was produced and released by Amicus Productions.


Tales From The Crypt- From Comic Books to Television (2004) from The Professor on Vimeo.

LINKS


Wikipedia
"Tales from the Crypt (comics)"

Wikipedia
"The Haunt of Fear"

Wikipedia
"The Vault of Horror (comics)"

My Comic Shop
"The Haunt of Fear"

My Comic Shop
"Tales From The Crypt"

My Comic Shop
"The Vault of Horror"


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