Last week, I celebrated the return of Creepshow to comic book shelves, and I’m happy to report that my local comic shop did not disappoint. But, something else caught my eye while I browsed for other tales of mystery and macabre — Epitaphs from the Abyss!
Published by Oni Press, Epitaphs from the Abyss is not just another run-of-the-mill horror anthology. Indeed, the publisher is reaching deep into the annals of horror and comic history, evoking the hallowed EC brand.
The following has been shared from the publisher’s website:
THE MOST NOTORIOUS NAME IN TERROR IS BACK—WITH A VENGEANCE!
From the publisher that drove Tales from the Crypt, Vault of Horror, Haunt of Fear, and many more into the depraved hearts of an unsuspecting world, the immortal EC COMICS returns . . . with its first ALL-NEW series in nearly 70 years!
In our first extra-sized, 40-page dose of fear, witness shocking tales of torment and tension in the undying EC tradition—as wrenched from the grave by the vile intentions of acclaimed writers Brian Azzarello (Batman: Damned, 100 Bullets), Chris Condon (That Texas Blood, Night People), J. Holtham (FX’s The Handmaid’s Tale), and Stephanie Phillips (Harley Quinn, Grim) and realized into bloody reality by “all-slaughter” artists Jorge Fornes (Rorschach, Danger Street) Phil Hester (Family Tree), Peter Krause (Irredeemable), and more!
What the Comics Code Authority couldn’t kill has only made it stronger . . . EC COMICS LIVES AGAIN IN EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS!
Issue #1 released in July, with several cover variants available. Pictured above is the variant I snagged for my personal collection. Featured inside the first installment, readers will find four tales: Killer Spec, Senator, Senator, Family Values, and Us vs. Us. The individual entries are predominantly enjoyable, but some narratives do feel too constrained and the endings, in a couple of cases, telegraphed. Suffice it to say, the online reaction to issue #1 was not the stuff that publishers dream of, but personally, I found Epitaphs from the Abyss to be a fun companion to Creepshow.
Issue #4 of Epitaphs from the Abyss is scheduled to find comic book shelves in mid-October. Until then, I look forward to playing catch-up with Issues #2 and #3.
