"Catacomb of Torment Honors Iconic Horror Comic Cover"

In the annals of horror comics, 1954's *Crime SuspenStories #22* stands out as a notorious and iconic issue. Even if the title doesn't immediately come to mind, the chilling image of a man wielding an ax and gripping his wife's severed head is unmistakable. This issue played a pivotal role in sparking the anti-comics backlash of the 1950s, which led to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority and the eventual downfall of EC Comics.

Fast forward to today, and EC Comics has risen from the ashes under the new imprint at Oni Press. In a fitting tribute, the latest release honors Johnny Craig's infamous cover art. IGN is excited to exclusively unveil artist Jay Stephens' cover for *Catacomb of Torment #1*, which is part of an ongoing series celebrating classic EC Comics. Take a look below:

For a side-by-side comparison, here's the original cover by Johnny Craig for *Crime SuspenStories #22*:

*Catacomb of Torment* is one of several new titles launching under the EC Comics imprint's "Summer of Fear" campaign. This horror anthology series showcases the talents of John Arcudi, Marguerite Bennett, Dan McDaid, Matt Kindt, David Lapham, and Tonči Zonjić. Joining it are *Blood Type* by Corinna Bechko and Andrea Sorrentino, and *Cruel Universe 2* by J. Holtham, Kano, Ann Nocenti, David Rubín, and Greg Smallwood.

Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson shared his enthusiasm, stating, "Our EC Comics line is not only the best-selling line of comics in Oni's near-30-year history, they're also an insanely fun thing to work on. So, after exceeding our own already-high expectations with *Epitaphs From the Abyss*, *Cruel Universe*, and *Cruel Kingdom* last year, we're challenging ourselves to get bolder and bigger – and bloodier! – on all fronts as EC enters the second year of its milestone resurrection."

Oni Press Editor in Chief Sierra Hahn added, "Working on EC for the last year has been incredibly inspiring for everyone working on the series – from the team at Oni to our partners building these bite-sized worlds at each level of production. It's a real joy to continue bringing these entertaining morality tales to life with the best storytellers in the business. This summer's slate of comics is no exception."

For a closer look at *Blood Type* and *Catacomb of Torment*, explore the slideshow gallery below:

EC Comics' Summer of Fear Preview Gallery

18 Images

The "Summer of Fear" campaign kicks off with the release of *Blood Type #1* in June 2025.

For fans of classic comic book art, don't miss our selection of the most iconic superhero comic book covers of all time.