The EC Archives: Tales from the Crypt Volume 1

Al Feldstein was an American writer, editor, and artist best known for his work at EC Comics. He was also editor of the satirical magazine Mad from 1956 to 1985. After retiring from Mad, Feldstein concentrated on American paintings of Western wildlife. Feldstein died in 2014.

Johnny Craig was an American comic book artist born in 1926. A veteran of World War II, Craig got his start in comics as an assistant to Harry Lampert, cocreator of the Flash. After the war he worked as a penciler and inker at EC Comics. Before EC’s collapse after the United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency hearings, Craig was best known for his work on The Vault of Horror and Crime SuspenStories. He passed away in 2001 and was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame in 2005.

Harvey Kurtzman (1924–1993) was a cartoonist, writer, editor, and comics genius. He is probably best remembered for MAD, which he founded in 1952. He created 28 revolutionary issues for E.C. publisher Bill Gaines (for whom he also created Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat) with such talent as Will Elder, Jack Davis, and Wally Wood before leaving in 1956. Kurtzman then created the short-lived satire magazine Trump for Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner in 1957. He followed with the comic-size Humbug in 1958, then Help! magazine. During his Help! tenure he discovered such diverse talent as Terry Gilliam, Gloria Steinem, Gilbert Shelton, and R. Crumb. In 1962 he and collaborator Will Elder began producing the long-running and elaborate Little Annie Fanny comic for Playboy. In the 1970s he became known as the “father-in-law of underground comix” for inspiring a new generation of media-bending cartoonists.

George Roussos was a comic book artist, inker, and colorist. Roussos is known for his work on Fantastic Four, Avengers, Flash Gordon, The Incredible Hulk, Thing, and many other comics. Roussos was one of the principal inkers during Marvel’s Silver Age period. Roussos was responsible for the cover of Avengers #4, one of the most famous and recognizable comic book covers of all time.