"Catacomb of Torment Honors Iconic Horror Comic Cover"

In the annals of horror comics, few issues have left a mark as indelible as Crime SuspenStories #22 from 1954. This issue, infamous for its shocking cover art featuring a man wielding an ax and holding his wife's severed head, is etched in comic lore. Not only did it contribute significantly to the anti-comics backlash of the 1950s, but it also played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Comics Code Authority and ultimately led to the downfall of EC Comics.

Fast forward to today, EC Comics has risen from the ashes under the new imprint at Oni Press. In a fitting tribute to the past, the latest release from EC Comics honors Johnny Craig's controversial cover art. IGN is thrilled to exclusively unveil artist Jay Stephens' cover for Catacomb of Torment #1, which is part of an ongoing series celebrating classic EC tributes. Feast your eyes on Stephens' artwork below:

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

Catacomb of Torment is one of several exciting new titles launching under EC'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 this series are Blood Type by Corinna Bechko and Andrea Sorrentino, and Cruel Universe 2 by J. Holtham, Kano, Ann Nocenti, David Rubín, and Greg Smallwood.

"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," said Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson. "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, 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 involved – 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 deeper dive into 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 more iconic comic book art, don't miss our selection of the most memorable superhero comic book covers of all time.