"Catacomb of Torment Honors Iconic Horror Comic Cover"

In the annals of horror comics, 1954's Crime SuspenStories #22 stands out as a landmark issue, notorious for its shocking cover featuring a man with an ax and his wife's severed head. This iconic image not only became synonymous with the genre but also played a significant role in sparking the anti-comics sentiment of the 1950s, leading to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority and ultimately contributing to the decline of EC Comics.

Fast forward to the present, EC Comics has risen from the ashes under the new imprint at Oni Press. In a fitting homage to its controversial past, the latest release, Catacomb of Torment #1, pays tribute to the infamous cover art by Johnny Craig. IGN is excited to exclusively reveal artist Jay Stephens' new cover for this issue, which is part of an ongoing series of classic EC tributes. Take a look at the cover below:

For a side-by-side comparison, here is the original cover by Johnny Craig from Crime SuspenStories #22:

Catacomb of Torment is part of the "Summer of Fear" lineup, a horror anthology series featuring the talents of John Arcudi, Marguerite Bennett, Dan McDaid, Matt Kindt, David Lapham, and Tonči Zonjić. Joining this series are Corinna Bechko and Andrea Sorrentino's Blood Type and J. Holtham, Kano, Ann Nocenti, David Rubín, and Greg Smallwood's Cruel Universe 2.

Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson expressed enthusiasm about the EC Comics line, 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 both 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 classic comic book art, check out our picks for the most iconic superhero comic book covers of all time.