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The EC Archives
The EC Archives: Shock Suspenstories Volume 3
Dark Horse Comics brings you shocking tales of suspense! These stimulating stories have been digitally recolored--using Marie Severin's original palette as a guide--and feature art by all-star comic talents Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Wally Wood, Reed Crandall, George Evans, Bernie Krigstein, Bill Elder, Joe Orlando, and Frank Frazetta!
216 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2015
15 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Al Feldstein
368 books48 followersAlbert Bernard Feldstein was an American writer, editor, and artist, best known for his work at EC Comics and, from 1956 to 1985, as the editor of the satirical magazine Mad. After retiring from Mad, Feldstein concentrated on American paintings of Western wildlife.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 15, 2020
Another great collection of the EC comics. Try one of these out and see what the top tier of comic art and writing was back in the day. Great historical archive. Recommended
August 11, 2024
Apparently EC was hiding all the best stuff in this title. Every single story is amazing.
August 4, 2024
Not to sound snobby (because the stories themselves are fine: middling to great) but why are you digitally recoloring Marie Severin if you’re not even gonna embellish a little? You’re just throwing tints and shades on the existing palette?? Gimme a break!!!!
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April 15, 2024I was only a baby when half of the issues in SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES VOLUME 3 were printed. But I can imagine the excitement I would have experienced, if I had been a teenager instead, anticipating the next issue. Dark Horse has captured the essence of the EC trademark of great storytelling, covering all sorts of topics, not being afraid to push envelopes and be controversial.
In this third volume, issues thirteen to eighteen are reproduced exactly as they appeared seven decades earlier. They have original advertisements, editorials, and readers letters that were published as well. But what set EC apart was the fact the company gave stories with heart and soul and lots of twists, that kept readers returning for more. There are approximately twenty-five stories here from the six issues, with standouts that stay with you long after you close the book. Blood-Brothers looks at bigotry, and how a neighborhood was quick to panic when they thought that an African-American was coming to live close to them. One man admits to his friend that he is part-Negro, creating a firestorm of controversy, to the point that the man is treated like a stranger, resulting in him killing himself. Then the shocker comes when it is revealed that one man owed his life to that very man, in a most unusual manner.
There is another race-related story, about a Mexican gentleman dating one’s daughter, with prejudice resulting in an unforgivable crime. Many of the stories revolve around marital infidelity, with scheming and cheating to rid the world of one of the partners. It usually ends up the best laid plans do not go as planned, with wicked twists to the stories.
In Raw Deal, there is a shocking ending, which we realize just before the conclusion. A man is in a psychiatric ward constantly screaming, “I hate her,” over and over. The man and his wife were on a plane that crashed into the waters, those two the sole survivors. floating aimlessly on a life raft, they kept hoping to be rescued. They ran out of food, and soon the wife died. The man was not crying, “I hate her,” because of the experience. He was, well, you can figure it out because there was nothing left of her when he was rescued. She was how he stayed alive all those weeks.
There are other bizarre tales of Siamese twins, identity changers, jewels placed inside bodies, a girl and her scarecrow boyfriend, and much more. SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES is classic EC, another must-have volume for old-time comics fans.
In this third volume, issues thirteen to eighteen are reproduced exactly as they appeared seven decades earlier. They have original advertisements, editorials, and readers letters that were published as well. But what set EC apart was the fact the company gave stories with heart and soul and lots of twists, that kept readers returning for more. There are approximately twenty-five stories here from the six issues, with standouts that stay with you long after you close the book. Blood-Brothers looks at bigotry, and how a neighborhood was quick to panic when they thought that an African-American was coming to live close to them. One man admits to his friend that he is part-Negro, creating a firestorm of controversy, to the point that the man is treated like a stranger, resulting in him killing himself. Then the shocker comes when it is revealed that one man owed his life to that very man, in a most unusual manner.
There is another race-related story, about a Mexican gentleman dating one’s daughter, with prejudice resulting in an unforgivable crime. Many of the stories revolve around marital infidelity, with scheming and cheating to rid the world of one of the partners. It usually ends up the best laid plans do not go as planned, with wicked twists to the stories.
In Raw Deal, there is a shocking ending, which we realize just before the conclusion. A man is in a psychiatric ward constantly screaming, “I hate her,” over and over. The man and his wife were on a plane that crashed into the waters, those two the sole survivors. floating aimlessly on a life raft, they kept hoping to be rescued. They ran out of food, and soon the wife died. The man was not crying, “I hate her,” because of the experience. He was, well, you can figure it out because there was nothing left of her when he was rescued. She was how he stayed alive all those weeks.
There are other bizarre tales of Siamese twins, identity changers, jewels placed inside bodies, a girl and her scarecrow boyfriend, and much more. SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES is classic EC, another must-have volume for old-time comics fans.
September 25, 2024
This collection of standalone comics from the 1950s is proof positive that social awareness in pop culture has a longer history than many would give credit for. (I continue to be annoyed at people complaining about Star Trek becoming "woke", for instance. It always has been!). There's a lot of emphasis here on the evil of prejudice, especially racial prejudice, and unfortunately some of the letters received by the comic book company, and reproduced by them, show how necessary these stories are. Said company wasn't playing around: they had Opinions - particularly about bigotry and mob rule - and they were going to share them.
As much sympathy as I have for their beliefs, however, the stories, while perfectly adequate, could be somewhat predictable. Most of them have a twist at the end, and in most cases I saw it coming. There's not a lot of subtlety here either. That being said, it's still a likable and interesting read, and sets a foundation for a lot of comics today.
As much sympathy as I have for their beliefs, however, the stories, while perfectly adequate, could be somewhat predictable. Most of them have a twist at the end, and in most cases I saw it coming. There's not a lot of subtlety here either. That being said, it's still a likable and interesting read, and sets a foundation for a lot of comics today.
March 6, 2018
This is fantastic! I'm so glad I found this on accident and decided to read it. I love how great these are and how they take all the risks for the time. They challenged racism, religious discrimination, child abuse, family drama, and even some sexism. Bravo to them. I will continue to read these and more of the EC archives!
August 29, 2022
A lot of this is merely good, but the back to back stories "Squeeze Play" by Frank Frazetta and "The Orphan" by Jack Kamen bump this up a notch. "4 Sided Triangle" is another juicy Kamen, and the Bernie Krigstein stories are fantastic, even is one is a Caligari ripoff. Less consistent than previous volumes, but with bigger highlights.
July 7, 2021
Excellent EC product
I remember these comics from my youth. No other comic came close. Best of the bunch. Can’t get enough of these.
I remember these comics from my youth. No other comic came close. Best of the bunch. Can’t get enough of these.
May 1, 2024
How can you not love EC, even if the stories all blend together ...
January 3, 2021
Still very, very good comics, although not quite up to the level of previous collections of this series - the "Preachies" disappear, sadly, although artwork like Krigstein's on "In the Bag" is worth the price of entry alone.
+++++++++++
Reread, still agree.
+++++++++++
Reread, still agree.
October 4, 2015
One of the best EC Archive volumes featuring classics like "The Four-side Triangle", "The Pen is Mightier" and "The Assassin".
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews