"Catacomb of Torment Honors Iconic Horror Comic Cover"

1954's *Crime SuspenStories #22* stands as a landmark in the annals of horror comics, often cited as one of the most notorious and iconic issues ever published. You might not recognize the title, but the chilling image of a man wielding an ax and clutching his wife's severed head is unforgettable. This infamous comic played a significant role in sparking the anti-comics backlash of the 1950s, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority and the downfall of EC Comics.

Fortunately, EC Comics has risen from the ashes as a new imprint under Oni Press. It's only fitting that their latest release, *Catacomb of Torment #1*, honors Johnny Craig's controversial cover art from *Crime SuspenStories #22*. IGN is thrilled to exclusively unveil artist Jay Stephens' homage cover to this new series, which is part of an ongoing tribute to classic EC works. Take a look at the cover 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 new titles launching under the EC Comics imprint's "Summer of Fear" promotion. This horror anthology series boasts contributions from acclaimed creators like John Arcudi, Marguerite Bennett, Dan McDaid, Matt Kindt, David Lapham, and Tonči Zonjić. Alongside *Catacomb of Torment*, look forward to *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 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 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."

Dive deeper into *Blood Type* and *Catacomb of Torment* with our exclusive preview gallery below:

EC Comics' Summer of Fear Preview Gallery

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

For more classic comic book art, be sure to explore our selection of the most iconic superhero comic book covers of all time.