EC

EC was an American comic book publisher that specialized in horror, crime, satire, military fiction, dark fantasy, and science fiction from the 1940s through the mid-1950s. The company is best known for the Tales from the Crypt series.

Originally owned by Maxwell Gaines, EC published educational and child-oriented stories. After Gaines died in 1947, his son William took over and shifted to mature genres including horror, war, fantasy, and science fiction. The stories were noted for their quality, shock endings, and progressive themes including racial equality and anti-war advocacy.

In 1954-55, censorship pressures prompted the company to concentrate on the humor magazine Mad, which became its greatest success. By 1956, EC ceased publishing all comic lines except Mad.