The Vault of Horror #4

(1982)

[The Mausoleum] (Table of Contents: 1)

The Vault of Horror! / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (inset); The Old Witch (inset); The Crypt-Keeper (inset)

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #29 (February-March 1953)

Indexer Notes

The cover title was taken from the story from which the cover was based.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 2) (Expand) /

Mad / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

The Mausoleum! (Table of Contents: 3)

The Vault of Horror! / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Johnny Craig (signed)

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); Howard Martin; Mr. Weatherby (owner of a castle, death); Nathan Weatherby (villain, Mr. Weatherby's nephew)

Synopsis

When Howard Martin made an offer to buy the castle from its owner, Mr. Weatherby, then dismantle it and reassemble it back in the states, the owner wouldn't sell and Martin left. But Weatherby's nephew Nathan saw a chance to get some money, so he murdered his uncle, carried him out to the family mausoleum and buried him, then notified the authorities that his uncle had stepped into a quicksand bog on the property and died. Martin was then allowed to buy the property, but then strange things began to happen and the castle soon became a tourist attraction.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #29 (February-March 1953)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Let's Play Poison! (Table of Contents: 4)

The Crypt of Terror / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Ray Bradbury; Al Feldstein (adaptation)

Pencils

Jack Davis

Inks

Jack Davis

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Crypt-Keeper (host); Mr. Howard

Synopsis

Mr. Howard returned to his classroom in time to see some of his students corner a young boy, who then fell out of a window to his death. Stunned, Howard resigned his position because he secretly now hated all children because of what happened. Seven years later, he resumed teaching after a fellow teacher friend of his died. He called his charges less than human....and they resented it. One day he came across some the kids "playing poison".....on sidewalks with names on them that they took for gravestones. From then on, Howard screamed at any kid even playing hopscotch on the sidewalk. One night, as he sat in his home, he saw a skull appear outside his window.....and he continued seeing it, night after night. One evening, he ran outside after the kids responsible, and fell into an excavation ditch. The kids covered him with dirt. In the days that followed, no adult paid much attention to the sidewalk square with the name "M. Howard R.I.P." on it......as the kids continued to play their game of poison!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #29 (February-March 1953)

Last Assignment (Table of Contents: 5)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

? (illustration)

Inks

? (illustration)

Letters

typeset

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

Brian Conrad; Erica Williams

Synopsis

A fellow came into the newspaper office, looking for Brian Conrad, and was told he didn't work there anymore, as he left on an assignment, camera in hand, over 5 months earlier and never returned. Conrad's sensational journalistic pictures of crime scenes had increased the paper's readership, and whenever he was snapping such pics, he was doting on Society Editor, Erica Williams. The last time the fellow had seen Conrad was after Conrad had taken pictures of a boy who jumped off a building ledge, and as they sat in the pressroom sipping coffee, in walked Erica. Conrad walked her out to her car, then came back in...until they got a Police call saying there had been a bad accident. Conrad grabbed his camera and left with his friend to visit the crime scene, where they discovered a body, whose chin was impaled on an iron spike on a pole it had been hurled onto by the crash. As Conrad raised his camera.....he stared for a minute and lowered it again....the victim was Erica!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #29 (February-March 1953)

Indexer Notes

The text story was printed on the inner halves of the two pages, with EC house ads to either side. One featured a promotional ad for Weird Fantasy #17 [with a cover by Al Feldstein], while the other featured, with covers, the Complete Old & New Testaments from the Picture Stories From the Bible series, Picture Stories From Science #2 and Picture Stories From World History #2.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 6)

The Vault-Keeper's Corner / letters page / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

The editors take over most of the column to discuss the comic industry's collapse, as many companies were folding up and getting out of the business. They urged loyal EC readers to keep buying their mags, even though EC was losing money on their efforts. VK then talks about the Ray Bradbury adaptations and pushes EC subsciptions.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #29 (February-March 1953)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 7)

statement of ownership / 0.5 page (report information)

Letters

typeset

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #29 (February-March 1953)

Indexer Notes

Frank D. Lee is mentioned as being EC's Business Manager.

A Sock for Christmas (Table of Contents: 8)

The Vault-Keeper's Grim Fairy Tale! / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein; Bill Gaines

Pencils

Jack Kamen (signed)

Inks

Jack Kamen (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); Tarby

Synopsis

Long ago in a huge castle lived a King [Irving], his Queen [Matilda] and their only son, Tarby, who was a real brat! The King decides to go into the village and forcibly take another young lad to be the Prince's companion, hoping that would straighten him out. It didn't, but the King gave the Royal order that if Tarby acted up, the other young boy would be whipped instead....and he became the official "whipping boy" at court. With Christmas coming on, the whipping boy was looking forward to what Santa would bring him....but Tarby told him that "bad boys" as he wouldn't get anything from Santa. On the day before Christmas, the whipping boy was returned to his own parents for 24 hours, and he spent time telling them that he was whipped for the bad things that Tarby did. He wanted to know if Santa would still bring him something for Christmas, and his Dad assured him that he would, then went to see the King to beg him to do just that. The King laughed at the man....but the next morning, as the whipping boy woke up and checked out his sock, he saw a presents in his stocking....and the boy's father saw his stocking filled also: with the bloody corpse of the King!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #29 (February-March 1953)

Pickled Pints! (Table of Contents: 9)

The Witch's Cauldron! / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Gaines (co-plot); Al Feldstein (co-plot, script)

Pencils

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Inks

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Old Witch (host); several bowery derelicts [Jack; Tommy (death); others unnamed]; Herb (blood bank employee); a vampire (villain); Cal (villain, death); Warren (villain, death)

Synopsis

Cal and Warren offer bowery derelicts $10 a pop if they would be willing to donate a pint of blood, and then the two sell it to a legitimate blood bank for $30, thus making a very nice living. However, when one of the bums die, prospects for more donations dry up, so the pair decide to take matters into their own hands. One night, they bring in a rather heavy guy, lay him on a table and prepare to take the blood, but the man opens his red, fiery eyes and attacks them both. How could they have known this guy was a vampire?!?

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #29 (February-March 1953)

Keywords

monsters

Indexer Notes

Script and letterer credits by Craig Delich.

Notes and Comments (Table of Contents: 10)

text article / 5 pages (report information)

Script

John Benson; Bill Mason

Letters

typeset

Editing

John Benson

[Practical Choke] (Table of Contents: 11)

The Vault of Horror! / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (inset); The Crypt-Keeper (inset); The Old Witch (inset)

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #30 (April-May 1953)

Indexer Notes

The cover title was taken from the story from which the cover was based.

[untitled] (Table of Contents: 12) (Expand) /

Mad / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Split Personality! (Table of Contents: 13)

The Vault of Horror! / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Johnny Craig (signed)

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); The Blair sisters [Amy; Susan] (villains); Ed King (villain, racketeer, death)

Synopsis

Ed King was a racketeer trying to find a way to bilk the Blair sisters out of their millions. When he saved their cat, he was invited into their home, and since both ladies liked him, he decided to pretend to be twins and marry the both of them, using excuses to be away a week at a time in order to be with his other wife. Ed made a huge mistake while tanning one day, and the sisters soon discovered what was going on, and decided to deal with this bigamist. They took an axe and split him right down the middle, so that each would have "half a husband"!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #30 (April-May 1953)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Who Doughnut? (Table of Contents: 14)

The Crypt of Terror / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein

Pencils

Jack Davis (signed)

Inks

Jack Davis (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Crypt-Keeper (host); Danny Hughes (reporter, death); Pat (Danny's secretary, death); various policemen; an octopus (villain)

Synopsis

Seven women had been murdered and the police were baffled by the doughnut-shaped wounds all over their bodies, blood drained and traces of sea brine on their skin and clothing. Crime reporter Danny Hughes was on the scene and mocked the police for not having a suspect. The next day, Danny's secretary was murdered in the same way, and was suspected until another killing occured. Danny remembered seeing a strange figure near Pat's home, and when he saw it again, he followed it to an aquarium, and came face to face with a blood-sucking octopus!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #30 (April-May 1953)

Indexer Notes

Reference is made to H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu.

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Refuge (Table of Contents: 15)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

? (illustration)

Inks

? (illustration)

Letters

typeset

Genre

horror-suspense

Synopsis

He could hear the police chasing him as he ran inside the building, clutching the gems in his hand and looking for a hiding place. He entered a large circular room with glass enclosures all around him, then he spotted something moving behind one of the glass walls. He saw fish, so he decided to hop into the water and go under to elude the police. It worked, until he felt a horrible pain in one leg, and looked up to see the sign hanging above the tank: PIRANHA! Quickly he was surrounded, as he felt himself being torn to shreds!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #30 (April-May 1953)

Indexer Notes

The text story is found on the inner halves of the two pages, and EC houses ads are found to either side. One promotes Weird Fantasy #18, while the other side promotes, with covers, the Complete Old and New Testaments from the Picture Stories From the Bible series, Picture Stories From Science #2 and Picture Stories From World History #2.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 16)

The Vault-Keeper's Corner / letters page / 1 page (report information)

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

VK starts off his column by complaining that dealers are shipping unopened cartons of EC mags to the distributor, so he asks readers to ask their dealers for EC mags. Letters are printed from Audrey Abernathy, Hazel Wilson, George Salaita, Gary Schooley, Paul George, Michael Pecker, Frank Ray Stansbury, Carol Plumb and Bill Lean. Then he lists more additions to the "Horror Hit Parade" tune list, pushes the EC Tales of Terror #3 mag and subscriptions.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #30 (April-May 1953)

Practical Choke! (Table of Contents: 17)

The Vault of Horror! / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein

Pencils

George Evans (signed)

Inks

George Evans (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); Bill Gaines; Al Feldstein; three pre-med students (all die); various police officers

Synopsis

Three medical students play a series of practical jokes using actual human body parts and watching the reactions of various people. The med students roared with laughter, but then seriously wondered what would happen when it was discovered parts of a cadaver was missing, so they went to get the remaining body parts and dispose of them, not noticing a pile of coiled-up intestines that were moving toward them. The next day the police found the body parts and the students: in a refrigerated unit with the intestines coiled around their necks.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #30 (April-May 1953)

Keywords

Coney Island

Indexer Notes

In this story are caricatures of Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein in the first panel on page 2 and in many other panels throughout the story.

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Notes to You! (Table of Contents: 18)

The Witch's Cauldron! / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Gaines (co-plot); Al Feldstein (co-plot, script)

Pencils

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Inks

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Old Witch (host); Judson Slack; Eleanor Slack (Judson's wife, death); Horton Cox; Simon Pitter (Cox's employee, death); Averill Minton (bank President, death); Bert Fields (bank employee); Mr. Popkin (candy store owner); Ambrose Baldwin (death)

Synopsis

Four different people receive to what amounts to anonymous poison-pen letters, each resulting in horrendous events surrounding their families or businesses. Three of the surviving four men meet together and begin to realize that all these recent events were connected by these anonymous letters, and Poppin knew the answer, for he had given the suspect, Ambrose Baldwin, a bottle of disappearing ink, and his letter had now become blank. The men then visited Baldwin with their own poison pens!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #30 (April-May 1953)

Indexer Notes

Script revision by Craig Delich, formerly Al Feldstein.

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 19)

The Vault of Horror / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (inset); The Crypt-Keeper (inset); The Old Witch (inset)

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #31 (June-July 1953)

Ray Bradbury (Table of Contents: 20)

text article / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

? (photograph)

Inks

? (photograph)

Letters

typeset

Genre

non-fiction; biography

Characters

Ray Bradbury (Photo of Ray Bradbury)

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #31 (June-July 1953)

Indexer Notes

Biography of writer Ray Bradbury.

Easel Kill Ya! (Table of Contents: 21)

The Vault of Horror! / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Johnny Craig (signed)

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault Keeper (host); young artist; artist's fiancee (death); art enthusiast; unnamed doctor (death)

Synopsis

The man went to a bridge he intended to jump from to his death at age 29. He was a lonely, unappreciated artist who was going to end it all when a car slammed into a barrier and from the crumpled wreck a woman staggered out. He was inspired to paint the scene, then sold it to a certain gentlemen. This scenario played out again and again as horrible accidents gave him inspiration to paint until he met a girl he was to marry. When she had a horrible accident and needed an operation, the artist killed someone for inspiration to paint the picture to sell, but inadvertently made a horrible mistake.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #31 (June-July 1953)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

A Peach of a Plot! (Table of Contents: 22)

The Crypt of Terror / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein

Pencils

Jack Davis (signed)

Inks

Jack Davis (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Crypt-Keeper (host); Michael Lane; Lt. Phil Dolan

Synopsis

Lieutenant Dolan looked at the roots of a peach tree that held the corpse in its roots, and ordered the corpse and tree be taken in for autopsy. He turned to Michael Lane, the murderer, who now confessed to why he did the act. Her name was Sarah, young, wealthy and beautiful, and he got what he wanted from her until she realized that he didn't love her....just her money. There was a terrible fight, then talk of divorce. Finally one night, as she ate a peach, he killed her, buried her in the garden and destroyed all of her possessions, giving the impression she had left him. The problem was that she has swallowed the peach pit, and from that pit, a peach tree began to grow. Seven years passed by and finally the tree bore fruit.....Lt. Dolan came by the house, hoping to trap Lane into admitting the act he suspected him of. Then as they walked into the garden, Lane reached for a peach and bit into it....quickly spitting it out. The Lieutenant now knew where to look for Lane's wife's body, for that peach had blood inside it!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #31 (June-July 1953)

One Shot (Table of Contents: 23)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

? (illustrations)

Inks

? (illustrations)

Letters

typeset

Genre

crime

Characters

Metcalf

Synopsis

Metcalf hid in the bushes with a rifle, eyeing his prey standing just above him. A shot rang out and the man fell back and tumbled 1000 feet down over a sheer rock wall. Metcalf went down and viewed the body of his victim. To give the appearance that there had been an exchange of shots, he took the rifle and aimed at a solitary rock above him, and shot at it. Unfortunately, it dislodged many rocks, all which came crashing down upon him. As he lay crumpled and broken at the base of that wall, he suddenly spied that single, last meteor of a rock heading towards his face, and closed his eyes.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #31 (June-July 1953)

Indexer Notes

The text story is found on the inner halves of the two pages. To each side are EC house ads, one for Weird Fantasy #19 [with a Joe Orlando cover], while the other page promoted, with covers, the Complete Old & New Testament editions from the Picture Stories From the Bible series, Picture Stories From Science #2 and Picture Stories From World History #2.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 24)

The Vault-Keeper's Corner / letters page / 1 page (report information)

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

Letters from Montana Lamb, Don Thompson, Peter Kroll, Ted Finch, Ronald Wade, Matt Flynn and Norman Benedict were printed. V-K thanks readers for responding to the plea to buy and ask for more EC's from their dealers, then pushed the 3rd Annual Tales of Terror volume and subscriptions.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #31 (June-July 1953)

The Lake (Table of Contents: 25)

The Vault of Horror! / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Ray Bradbury (plot); Al Feldstein (adaptation)

Pencils

Joe Orlando

Inks

Joe Orlando

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); a little boy; Margaret (the grown-up little boy's wife); lifeguard; Tally (death, in flashback)

Synopsis

Years below, a little boy and his young girl friend, Tally played at the beach building sandcastles together. One day, Tally swam out into the water and drowned, leaving the sandcastle undone, and no closure for the boy. Years later, the little boy, now grown, got married and returned to the beach with his wife, and met with the old lifeguard, who showed him Tally's body in a sack. Once more the young man returned to the beach, built an entire sandcastle and walked back to his wife, Margaret, leaving the past behind.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #31 (June-July 1953)

Indexer Notes

Story was adapted from Ray Bradbury's anthology "The October Country," which first appeared in May, 1944's "Weird Tales" and the anthology "Dark Carnival."

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

One Good Turn... (Table of Contents: 26)

The Witch's Cauldron! / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Gaines (co-plot); Al Feldstein (co-plot, script)

Pencils

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Inks

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Old Witch (host); Edwin (Jennifer's husband, death); Bert (Jennifer's old friend, death); Grace (Jennifer's acquaintance, death); Sidney (a small boy, death); a blind man (death); Thelma (an old woman, death); two detectives [Steve; other unnamed]; Jennifer (villain)

Synopsis

Jennifer came home in a cheerful mood and went into the bedroom to see her husband, who had been paralyzed in bed for many years. She excitedly told him just how wonderful it felt to actually be needed by other people: people who were unhappy for a variety of reasons, and how she cheered them up by killing them. When two detectives came to the home to investigate, they found Edwin already dead by cyanide poisioning, and Jennifer happy that she could make him happy as well.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #31 (June-July 1953)

Indexer Notes

Script and letterer credits by Craig Delich.

[Out of His Head] (Table of Contents: 27)

The Crypt of Terror / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (inset); The Old Witch (inset); The Crypt-Keeper (inset)

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #32 (August-September 1953)

Indexer Notes

Cover title from story from which the cover is based. This cover was censored as being much too gory for readers, as it featured a meat cleaver stuck in the ghoul's head. This reprint uses the original art.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 28) (Expand) /

Mad / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Whirlpool (Table of Contents: 29)

The Vault of Horror! / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Johnny Craig (signed)

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); unnamed woman; three asylum employees

Synopsis

Her mind was whirling as three horrid creatures hovered over her, asking her her name, and she ran to escape. A series of events: thrown into boiling water, plunged into ice, poked with a hypodermic, strapped into an electric chair, and put into a small room that kept shrinking. She thought she was going insane, but the men told her everything had been in her mind and that she was an inmate in an insane asylum. She began to quiver, and as they began to ask her her name, she suddenly remembered that THEY were the ones trying to persecute her!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #32 (August-September 1953)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Out of His Head! (Table of Contents: 30)

The Crypt of Terror / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein

Pencils

Jack Davis (signed)

Inks

Jack Davis (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Crypt-Keeper (host); Stanley (Alex's law partner, death); unnamed doctor; Alex Melton (villain, lawyer, death)

Synopsis

Alex had murdered Stanley with an axe to his head, trying to blame the death on a maniac. It seemed, however, that the dead man kept haunting him day and night, and everywhere Alex looked, his former law partner was still there. Unable to stand it any longer, he blinded himself with an icepick. He was taken to the hospital and operated on, and when the bandages were removed, he saw someone. He figured it was Stanley again and ran to the window and jumped out to his death. The doctor looked out the window....and all he could say was that the man must be mad!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #32 (August-September 1953)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Crash Landing! (Table of Contents: 31)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

? (illustrations)

Inks

? (illustrations)

Letters

typeset

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

Brewster; Crawford

Synopsis

With the plane in the air, Brewster emerged from hiding in the back of the plane, wrench in hand, and crept to the cockpit, where he hit Crawford over the head. As the plane spiraled out of control, Brewster ran to the emergency door and jumped out, waiting to pull the ripcord of his parachute until the last second possible so that no one would see him. As he came down, he watched the plane crash into a grove of trees, splintering the ends, and burn. But a sudden shift in the wind brought Brewster closer and closer to the splintered branch limbs until he jammed into them which stopped his descent. In agony, he noted that the limbs had torn open his stomach, and as he lay dying, his body writhing on the end of a branch, he felt like some insect squirming on a needle in a science lab!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #32 (August-September 1953)

Indexer Notes

This text story is found on the inner part of the two pages, with EC house ads to either side. One was for Weird Fantasy #20 [with an Al Feldstein cover], and the other side featured, with covers, the Complete Old & New Testament editions from the Picture Stories From the Bible series, Picture Stories From Science #2 and Picture Stories From World History #2.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 32)

The Vault-Keeper's Corner / letters page / 1 page (report information)

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

In this issue's letter column, VK prints letters from Mrs. Monroe ASdams, Terry Black, Ronnie Audet, PFC Hank Wawrzyniak, Ray Parrinello, Dennis Taplin, Robert Travieso, Martin Fishman, David McGill and Richard L. Bruch before pushing readers to buy subsciptions to EC mags.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #32 (August-September 1953)

An Ample Sample (Table of Contents: 33)

The Vault of Horror / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Pencils

George Evans (signed)

Inks

George Evans (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); Hannah (Irwin's wife, death); Bert; Irwin (villain)

Synopsis

Irwin was telling his neighbor Bert of how he and his wife Hannah fell in love and how Hannah loved expensive chocolates so much. She got fatter as he had to do without vital necessities, and he just couldn't take it anymore. Irwin admitted to killing her and asked Bert to come over to his house. As they walked in, Bert gasped in horror as he spotted a giant, handmade chocolate box, marked with different types of candy, and pieces of Hannah in each part!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #32 (August-September 1953)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.
Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Funereal Disease! (Table of Contents: 34)

The Witch's Cauldron! / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Gaines (co-plot); Al Feldstein (co-plot, script)

Pencils

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Inks

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Old Witch (host); Jasper Milliken (gardener, death); Niles Fairchild (villain, Jasper's employer, death); Tom Kelton (villain, Jasper's accountant)

Synopsis

Jasper went to his cottage on the Fairchild Estate and counted up the money he had been saving, a total of $4970, and knew as soon as Mr. Fairchild paid him the last $30 he owed him, he'd be set: set to have the funeral that was denied to his parents. Unfortunately, Niles Fairchild was bankrupt, and desperately needed $5000 to get him out of the trouble he was in. When Jasper refused to lend him the money, Fairchild and his accountant murdered Jasper and took the money. Jasper's corpse killed Fairchild, removed him from the man's coffin and took his place, and got the funeral he wanted.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #32 (August-September 1953)

Keywords

Fairchild Estate

Indexer Notes

Title correction, script and letterer credits by Craig Delich.

Some of the story is told in flashback.

[Let the Punishment Fit the Crime] (Table of Contents: 35)

The Crypt of Terror / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (inset); The Crypt-Keeper (inset); The Old Witch (inset)

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #33 (October-November 1953)

Indexer Notes

The cover title was taken from the story from which the cover was based.

[untitled] (Table of Contents: 36) (Expand) /

Mad / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Together They Lie! (Table of Contents: 37)

The Vault of Horror! / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Pencils

Reed Crandall (signed)

Inks

Reed Crandall (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); Agnes Wheatley; Mr. Horton (Agnes’ boss, death); Alex Fairchild (Horton's attorney)

Synopsis

Agnes and her boss's attorney decided to create a major hoax on her employer, Mr. Horton, as she implied to him that his wife was having an affair with his attorney. Distraught, Horton went to his attorney, had his will changed making Agnes the heir instead of his wife, and then committed suicide. As Agnes and Alex Fairfield celebrated the success of their hoax, the pair were suddenly interrupted by the corpse of Horton crashing in. The next morning, the dead bodies of Alex and Agnes were found on top of the Horton grave, and his tombstone carefully restored to what it had been!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #33 (October-November 1953)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.
Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Much of the story is told in flashback.

Let the Punishment Fit the Crime! (Table of Contents: 38)

The Crypt of Terror / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Gaines (co-plot); Al Feldstein (co-plot, script)

Pencils

Jack Davis

Inks

Jack Davis

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Crypt-Keeper (host); Clara Cootes; Edwin Cootes; Herbert Draper (mortician); Dr. Stacey; Frank Bundage (store owner); George Sparkman (electrician); Mathilda Priddy (schoolteacher); Sye Shusters (lawyer); Judge Delaney; Mrs. Philips; Freddy Philips (death)

Synopsis

Children in town had questioned people about various things regarding death and funerals, and were fascinated about a man dying in the electric chair. But they really wanted to know what the punishment for robbery and kidnapping would be, and a lawyer informed them it wouldn't be death. As the kids came down the street carrying a coffin, a mother came up screaming to townsfolk, telling them that her son was missing and that he had stolen another child's doll and had refused to give it back. Then they all looked in horror as they gazed over at the kids, who had just finished burying the coffin!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #33 (October-November 1953)

Indexer Notes

Script revision by Craig Delich, adding Feldstein's script credit.

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Wrecker! (Table of Contents: 39)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

? (illustrations)

Inks

? (illustrations)

Letters

typeset

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

Carlson; Jaffery

Synopsis

Carlson was at the controls of a wrecker-crane after working over a troublesome wall, and he watched Jaffery working on that partially demolished wall. All Carlson could think of was to bring down that wall with Jaffery still clinging to it......Jaffery would be dead and Carlson would claim the derrick got away from his control. Carlson swung the ball closer and brought down the wall, and he could hear Jaffery's screams. He jumped out of the cab and peered down at the wreckage, unaware that the derrick was still in operation, and he didn't see the steel cable come at hom until it was too late. Later, Carlson's co-workers stood over his body, remarking that they had never seen anyone beheaded so quickly before!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #33 (October-November 1953)

Indexer Notes

The text story is found on the inner halves of each pages, w/EC house ads to each side. On one side is an ad for Weird Fantasy #21 [cover by Al Williamson & Frank Frazetta], while the other side had ads, w/covers, for The Complete Old & New Testaments from the Picture Stories From the Bible series, Picture Stories From Science #2 and Picture Stories From World History #2.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 40)

The Vault-Keeper's Corner / letters page / 1 page (report information)

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

The entire column, given over by VK to the editors, promoted the new E.C. Addict Fan Club, and how to become a member.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #33 (October-November 1953)

A Slight Case of Murder! (Table of Contents: 41)

The Vault of Horror! / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Pencils

George Evans (signed as G. Evans)

Inks

George Evans (signed as G. Evans)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); Doc Sam Swanson; Phil Ingram (newspaper editor); Sheriff Moulton (villain, actually a deformed baby, death); Amelia Bates (Moulton's mother)

Synopsis

Doc Swanson gazed up at the abandoned mansion on the hill, knew it was the answer to all of the killings, and told the sheriff who he thought responsible for the crimes, but the sheriff said the murders had to have been committed by something inhuman and explained how each of the bodies were found, throats slashed and door locked. Sam figured that a woman's deformed baby born in the mansion was the murderer. The sheriff suddenly lunged at Doc, wanting to kill him, but the townsfolk entered and took care of the sheriff, whose body was an artificial framework housing that deformed child!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #33 (October-November 1953)

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.
Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Strung Along! (Table of Contents: 42)

The Witch's Cauldron! / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Gaines (co-plot); Al Feldstein (co-plot, script)

Pencils

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Inks

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Old Witch (host); Tony Zargono (puppet maker, death); Nora (Tony's wife, death)

Synopsis

Tony once was a famed puppeteer, performing shows all over and becoming quite wealthy. Although he loved his puppets, he needed a human love interest and that was Nora, whom he married. Soon Tony was diagnosed with a bad heart condition, forcing him to retire. It was then that money troubles began and his wife finally told him that she married him for his money. He gave her one last kiss before he died, and the next day, they found their bodies, side-by-side, but Nora's had been dismembered and reconnected by strings: strings tied to the marionettes' hands!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #33 (October-November 1953)

Indexer Notes

Script revision by Craig Delich, adding Feldstein script.

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Much of the story is told in flashback.

[Star-Light, Star-Bright] (Table of Contents: 43)

The Vault of Horror / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (inset); The Crypt-Keeper (inset); The Old Witch (inset)

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #34 (December 1953-January 1954)

Indexer Notes

The cover title is taken from the story from which the cover was based.

[untitled] (Table of Contents: 44) (Expand) /

E.C. Fan-Addict Club / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Star Light, Star Bright! (Table of Contents: 45)

The Vault of Horror! / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Johnny Craig

Pencils

Johnny Craig

Inks

Johnny Craig

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); Hartley Quimb

Synopsis

As the rain fell in sheets, Hartley stood over the open coffin as he nervously and sickenly watched people run up to the corpse and do terrible things to it. Hartley discovered that was the only way the understaffed guards at the facility could keep the inmates in line. At dinner, the guards told him that this man [whom he was replacing as head master] was killed by the inmates for vowing to take this privilege away from them.....and he nervously looked at the dining inmates as they stared at him. Hartley excused himself from dinner and went to his room, fearing the inmates hated him and would kill him. He layed back on his bed and gazed up at the skylight. Out of a deep sleep, Hartley was suddenly awakened by the inamtes, who grabbed him, stuffed rags into his mouth and placed him in a coffin and placed a lid over it that had a window cut out so that he could see. One pinched his nose and then they carried him out of the facility and to the cemetery....things got blurry and he "woke up" back in bed, still staring at the skylight, nervously believing it had all been a bad dream. That is, until he saw an inmate's face suddenly appear over head and a shovel full of dirt hit him in the face!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #34 (December 1953-January 1954)

While the Cat's Away... (Table of Contents: 46)

The Crypt of Terror / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Pencils

Jack Davis (signed)

Inks

Jack Davis (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Crypt-Keeper (host); John Younger; Frank Weston

Synopsis

John & Frank had been working their little travel agency scam for almost a year. They would book trips for wealthy clients, then clean out their homes of valuables while they were away. This time they scheduled a little trip for a Mr. Kingman, who lived alone in the suburbs, and when his plane for Ecuador took off, they went over to clean out his house. The place was a run-dwon wreck, with nothing of value they could see. They went down the cellar steps and found a metal door warning them not to enter, signed "T.C.K." They broke in and entered a library and founded a secret passage, which they entered, and came upon a group of zombies. They fled down another passage and ran into a room of vampires, then headed down yet another hall and ran into werewolves and then into another with mummies! By the time John and Frank reached the front door entrance, they were stark raving mad......and never noticed that the owner had just returned: the Crypt-Keeper!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #34 (December 1953-January 1954)

Indexer Notes

Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Sudden Death! (Table of Contents: 47)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

? (illustrations)

Inks

? (illustrations)

Letters

typeset

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

Curt Benbow

Synopsis

Curt placed the still hot gun into his pocket as he looked down at the corpse, then strolled over and picked up an axe and began chopping at the ceiling beams. He would weaken them to the point that he could leave and they'd collapse on the body making it seem as if he had died that way. Unfortunately, one of cross beams broke too soon and Benbow was buried in the rubble that fell. When he recovered consciousness, he found out he was paralyzed, with only his feet sticking out of the rubble. Then he heard them....an army of rats who began to eat at his feet, and he only hoped that his heart would stop beating before they could chew his feet off from his ankles!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #34 (December 1953-January 1954)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 48)

The Vault-Keeper's Corner / letters page / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

First off the VK presented new additions to his Horror Hit Parade, then letters from Milo Phompson, Tim Smith, Michael Reynolds, Nelson Bridwell, Bonnie Lee Warner, Michael Girage, Tony Cohen and Larry & Ricki Lobi. He finially pushed the Third Annual Tales of Terror and subscriptions.

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #34 (December 1953-January 1954)

Smoke Wrings (Table of Contents: 49)

The Vault of Horror / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Pencils

Reed Crandall (signed)

Inks

Reed Crandall (signed)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (host); Hubert Tillings; Lorna Jackson

Synopsis

Nervously, Hubert waited to see Miss Jackson about the Llama Cigarette account, and when he did get to see her, he proffered ideas to her cocerning new revolutionary billboard ads using live steam. Even though she didn't go for it, she did come on to Hubert, a shy bashful man around women, and invited him out to dinner. There they discussed his idea.....an idea she said she would pass off to her superiors as "her" idea, and any monies that came in would be handed over to Hubert. He agreed and later was amazed to see the billboard going up using his idea, so he took Lorna over to see it. It was then and there he found out he'd been played for a sucker....the bosses believed the idea was hers and she was taken care of financially, and Hubert got.....well, the short-end! Just then, she lunged at Hubert and pushed him into the giant steam chamber, killing him instantly. Later, at the dedication of the billboard, she stood under the face of a giant figure that blew smokes rings [of hot steam] into the air, and, curiously, one of them floated down at her, enveloped her and scalded her to death!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #34 (December 1953-January 1954)

Indexer Notes

Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Where There's a Will... (Table of Contents: 50)

The Witch's Cauldron! / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein (co-plot, script); Bill Gaines (co-plot)

Pencils

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Inks

Graham Ingels (signed as Ghastly)

Letters

Jim Wroten

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Old Witch (host); Dr. James Crotty; Millard Walker (lawyer)

Synopsis

The relatives of Harold Farber were gathered in his house awaiting his certain death while Dr. Crotty and lawyer Walker went upstairs to see the old man, and tell him what vultures they really were. While old man Farber didn't believe them, he asked what they advised doing with his estate funds, and they recommended a charity. He agreed....IF they could prove what they said. They all agreed to stage Farber's death and then let him listen from inside his coffin at what his relatives were saying about him. Before the realtives arrived at the funeral home, Farber eased himself down into the casket w/a microphone to listen in, and he heard enough. When the lid was opened, he jumped up at them, told them off and signed over his estate to the Happy Home for Orphaned Children.....then fell over dead. All those assembled looked at the corpse, then began to laugh, as they greeted the President and Treasurer of that charity: the lawyer and the doctor, who thanked the "relatives" whom they had hired to play out this little scene!

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #34 (December 1953-January 1954)

Indexer Notes

Script credit from Tales of Terror: The EC Companion.

Russ Cochran Presents the Complete EC Library (Table of Contents: 51) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 52)

The Vault of Horror / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Johnny Craig (signed)

Inks

Johnny Craig (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

horror-suspense

Characters

The Vault-Keeper (inset); The Crypt-Keeper (inset); The Old Witch (inset)

Reprints

• from Vault of Horror (EC, 1950 series) #31 (June-July 1953)

Indexer Notes

On back cover.