E.C. Comics And The National E.C. Fan-Addict Club
During the late 1940s and into the 1950s, the superhero genre of comic
books was suffering a serious decline in readership. But that decline paved the
way for other genres to take hold. It was during this time that readers saw the
rise of western, science fiction, military and horror comics. Satire and spoofs
were all the rage, and readers just devoured it. They were looking to be
entertained, and that’s just what Entertaining Comics did. Better known as E.C.
Comics, the publisher of such comic books, it was founded by Maxwell Gaines, and
later the reins were handed over to his son, William.
books was suffering a serious decline in readership. But that decline paved the
way for other genres to take hold. It was during this time that readers saw the
rise of western, science fiction, military and horror comics. Satire and spoofs
were all the rage, and readers just devoured it. They were looking to be
entertained, and that’s just what Entertaining Comics did. Better known as E.C.
Comics, the publisher of such comic books, it was founded by Maxwell Gaines, and
later the reins were handed over to his son, William.
William Gaines helped mold the company into one of the most popular comic
book publishers of the day, encouraging reader feedback with letters to the
editor pages in the comics and through the formation of the National E.C.
Fan-Addict Club. Membership to this club was in line with E.C.’s sense of humor
as the whole kit was smattered with the same satirical sensibilities as their
comic books.
book publishers of the day, encouraging reader feedback with letters to the
editor pages in the comics and through the formation of the National E.C.
Fan-Addict Club. Membership to this club was in line with E.C.’s sense of humor
as the whole kit was smattered with the same satirical sensibilities as their
comic books.
Shipped in a plain envelope marked with the E.C. logo, the membership kit
to the club included a colorful membership certificate featuring a border
comprised of images of E.C. characters The Crypt-Keeper, The Vault-Keeper and
The Old Witch (In recognition of E.C.’s popular horror comics Tales From The
Crypt, Tales From The Vault and The Haunt of Fear
to the club included a colorful membership certificate featuring a border
comprised of images of E.C. characters The Crypt-Keeper, The Vault-Keeper and
The Old Witch (In recognition of E.C.’s popular horror comics Tales From The
Crypt, Tales From The Vault and The Haunt of Fear
“The National E.C. Fan-Addict Club in solemn recognition of
his/her/its stubborn, hopeless, and pitiful addiction to E.C. magazines, does
hereby grudgingly bestow on ______ a Life Membership, together with such rights,
privileges, and benefits (be they what they may) with ordinarily accompany such
membership (be that what it may)”
his/her/its stubborn, hopeless, and pitiful addiction to E.C. magazines, does
hereby grudgingly bestow on ______ a Life Membership, together with such rights,
privileges, and benefits (be they what they may) with ordinarily accompany such
membership (be that what it may)”
The kit also came with a letter, membership card and “EC Fan-Addict Club
*Mad Member*” patch and bronze badge that read “EC Fan-Addict.” The kit was
originally issued in 1953, but was later re-issued.
*Mad Member*” patch and bronze badge that read “EC Fan-Addict.” The kit was
originally issued in 1953, but was later re-issued.
In 1954, the publication of Seduction of the Innocent by Dr. Fredric
Wertham brought hard times on comic books. In an attempt to link comic books to
juvenile delinquency, Wertham’s efforts brought comic publishers under the
magnifying lens. E.C. bore the brunt of the attack, with several of its
publications being noted as examples of what was “wrong” with comic books and
why children shouldn’t be exposed to them. This and the following Senate
Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency hearings forced Gaines to make the decision
to abandon publication of comic books and instead focus of the satirical MAD
Magazine, which continues to this day.
Wertham brought hard times on comic books. In an attempt to link comic books to
juvenile delinquency, Wertham’s efforts brought comic publishers under the
magnifying lens. E.C. bore the brunt of the attack, with several of its
publications being noted as examples of what was “wrong” with comic books and
why children shouldn’t be exposed to them. This and the following Senate
Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency hearings forced Gaines to make the decision
to abandon publication of comic books and instead focus of the satirical MAD
Magazine, which continues to this day.
While it’s been over 50 years since a new E.C. comic has seen publication,
they are still popular among collectors, those who remember them from their
heyday and new readers whose parents read them as children. Now that’s
Entertaining Comics!
they are still popular among collectors, those who remember them from their
heyday and new readers whose parents read them as children. Now that’s
Entertaining Comics!
Popular Topics
Overstreet Access Quick Links
E.C. Comics And The National E.C. Fan-Addict Club
During the late 1940s and into the 1950s, the superhero genre of comic
books was suffering a serious decline in readership. But that decline paved the
way for other genres to take hold. It was during this time that readers saw the
rise of western, science fiction, military and horror comics. Satire and spoofs
were all the rage, and readers just devoured it. They were looking to be
entertained, and that’s just what Entertaining Comics did. Better known as E.C.
Comics, the publisher of such comic books, it was founded by Maxwell Gaines, and
later the reins were handed over to his son, William.
books was suffering a serious decline in readership. But that decline paved the
way for other genres to take hold. It was during this time that readers saw the
rise of western, science fiction, military and horror comics. Satire and spoofs
were all the rage, and readers just devoured it. They were looking to be
entertained, and that’s just what Entertaining Comics did. Better known as E.C.
Comics, the publisher of such comic books, it was founded by Maxwell Gaines, and
later the reins were handed over to his son, William.
William Gaines helped mold the company into one of the most popular comic
book publishers of the day, encouraging reader feedback with letters to the
editor pages in the comics and through the formation of the National E.C.
Fan-Addict Club. Membership to this club was in line with E.C.’s sense of humor
as the whole kit was smattered with the same satirical sensibilities as their
comic books.
book publishers of the day, encouraging reader feedback with letters to the
editor pages in the comics and through the formation of the National E.C.
Fan-Addict Club. Membership to this club was in line with E.C.’s sense of humor
as the whole kit was smattered with the same satirical sensibilities as their
comic books.
Shipped in a plain envelope marked with the E.C. logo, the membership kit
to the club included a colorful membership certificate featuring a border
comprised of images of E.C. characters The Crypt-Keeper, The Vault-Keeper and
The Old Witch (In recognition of E.C.’s popular horror comics Tales From The
Crypt, Tales From The Vault and The Haunt of Fear
to the club included a colorful membership certificate featuring a border
comprised of images of E.C. characters The Crypt-Keeper, The Vault-Keeper and
The Old Witch (In recognition of E.C.’s popular horror comics Tales From The
Crypt, Tales From The Vault and The Haunt of Fear
“The National E.C. Fan-Addict Club in solemn recognition of
his/her/its stubborn, hopeless, and pitiful addiction to E.C. magazines, does
hereby grudgingly bestow on ______ a Life Membership, together with such rights,
privileges, and benefits (be they what they may) with ordinarily accompany such
membership (be that what it may)”
his/her/its stubborn, hopeless, and pitiful addiction to E.C. magazines, does
hereby grudgingly bestow on ______ a Life Membership, together with such rights,
privileges, and benefits (be they what they may) with ordinarily accompany such
membership (be that what it may)”
The kit also came with a letter, membership card and “EC Fan-Addict Club
*Mad Member*” patch and bronze badge that read “EC Fan-Addict.” The kit was
originally issued in 1953, but was later re-issued.
*Mad Member*” patch and bronze badge that read “EC Fan-Addict.” The kit was
originally issued in 1953, but was later re-issued.
In 1954, the publication of Seduction of the Innocent by Dr. Fredric
Wertham brought hard times on comic books. In an attempt to link comic books to
juvenile delinquency, Wertham’s efforts brought comic publishers under the
magnifying lens. E.C. bore the brunt of the attack, with several of its
publications being noted as examples of what was “wrong” with comic books and
why children shouldn’t be exposed to them. This and the following Senate
Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency hearings forced Gaines to make the decision
to abandon publication of comic books and instead focus of the satirical MAD
Magazine, which continues to this day.
Wertham brought hard times on comic books. In an attempt to link comic books to
juvenile delinquency, Wertham’s efforts brought comic publishers under the
magnifying lens. E.C. bore the brunt of the attack, with several of its
publications being noted as examples of what was “wrong” with comic books and
why children shouldn’t be exposed to them. This and the following Senate
Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency hearings forced Gaines to make the decision
to abandon publication of comic books and instead focus of the satirical MAD
Magazine, which continues to this day.
While it’s been over 50 years since a new E.C. comic has seen publication,
they are still popular among collectors, those who remember them from their
heyday and new readers whose parents read them as children. Now that’s
Entertaining Comics!
they are still popular among collectors, those who remember them from their
heyday and new readers whose parents read them as children. Now that’s
Entertaining Comics!
Popular Topics
Overstreet Access Quick Links
