The Bitter End and Other Stories

Reed Crandall was an undisputed master of fine line detail and expertly nuanced pen-and-ink texture. He was a perfect fit for EC Comics, and he brilliantly illuminated sharp scripts featuring schemes, tricks, betrayal, and retribution in the company’s crime, horror, and science fiction titles.

This volume features 22 Crandall favorites from the pages of Tales From the Crypt, Vault of Horror, Haunt of Fear, Crime SuspenStories, Shock SuspenStories, Weird Science-Fantasy, Extra, and Impact, including: “Dog Food,” one of EC’s best revenge stories, featuring a sadistic prison camp warden who abuses his dogs to keep them mean — to terrorize his prisoners. And no, it’s not the twist ending you might expect — which is why it was voted by fans as one of the top three EC horror stories. “The Shadow Knows” in which a man who murders his wife is pursued by her shadow everywhere he turns. “The Bitter End” in which a wealthy businessman tries to force his only son into becoming the hard-driving executive he needs to take over the family business. “Close Shave,” a science fiction parable about love overcoming racial prejudice and division. “Swamped,” voted by fans as one of the top three best illustrated EC horror stories of all time, is the grisly tale of a demented ghoul living in the Okefenokee Swamp. Plus: eight crime and horror stories by fellow EC artist George Roussos and an introduction by Jon Gothold.