Impact was a short-lived comic book series published by EC Comics in 1955 as the first title in its New Direction line.

Impact
Jack Davis cover, issue #1
Publication information
PublisherEC Comics
ScheduleBimonthly
FormatAnthology
Publication dateMarch/April 1955 – November/December 1955
No. of issues5
Creative team
Created byWilliam Gaines
Al Feldstein

Overview edit

The bi-monthly comic, published by Bill Gaines and edited by Al Feldstein, began with an issue cover-dated March–April, 1955.[1] It ran for five issues, ending with the November–December, 1955 issue. The sub-title "Tales Designed to Carry an" ran above the title Impact. The book was dedicated to stories with shock endings, and was seen as a toned down, Comics Code era version of EC's earlier Shock SuspenStories. Front covers were by Jack Davis, and the stories were illustrated by Davis, George Evans, Jack Kamen, Graham Ingels, Joe Orlando, Reed Crandall and Bernard Krigstein.

There are two versions of the cover to Impact #1. One logo is yellow and the other is white.

The first issue featured the short story "Master Race," co-plotted by Gaines & Feldstein and illustrated by Krigstein.[2] "Master Race" is one of the first comic book stories about The Holocaust, and has been described as the Citizen Kane of comic books.[3][4]

Impact was reprinted as part of publisher Russ Cochran's Complete EC Library in 1988. Between April and August 1999, Cochran (in association with Gemstone Publishing) reprinted all five individual issues. This complete run was later rebound, with covers included, in a single softcover EC Annual. Dark Horse reprinted Impact as part of the EC Archives series in 2020.[5]

Issue guide edit

 
Page four of "Master Race," illustrated by Bernard Krigstein, which appeared in the first issue of Impact.
# Date Cover artist Story Story artist
1 March/April 1955 Jack Davis Tough Cop Reed Crandall
The Diamond Pendant Graham Ingels
The Dress George Evans
Master Race Bernard Krigstein
2 May/June 1955 Jack Davis Mother Knows Best Reed Crandall
Divorce Jack Davis
The Suit Graham Ingels
Paid in Full Joe Orlando
3 July/Aug 1955 Jack Davis Life Sentence Reed Crandall
The Debt Jack Davis
Totally Blind Jack Kamen
The Good Fairy Graham Ingels
4 Sept/Oct 1955 Jack Davis The Lonely One Jack Davis
Fall in Winter Graham Ingels
The Bitter End Reed Crandall
Country Doctor George Evans
5 Nov/Dec 1955 Jack Davis Heart Interest George Evans
The Travelers Joe Orlando
The General Graham Ingels
So Much More Bernard Krigstein

References edit

  1. ^ Schelly, William (2013). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 133–134. ISBN 9781605490540.
  2. ^ "Impact #1". Grand Comics Database.
  3. ^ Paul Gravett"Bernie Krigstein: The Right To Silence": "Krigstein saw such scope in this unprecedented tale addressing the Holocaust"
  4. ^ "As relevant today as it was in 1955: why the EC story “Master Race” still resonates". downthetubes.net.
  5. ^ Feldstein, Al; Gaines, Bill (April 1, 2020). "The EC Archives: Impact". Dark Horse Comics.