Tales from the Crypt (comics)

Tales from the Crypt
A comic book cover reading "Tales from the Crypt" in white letters on a red background. Below is a colorful illustration of the rotting corpse of a man clutching a terrified man in a pool of quicksand.
Tales from the Crypt #24 (June/July 1951)
Cover art by Al Feldstein
Publication information
PublisherEC Comics
ScheduleBi-monthly
FormatAnthology
GenreHorror
Publication date
  • (vol. 1)
  • EC Comics: April/May 1950 – February/March 1955
  • (vol. 2)
  • Papercutz: June 2007 – September 2010
  • (vol. 3)
  • Super Genius Comics: November 2016 – March 2017
No. of issues
  • (vol. 1): 30 (including 3 as The Crypt of Terror)
  • (vol. 2): 13
  • (vol. 3): 2
Main character(s)The Crypt-Keeper
The Old Witch
The Vault-Keeper
Creative team
Created byBill Gaines
Al Feldstein

Tales from the Crypt is an American bi-monthly horror comic anthology series that was published by EC Comics from 1950 to 1955 created by Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein. The magazine began in March 1947 as International Comics. It continued under this title for five issues before becoming International Crime Patrol (#6) and Crime Patrol (#7–16). It was retitled The Crypt of Terror with issue #17 (April/May 1950). Two more issues were published under this title before it was rebranded as Tales from the Crypt for issue #20 (October/November 1950). The comic bore this title for 27 issues until being discontinued after issue #46 (February/March 1955).

Along with The Haunt of Fear and The Vault of Horror, it formed a trifecta of popular EC horror anthologies. Publication ceased, however, after horror and crime comics came under scrutiny for an alleged link to juvenile delinquency and the subsequent imposition of a highly restrictive Comics Code.

Tales from the Crypt has since been reprinted in single issues and collected volumes. It has spawned various movies and television series, including a 1972 film and a television series that aired on HBO from 1989 to 1996. The title was revived for a second volume by Papercutz (2007–2010) and for a third by Super Genius Comics (2016–2017)