The Haunt of Fear

The Haunt of Fear
A comic book cover reading "The Haunt of Fear" in dark blue letters on a yellow background. Below is a colorful illustration of a man and woman standing over an empty open coffin, the man with a wooden stake in one hand and a hammer in the other, while a male vampire stands behind them in the shadows.
The Haunt of Fear #16 (2) (July/Aug 1950)
Cover art by Johnny Craig
Publication information
PublisherEC Comics
ScheduleBi-monthly
FormatAnthology
Publication dateMay/June 1950 – November/December 1954
No. of issues28
Main character(s)The Old Witch
The Crypt-Keeper
The Vault-Keeper
Creative team
Created byBill Gaines
Al Feldstein

The Haunt of Fear is an American bi-monthly horror comic anthology series that was published by EC Comics from 1950 to 1954 created by Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein. The magazine began in June 1947 as Fat and Slat. It continued under this title for four issues before becoming Gunfighter (#5–14). It was retitled The Haunt of Fear with issue #15 (1) (May/June 1950). The numbering was reset after #17 (3). The comic bore this title for 28 issues until being discontinued after issue #28 (November/December 1954).

Along with Tales from the Crypt 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.

The Haunt of Fear has since been reprinted in single issues and collected volumes. Some of its stories were adapted for the 1972 motion picture Tales from the Crypt and television's Tales from the Crypt, which aired on HBO from 1989 to 1996.