EC Cruel Kingdom #1 — Ryan Kelly and David M. Booher Reignite the Classic Horror Magazine
The blood-soaked spirit of mid-century EC Comics returns in a brand new anthology. Ryan Kelly’s lush art meets David M. Booher’s sharp writing in a tale where fairy tales have teeth, and happy endings are strictly forbidden.
There is a specific kind of dread that only an old-school horror comic can deliver, and EC Cruel Kingdom is bringing that distinct flavor back to the shelves. This isn’t just a revival; it’s a resurrection of the magazine style that taught a generation readers that the monsters under the bed were often the ones holding the knife. Oni Press is launching a fresh volume that honors the legacy of the original EC line while updating the tone for a contemporary audience, and the first issue lands on September 2nd with a cover by Mark Buckingham that screams gothic elegance.
The premise is simple but effective: we are entering a world where the rules of fairy tales have been rewritten by darker hands. You won’t find princes rescuing princesses here. Instead, you’ll find witch hunters who might just become the hunted, and kings who are one misstep away from the chopping block. The anthology format allows for a whirlwind tour of fatal fantasy, with each story turning the screws on conventional morality. It’s a place where vengeance is the only currency that matters, and the moral of the story is usually a lesson learned too late.
What makes this debut so compelling is the creative team at the helm. Writer David M. Booher brings a knack for psychological tension and sharp dialogue, having previously charmed readers with his work on Canto. He is matched by artist Ryan Kelly, whose ability to render both ethereal beauty and visceral horror is unmatched in the industry right now. Their collaboration sets a high bar, and when you add in contributors like Matt Bors and Jude Ellison S. Doyle, alongside artists like Lukas Ketner and David Lapham, you know the execution will be flawless. It’s a lineup that understands how to build atmosphere without relying on cheap shocks.
If you’ve ever loved the way EC Comics used to twist the knife in familiar folklore, this is your ticket back. But for those who haven’t read the classics, this serves as a perfect, standalone introduction to the style. Each story is crafted to stand on its own while contributing to the overarching theme of cruel justice. You’re going to want to read this one slowly, letting the art sink in and the final panels hit you where it counts.
A quick aside for the collectors in the group: the Mark Buckingham variant cover is going to be the one everyone remembers for years. It captures the gothic grandeur of the series perfectly. These first issues always have a way of disappearing into the depths of the stacks faster than expected, so keep an eye on the shop page. This is a debut that deserves to be seen by as many people as possible, and I suspect it’s going to become a reference point for horror anthologies for a long time to come.