Impact (EC Comics)

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

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.

Issue guide
Page four of "Master Race," illustrated by Bernard Krigstein, which appeared in the first issue of Impact.
#DateCover artistStoryStory artist
1March/April 1955Jack DavisTough CopReed Crandall
The Diamond PendantGraham Ingels
The DressGeorge Evans
Master RaceBernard Krigstein
2May/June 1955Jack DavisMother Knows BestReed Crandall
DivorceJack Davis
The SuitGraham Ingels
Paid in FullJoe Orlando
3July/Aug 1955Jack DavisLife SentenceReed Crandall
The DebtJack Davis
Totally BlindJack Kamen
The Good FairyGraham Ingels
4Sept/Oct 1955Jack DavisThe Lonely OneJack Davis
Fall in WinterGraham Ingels
The Bitter EndReed Crandall
Country DoctorGeorge Evans
5Nov/Dec 1955Jack DavisHeart InterestGeorge Evans
The TravelersJoe Orlando
The GeneralGraham Ingels
So Much MoreBernard Krigstein

References
  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.
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