EC Comics Returns in New Partnership with Oni Press
Seventy years after the creation of the Comics Code Authority irrevocably changed the course of comics history, the most infamous and influential comic publisher of all time is set to return from the grave in the summer of 2024 with the help of Oni Press.
Oni Press announced a brand-new publishing partnership with William M. Gaines Agent, Inc. that will see the full-fledged return of EC Comics to comic shops with a slate of all-new series. comics imprint will return with new titles and a slate of superstar creators on board.
Beginning with EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1 in July and CRUEL UNIVERSE #1 in August – the first official EC Comics series produced in nearly seven decades. Oni’s ambitious EC Comics publishing program will be overseen by Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson and Editor-in-Chief Sierra Hahn in partnership with Cathy Gaines Mifsud and Corey Mifsud, the daughter and grandson of legendary EC Publisher William M. Gaines and administrators of William M. Gaines Agent, Inc.
Cathy Gaines Mifsud, President of William M. Gaines Agent, Inc. expressed her excitement, stating:
“As my father said, ‘Only in the bounds of good taste!’ and I’m so excited to exhibit EC’s good taste with Oni Press, who have distinguished themselves with both an award-winning library of comics and graphic novels and a passionate understanding of EC’s singular role in shaping comics history.”
Corey Mifsud, Executive Director of William M. Gaines Agent, Inc., also shared his enthusiasm, stating:
“EC Comics is no stranger to a good comeback story! We’re thrilled to make this return with Oni Press and usher the classic EC sensibilities into the modern world. It’s always been our dream to one day bring the fearless creative spirit of EC to a new generation.
Working hand-in-hand with Oni’s award-winning team and a sensational cast of creators, it’s a pleasure to – at long last – shepherd EC into the 21st century with all-new series and stories.”
Oni’s curated line of EC titles will feature contributions from a rotating cast of high-profile comics talents, including writers such as Jason Aaron, Brian Azzarello, Rodney Barnes, Corinna Bechko, Cullen Bunn, Christopher Cantwell, Cecil Castellucci, and many more, alongside artists like Kano, Peter Krause, Leomacs, Malachi Ward, Dustin Weaver, and more; designer Rian Hughes; alongside covers from Lee Bermejo, Greg Smallwood, J.H. Williams III, and more to be revealed in the weeks and months ahead.
Sierra Hahn, Oni Press Editor-in-Chief, reflected on the significance of EC Comics, stating:
“Seventy years ago, EC Comics redefined what comics could be with shocking, confrontational and brilliantly crafted stories that challenged the existential issues at the center of American life.
What better time to resurrect the undying spirit of EC Comics – one of the most entertaining, subversive, and influential publishers of all time – with an all-star cast of storytellers to examine today’s society through the lens that William Gaines and his legendary collaborators have left us.”
Established in 1944, EC spearheaded a watershed evolution in the comics medium’s craft, quality, and power. The company fearlessly confronted cultural issues through tales of horror, science fiction, humor, and war, earning millions of readers and establishing a new high watermark for the comic book industry.
EC’s reign at the forefront of the American comic book industry would come crashing down in 1954 as an anti-comics moral panic swept America, inspiring book burnings, police surveillance, and a Congressional investigation that led to the creation of the Comics Code Authority. This pro-censorship movement soon culminated in the decline of EC Comics, that is, until now.
This bold move honors the legacy of a paramount figure in the comics medium, EC Comics. As these new tales prepare to grace the shelves of comic shops once more, the return of EC Comics promises to be a monumental event in the world of comic books.
