An EC question.Need advice please.

[toz1960]

Ok,I'm probably one of the few middle aged collectors that hasn't read that much of EC Comics.Just a reprint here and there plus there has never been that many availabe where I live,not sure why that is.

What I'm looking for is an affordable reprint collection that is complete as possible.I'd prefer HBs but would settle for what ever is out there.

What is my best way to go? I'd like to have something that reprints each entire book,ads,letter page,editorial,the whole nine yards.

I now defer to your collective wisdom.Thanks in advance.

[malaprop]

The Russ Cochran slipcase editions would certainly fill the bill of being complete, but not that easy to get bargains on them. I bought "Weird Science" and "Haunt of Fear" new when they came out, and they sometimes they still come up on E-Bay. But you can expect $80-100 for them, approximately the price when new.

[Jeff]

Also, for specific issues or titles that haven't been reprinted, an original reader copy is pretty inexpensive.

[SatansProdigy]

EC Archives is out now for a lot of the books. Each one is in full color and reprints about 5 issues. Hardback format. I'd have to find mine to see if they reprint the whole issue or just the stories. I can't recall....

[Duffman_Comics]

The Russ Cochran slipcase editions would certainly fill the bill of being complete, but not that easy to get bargains on them. I bought "Weird Science" and "Haunt of Fear" new when they came out, and they sometimes they still come up on E-Bay. But you can expect $80-100 for them, approximately the price when new.

I got them all on release too, they rarely surface as they are a real "keeper" item (look for estate sales and the like).

Be aware the suckers are heavy. Shipping will be expensive in addition to purchase cost.

[toz1960]

THanks guys.What about the Gemstone reprints from back in the early 1990s? they any good?

[Quato]

Go with the new HB's that Gemstone has been publishing, I have a few of the older HB's but they are B&W.... not anywhere near as cool. Nothing and I do mean nothing compares to an original. As far as I'm concerned, EC mastered printing on cheap newsprint paper and they got everything out of it. Any attempts to reproduce the work just makes the lines lose clarity.

Q

[marvelguy]

Here's one that I looked at last week, I even requested the catalog as well.

http://www.eccrypt.com/

[Quato]

Here's one that I looked at last week, I even requested the catalog as well.

http://www.eccrypt.com/

Those are the ones.

Q

[toz1960]

Thanks for all the advice guys,it put me on the right trail.I think I'll go with the new EC Archives.Just as soon as I get the Spirit Archives finished.#oldie#

[Mutant Manatee]

I love those new hardcover EC Archives that Gemstone is publishing. They contain the original house ads and letters pages, plus lots of insight and comments from various EC experts. The new coloring is very well done too, in my opinion. Highly recommended!

[stupidman]

Tony, did you get this email?

"Hey everybody:

I just heard that Russ Cochran is closing out all the volumes in the EC Library reprints.

The only complete sets they have left are War Against Crime and Crime Patrol.

For all the other titles, they have only single volumes, and many are already sold out.

Russ says when these single volumes are gone, the EC Library
will be sold out and never reprinted! So, get em while you can!!!

Roger"

[Mutant Manatee]

Tony, did you get this email?

"Hey everybody:

I just heard that Russ Cochran is closing out all the volumes in the EC Library reprints.

The only complete sets they have left are War Against Crime and Crime Patrol.

For all the other titles, they have only single volumes, and many are already sold out.

Russ says when these single volumes are gone, the EC Library
will be sold out and never reprinted! So, get em while you can!!!

Roger"

Stu,

No, I didn't get that e-mail. However, I have noticed that Russ has been selling the individual EC Library volumes on eBay for a while. (Stragglers from incomplete sets.) The only ones I have are the Picto Fiction set. I got it because it contains Shock Illustrated #3, plus several other Picto Fiction stories that were never printed. (Including Frazetta's "Came the Dawn" story.)

I would like to get more of them someday, as I like seeing the art in black & white. Russ printed those EC Library volumes directly from the original art, and there is a lot more detail in them than in the original comics. I keep hoping that they will get more affordable as more people buy the EC Archives and sell their old EC Library sets.

I sure do hope that Russ keeps producing the Archives volumes. I know that Gemstone Publishing has been going through some difficulties recently, leaving some doubt as to whether they are going to continue publishing the EC Archives, as well as the Overstreet Price Guide and the Disney comics.

[cimm]

I have almost a whole set of Russ' EC Libraries...

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k413/cimmerian32atgmail/aaa-theshelves04.jpg

missing only Frontline Combat, volume 3 of the colour Mad, and the New Direction Sets, I and II.

I really like this format better than the new archives. I would love for someone to publish these on newsprint again. That would be the only way I would buy them again. Other than that, it's the originals for me. They are just so choice. :D

[yarmak]

If you can afford them Toz try to get the Russ Cochran volumes.
These are much nicer imo than the new EC archives books.

Also if you like these Dark Horse have done some nice hardback reprints of the old Errie and Creepys
Dave

[vathgar]

I just picked up the Creepy volume 1, DH did a fantastic job on these.