With just a couple of days until Halloween, it’s the time of the season to be reading horror comics. With so many titles to choose from it might be hard to pick just one book, but I’ve found one that really stands out on the shelf. Recently, Fantagraphics collected the best 1950s non-EC horror comics into one bone-chilling tome called “Four Color Fear,” and it’s a fantastic history of forgotten horror tales.

Before congress established the comics code authority and ruined everyones fun, horror comics were produced in plenty. Though EC comics has had the most lasting cultural significance from that decade, there was a plethora of other comic company releasing equally horrifying work throughout the McCartry-era. “Four Color Fear” celebrates not only the forgotten comics (the peak period being 51 – 54), but also many of the companies producing these frightening tales, including Ace, American Comics Group, and Fawcett. What’s more, the book also showcases some of the early work from legendary artist such as Jack Cole, Frank Frazetta, Basil Wolverton, Wallace Wood, and many others.

If you’re a fan of EC’s “Vault of Horror” or “Tales From the Crypt,” this collection is perfect companion piece. Thanks to the hard work by Fantagraphics (Who in my opinion put out the absolute best historical collections) and editors John Benson and Greg Sadowski each story comes with an extensively researched history behind the creation of the comics. The anthology is actually worthwhile for the 32 full-sized covers alone, making it almost as much an artbook as it is a collection of comics. So, if you’re trying to get into the Halloween spirits make sure to read “Four Color Fear” all you eerie dearies.

-Jon

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