Explore Crime SuspenStories 22: Classic EC Comics Horror with a Twist

Well now, let me tell ya about this old comic book I found, called “Crime SuspenStories #22.” It’s somethin’ real special, I tell ya that. Back in the day, in 1954, this here comic was as famous as they come. People were talkin’ about it all over the place, and I reckon it’s still remembered today, though folks are mighty careful about showin’ it off. It’s got a cover that’ll make your hair stand on end, all decapitated and bloodied, with an axe in the mix. Quite the thing for a comic, don’t ya think?

Now, this story, it’s about a man named Norman and his lady, Sally. They’ve got themselves a real bad plan cookin’. You see, Norman’s wife, Bertha, she’s just in the way, so Norman and Sally decide the best way to be together is to get rid of Bertha. Ain’t that a sad, dirty shame? They figure out that if Sally can look just like Bertha, maybe even sound like her, they can fool everyone and make it look like Bertha just up and vanished. So Sally goes and gets herself some fancy plastic surgery, all to play the part of Bertha. I reckon that’s the sort of thing you’d see in them big city places, but not here in our town, no sir.

So, there they are, sittin’ in their hideout, with Norman all ready to do the deed. He grabs an axe—can you imagine? An axe!—and goes after poor Bertha. But it’s not really Bertha, it’s Sally dressed up like her. Ain’t that somethin’! Norman takes that axe and does the dirty work, thinkin’ he’s free to run off with Sally and live a good life in New York. But of course, things never go as planned. There’s always something goin’ wrong, isn’t there?

This comic here, it’s got a real gritty feel to it. You can just feel the tension in the air. People in the comic book world say it’s one of the best. I’ve heard folks call it a classic, even. The cover, done by Johnny Craig, is one of them things you won’t forget. It’s got an axe, a decapitation, and a look that could freeze your blood. Just picture it: a body with its head lopped off, and all the mess that comes with it. Some folks say it’s the most notorious comic book ever made, and I’d say they’ve got a point.

Now, let’s talk a bit more about this comic book. “Crime SuspenStories” was a series of crime comics published by EC Comics back in the ’50s. This here #22 is special, though, because it was so darn controversial. The cover got so much attention that it even showed up in Senate hearings, of all things! They were talkin’ about juvenile delinquency and how these comics might be contributin’ to all the mischief. Ain’t that something? A comic book sittin’ at the center of a big ol’ government investigation!

The thing is, even with all the fuss, people couldn’t get enough of these comics. The artists—Marie Severin, Johnny Craig, Reed Crandall, and the rest—they sure knew how to grab folks’ attention. They drew them stories so well, you couldn’t look away. Even if you wanted to, you couldn’t. And that’s what made “Crime SuspenStories” stand out. It wasn’t just the storylines, no sir, it was the art too. People remembered it all. That decapitated cover by Johnny Craig, especially, it’s like one of them images that sticks with you, like a bad dream.

As for the plot, well, like I said, Norman and Sally’s plan goes about as well as you’d expect. They think they’ve got it all figured out, but there’s always somethin’ else happenin’ that throws a wrench in their scheme. It’s like the old saying goes: what goes around, comes around. And when it comes to comics like this, I reckon it’s no different. The bad folks always get their due, in one way or another. You can’t escape what you’ve done, no matter how hard you try.

And yet, even though all that horror and crime is goin’ on in this comic, it’s still somethin’ you just can’t put down. It’s like a train wreck—horrible, but you can’t look away. “Crime SuspenStories #22” became a real piece of comic book history, and I’m sure if you find it, you’ll see why. People love it, they hate it, and they keep talkin’ about it. That’s the kind of comic book this is: it sticks with ya, for better or worse.

So, if you ever come across a copy of this here “Crime SuspenStories #22,” you might want to give it a read. But don’t say I didn’t warn ya—it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s got murder, deceit, and a whole lotta bad decisions. But if you can stomach it, well, you’ll see why it’s still a legend in the comic book world, all these years later.

Tags：[Crime SuspenStories, Johnny Craig, EC Comics, Crime Comics, Horror Comics, 1950s Comics, Murder Mystery, Classic Comics, Ax Decapitation, Norman and Sally, Comic Book History]