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The EC Archives: Two-Fisted Tales Volume 3

Part of EC Archives

Author Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Davis
Illustrated by Wally Wood, Reed Crandall, Carlos Badilla
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Paperback
$19.99 US
Dark Horse Comics | Dark Horse Books
On sale Sep 16, 2025 | 216 Pages | 9781506751719
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HARROWING, TRUE-TO-LIFE WAR TALES IN THE EC TRADITION.

Before Two-Fisted Tales burst onto the scene in 1950, war comics were largely unsophisticated, focusing only on action and adventure—wartime propaganda, essentially. But under the editorial direction of Harvey Kurtzman—who also penned the majority of the stories therein—Two-Fisted Tales dared to examine all the horror and madness to be found on the battlefield. 

Collecting Two-Fisted Tales issues #30–#35, now in an affordable paperback edition, this volume features—in fully remastered digital color—the work of comic book greats Gene Colan, Johnny Craig, Reed Crandall, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Ric Estrada, George Evans, Joe Kubert, Harvey Kurtzman, John Severin, and Wally Wood!

Foreword by Joe Kubert!
Harvey Kurtzman (1924–1993) was a cartoonist, writer, editor, and comics genius. He is probably best remembered for MAD, which he founded in 1952. He created 28 revolutionary issues for E.C. publisher Bill Gaines (for whom he also created Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat) with such talent as Will Elder, Jack Davis, and Wally Wood before leaving in 1956. Kurtzman then created the short-lived satire magazine Trump for Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner in 1957. He followed with the comic-size Humbug in 1958, then Help! magazine. During his Help! tenure he discovered such diverse talent as Terry Gilliam, Gloria Steinem, Gilbert Shelton, and R. Crumb. In 1962 he and collaborator Will Elder began producing the long-running and elaborate Little Annie Fanny comic for Playboy. In the 1970s he became known as the "father-in-law of underground comix" for inspiring a new generation of media-bending cartoonists. View titles by Harvey Kurtzman
Jack Davis was born on December 2, 1924, in Atlanta, Georgia. After serving in the Navy, Davis enrolled in night classes at the Art Students League and began working on The Saint syndicated newspaper strip. It was in 1951 that he began working for EC Comics on their horror, war, and suspense titles. The juxtaposition of Davis's "cartoony" style with the grim and at times gruesome EC scripts quickly made him one of the line's most popular artists. Shortly thereafter he began his decades-long association with MAD, where his humorous, over-the-top style meshed perfectly with MAD's zany irreverence. Davis has worked in virtually every area of commercial illustration, including movie posters, advertising campaigns, album covers, magazine covers, and illustrations. View titles by Jack Davis
Wally Wood View titles by Wally Wood
Reed Crandall View titles by Reed Crandall
Carlos Badilla View titles by Carlos Badilla

About

HARROWING, TRUE-TO-LIFE WAR TALES IN THE EC TRADITION.

Before Two-Fisted Tales burst onto the scene in 1950, war comics were largely unsophisticated, focusing only on action and adventure—wartime propaganda, essentially. But under the editorial direction of Harvey Kurtzman—who also penned the majority of the stories therein—Two-Fisted Tales dared to examine all the horror and madness to be found on the battlefield. 

Collecting Two-Fisted Tales issues #30–#35, now in an affordable paperback edition, this volume features—in fully remastered digital color—the work of comic book greats Gene Colan, Johnny Craig, Reed Crandall, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Ric Estrada, George Evans, Joe Kubert, Harvey Kurtzman, John Severin, and Wally Wood!

Foreword by Joe Kubert!

Author

Harvey Kurtzman (1924–1993) was a cartoonist, writer, editor, and comics genius. He is probably best remembered for MAD, which he founded in 1952. He created 28 revolutionary issues for E.C. publisher Bill Gaines (for whom he also created Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat) with such talent as Will Elder, Jack Davis, and Wally Wood before leaving in 1956. Kurtzman then created the short-lived satire magazine Trump for Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner in 1957. He followed with the comic-size Humbug in 1958, then Help! magazine. During his Help! tenure he discovered such diverse talent as Terry Gilliam, Gloria Steinem, Gilbert Shelton, and R. Crumb. In 1962 he and collaborator Will Elder began producing the long-running and elaborate Little Annie Fanny comic for Playboy. In the 1970s he became known as the "father-in-law of underground comix" for inspiring a new generation of media-bending cartoonists. View titles by Harvey Kurtzman
Jack Davis was born on December 2, 1924, in Atlanta, Georgia. After serving in the Navy, Davis enrolled in night classes at the Art Students League and began working on The Saint syndicated newspaper strip. It was in 1951 that he began working for EC Comics on their horror, war, and suspense titles. The juxtaposition of Davis's "cartoony" style with the grim and at times gruesome EC scripts quickly made him one of the line's most popular artists. Shortly thereafter he began his decades-long association with MAD, where his humorous, over-the-top style meshed perfectly with MAD's zany irreverence. Davis has worked in virtually every area of commercial illustration, including movie posters, advertising campaigns, album covers, magazine covers, and illustrations. View titles by Jack Davis
Wally Wood View titles by Wally Wood
Reed Crandall View titles by Reed Crandall
Carlos Badilla View titles by Carlos Badilla

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