Fantagraphics presents yet another unparalleled collection in their EC Artists series with The Bitter End and Other Stories. This time we are presented with twenty-two stories from Reed Crandall, and eight bonus stories from George Roussos. There is easily a novel’s worth of description and dialogue in this collection, as was the style at the time; however, Crandall’s artwork elevates every frame into the heights of terror, horror, science fiction, and war stories.
Buy The Bitter End and Other StoriesKeep in mind that around a dozen stories are questionable as to whom the original script writer(s) may be. These are indicated with an author’s name and question mark or simply a question mark.
Some highlights from the twenty-two Reed Crandall stories are as follows:
- “The Bitter End” – One of a few stories in the collection relying mostly on dialogue. Great artwork with fantastic facial expressions lend this middling tale about a father’s demands some needed gravitas.
- “Dog Food” – A prison guard keeps ravenous dogs between the prison and his home as the ultimate defense. He doesn’t expect the where-with-all of Tom Herrick, a prisoner with a bone to pick. You’ll think you see the ending coming from a mile off, but you will be wrong. Has a wonderfully surprising script by Jack Oleck.
- “Double-Crossed” – A man kills his doppelganger just a few hours too late. Another of the many surprise endings to be found in this collection. Just when you think you know where it is going, it switches directions.
- “The Shadow Knows” – From The Vault of Horror. This brilliant short piece sees a murderer harrassed by the shadow of the person he’s killed. A nicely sadistic ending you will not see coming.
- “Swamped” – For a story with virtually no dialogue, the artwork is incredibly impressive. The story is told by an actual shack with a conscience in the Okefenokee Swamp which has misgivings about its “ghoul” of an occupant. Terrifically startling in its narration.
And highlights from the eight George Roussos’ stories include:
- “Demons of Death” – A young couple taking care of a crotchety old miser seek ways to get their hands on his fortune. Great with faces, Roussos doesn’t have the same acumen with backgrounds as Crandall.
- “Trapped in the Tomb” – the artwork is the star here when a man is tricked into a dangerous tomb to find world-renowned treasure. Roussos uses darker inks to project great depth of doom and gloom.
- “Extermination” – “The exterminator gets exterminated by all the pests he once pestered.” Again, George Roussos’ artwork, though not as pitch-perfect as Crandall’s, saves a familiar story.
Bonus Materials:
- “Always Better, Never Bitter” – Introduction by Jon Gothold
- “A Dose of Roussos” – Introduction by Jon Gothold
- Eight Stories Illustrated by George Roussos
- “Reed Crandall” – Biography by S.C. Ringgenberg
- “Who Knows What Crandall Lurks?” – History by J. Michael Catron
- “Behind the Panels” – Creator Biographies
- “Crime, Horror, Terror, Gore, Depravity, Disrespect for Established Authority – And Science Fiction, Too!” – History by Ted White
- “The Fantagraphics EC Artists’ Library” – Titles in the Series
This is yet another fine entry into the Fantagraphics library. Reed Crandall’s artwork is stunning throughout, and George Roussos holds his own. Highly recommended.
