EC Catacomb of Torment #1

by John Arcudi, Tonci Zonjic (Artist), David Lapham (Artist)

A BLOODY NEW ONGOING SERIES! Out of the ashes of EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS, we usher THE TORMENTOR—a new horror host with an unhealthy interest in human anatomy—into the shadow-strewn halls of EC Comics history for our next monthly horror anthology! Hold onto your head (if it’s still attached) . . . because no one escapes THE CATACOMB OF TORMENT! For Her Royal Travesty of Pain's first Master storytellers John Arcudi (B.P.R.D.) & Patrick Piazzalungo (Those Not Afraid), Matt Kindt (BRZRKR) & David Lapham (Stray Bullets), and Marguerite Bennett (Batwoman) & Dan McDaid (Shazam!) each take turns manning the rack and turning the red-hot irons for three all-new and blisteringly brutal tales of mayhem and malice in the undying EC tradition! Plus, as an added A surprise classic from the EC vaults, painstakingly remastered and newly restored to its original coloring. The critics are already saying, “This is literal torture” and “Please make it stop!” Pick up this fearful 40-PAGE FIRST ISSUE—and the Tormentor might just consider letting them go!

Genres: Horror, Comics

Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2025

About the author

John Arcudi has made a name for himself by scripting comics that manage to combine long-running subplots with impeccable characterization and action sequences, making for some of the most exciting and consistently good comics out today.

Reviews

[Nick LeBlanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down.

Great start! Timely, strong art (particularly from David Lapham), the classic story included was a fun one to revisit—sufficiently horrifying, classic colors and images, typically wordy EC throwback. GARDEN VARIETY and VOODOO biff the ending a little bit, particularly in VOODOO’s last panel. Otherwise, a fun time!

Read in a single issue.

[William Dalphin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm gonna write one review for all four editions and just post it four times because these things aren't worth writing four individual reviews for. Catacomb of Torment #1-4 are NOT in the spirit of Tales From the Crypt, Vault of Horror, or Haunt of Fear. The stories are incredibly juvenile, not as in they relay low-brow humor, but as in they reflect a very simple mindset. Every character in these stories is a ridiculous caricature. There is no humanity to anyone. They're cartoonish dumb, evil, bigoted, self-centered... just the absolute minimal effort put into giving us tales that make us think. I correct myself-- NO effort is made to give us tales that make us think. The artwork doesn't even showcase the talent of the artist(s), they just try to make it look like the work of the old, quality EC tales, but look more like something out of a Mad Magazine. Half the stories just HAPPEN... as in, there are events, and people die, and in most cases they are people you are convinced DESERVE to die because they are so buffoonishly reviling, but the hows and whys of their demises are borderline nonsensical. This person is killed by plants and becomes a plant monster. Why? Because. That's why. Don't ask. Look at the gory way her friends die next and don't waste a moment wondering what the moral of this story is. These white supremacists die when their new flag suddenly peels apart and strangles them. Why? Because. That's why. Don't ask questions. Get off my lawn. Can't you see they were bigots? That's all that matters. You want to see them die, so they died.

You're better off going and re-reading the old EC stuff.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catacomb of Torment is off to a great start! With the old school cover art and some of the gnarliest art we have been served up in the new EC reboot. Add a classic EC story “Halloween” and you have a great issue! Keep it up.

[Amelia Suedel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for a digital copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my review!

I have slowly been making my way through the old Tales of the Crypt volumes and I was excited when I saw this new version coming out. I was surprised by how political it was off the bat, and I was immediately worried after the first story that I was not going to have a good time (but I did). I don't feel like the older stuff was as political, I do remember some interesting stories set in Africa that were questionable, and other stories condemning slavery but overall this edition seemed more political to me. Often horror stories though do serve as commentary in avenues that other genres cannot.

I enjoyed most of the stories, they are fun, quick, and very gory. There is not much story or character building so they are more like bite sized stories rather than longer and complex stories but I enjoyed them for what they were!

[Garth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2026 - 365 Days of Whatever Is On My Comic Book TBR
Day 124

About what I’ve come to expect from Oni’s EC books. This one was a little too “snowflake” for my liking and there was one story too many making them all too short.

[AlArIn · Rating 5 out of 5]

En un inició me recordó a cuentos de la cripta.

Son varios autores que se reparten cada uno una historia en 40 páginas.

[Cameron Rhoads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that good. Nonsensical stories.

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crap.

[Wm · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's the Deal with Voodoo? 4 stars
Quintana Roo 5 stars
Garden Variety 2 stars
Halloween (from 1952) 4 stars

[✧˚ · meda * ˚ ✦ · Rating 1 out of 5]

eh, not worth reading