Up for auction on eBay is a CGC Signature Series Tales from the Crypt (EC, 1950) signed by comic book LEGEND Al Feldstein. According to the seller, the comic was signed at the 2008 Comic-Con. Mr. Feldstein signed the front cover with a silver sharpie!
The listing continues, Tales from the Crypt hit newsstands with its October/November 1950 issue (#20) and ceased publication with its February/March 1955 issue (#46), producing a total of 27 issues (excluding the initial three issues, #17-19, published under the title The Crypt of Terror). The title was very popular, but in the late 1940s and early 1950s comic books came under attack from parents, clergymen, schoolteachers and others who believed the books contributed to illiteracy and juvenile delinquency. In April and June 1954, highly publicized Congressional subcommittee hearings on the effects of comic books upon children left the industry shaken. With the subsequent imposition of a highly restrictive Comics Code, EC Comics publisher William Gaines canceled Tales from the Crypt and its two companion horror titles (Haunt of Fear and Vault of Horror), along with the company's remaining crime and science fiction series in September 1954. All EC titles have been reprinted at various times since their demise. The enormous influence from this comic series reaches well beyond comics. Tales from the Crypt has inspired a successful anthology television series and a 1972 film. Even George Romero admits to modeling his zombies after those that appeared in EC comic books. In 2007, Papercutz, an independent comics publisher, resurrected the series. The new series of original Tales from the Crypt comics features stories and art from some of the best horror talents in the industry.
Arriving in 1948 at Bill Gaines' Entertaining comics, Feldstein began as an artist but soon combined art with writing and became the editor on most of the EC titles. Although he originally wrote and illustrated approximately one story per comic, in addition to doing many covers, Feldstein eventually focused on editing and writing, reserving his artwork primarily for covers. From late 1950 through 1953, Feldstein edited and wrote stories for seven EC titles. Feldstein then moved to Mad, succeeding Harvey Kurtzman in 1956, spending the next 29 years at the helm of what became one of the nation's leading and most venerable satirical magazines. In 2003, Mr. Feldstein was inducted into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame. He is considered one of the greatest living contributors to the comic book industry.
Mr. Feldstein contributed the clever cover art to this issue of Tales from the Crypt and illustrated one of the stories, "A Shocking Way To Die!". This issue also features art from EC legends Wally Wood, GHASTLY Graham Ingels, and Harvey Kurtzman!
