The Vault of Horror (book)

The Vault of Horror was a horror comics anthology series published by EC Comics from 1950 to 1955. It served as a companion title to Tales from the Crypt and The Haunt of Fear, sharing a similar format and stable of writers and artists, including Al Feldstein, Bill Gaines, Johnny Craig, Jack Davis, Graham Ingels, and Wally Wood.

The book, like its sister publications, was known for its gruesome and often ironic tales of horror, frequently featuring themes of murder, revenge, and the supernatural. The stories typically ended with a twist or a moralistic comeuppance for the wicked characters.

The Vault of Horror was hosted by the Vault-Keeper, a skeletal figure who introduced and commented on the stories with ghoulish glee and morbid humor. His character was similar to the Crypt-Keeper in Tales from the Crypt and the Old Witch in The Haunt of Fear.

The comic series became controversial due to its graphic content and was targeted by critics who believed it contributed to juvenile delinquency. This controversy ultimately contributed to the decline of EC Comics and the implementation of the Comics Code Authority in 1954, which imposed strict censorship on the content of comic books.

Despite its short run, The Vault of Horror, along with other EC horror comics, has had a lasting impact on the horror genre and has been reprinted in various formats over the years, maintaining a cult following among fans of classic horror comics.