As Oni Press plans to launch the first new EC Comics since 1956 (see “Oni to Launch New EC Comics Line”), the publisher has announced that the A and B covers of the first three issues of the first two EC Comics series will be fully returnable, with no minimums or qualifications.

“As we prepare for EC’s full-scale return in the pages of Epitaphs from the Abyss and Cruel Universe in the weeks and months ahead, Oni is committed to giving retailers the maximum amount of support for this vitally important line of titles with advance pre-order materials, point-of-purchase giveaways, and new tools to cross-sell the already-substantial amount of classic EC material on their shelves,” said Oni Press President and Publisher Hunter Gorinson in a statement accompanying the announcement.  “But there is perhaps no more powerful tool than unqualified, full returnability – and Oni is proud to offer it across the first three issues of both our twin EC horror and science-fiction launch titles, which will allow our retailer partners to accurately gauge their readership for EC’s pull-no-punches return this summer.”

The new line will launch with Epitaphs from the Abyss #1, a 40-page issue that will go on sale on July 24, 2024.  Like the original EC Comics, Oni’s will be anthologies, and Epitaphs from the Abyss #1 will include four self-contained stories by four writer/artist teams: Brian Azzarello and Vlad Legostaev, Chris Condon and Peter Krause, J. Holtham and Jorge Fornés, and Stephanie Phillips and Phil Hester.  The issue will also introduce the new EC horror hosts, another throwback to the original line, and will have an A cover by Lee Bermejo and a B cover by Andrea Sorrentino and Dave Stewart.  Issues #2 and 3 will go on sale in August and September, respectively.

The second title is Cruel Universe, launching in August 2024 with an A cover by Greg Smallwood and a B cover by J. H. Williams III. Issues #2 and 3 will go on sale in September and October.

Click Gallery below for covers!