THE RETURN OF EC COMICS AT ONI PRESS REANIMATES RETAILERS WITH NO-MINIMUM RETURNABILITY

Oni Arms Retailers with Full A Cover / B Cover Returnability Across First Three Issues of EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS and CRUEL UNIVERSE

EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1 COVER A BY LEE BERMEJO

CRUEL UNIVERSE #1 COVER A BY GREG SMALLWOOD

PORTLAND, OR (April 25, 2024) –  In preparation for the no-holds-barred return of the most influential and infamous publisher in comics history – the immortal EC Comics – at Oni Press this summer, Oni is proud to announce a new suite of ongoing returnability incentives for EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS and CRUEL UNIVERSE, the first two all-new series to be released under the EC banner in nearly 70 years.

Beginning with the debut of the 40-page EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1 in July, the FIRST THREE ISSUES of both new EC titles will offer FULL RETURNABILITY across all A and B shelf covers with no minimums or qualifications required. Oni’s latest returnability initiative will continue across the first three issues of all of Oni’s new EC Comics series in 2024:

  • EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1 | July 2024
  • CRUEL UNIVERSE #1 | August 2024
  • EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #2 | August 2024
  • CRUEL UNIVERSE #2 | September 2024
  • EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #3 | September 2024
  • CRUEL UNIVERSE #3 | October 2024

EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1 COVER B BY ANDREA SORRENTINO WITH DAVE STEWART

CRUEL UNIVERSE #1 COVER B BY J.H. WILLIAMS III

“The letters ‘EC’ mean many, many things to fans and retailers: an ice-cold mastery of the comic-book form, an incredibly high level of artistic detail, and, above all, powerful and shocking stories that always, always leave you wanting more,” said Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson. “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. But there is perhaps no more powerful tool than unqualified 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.”

EC’s relentless resurrection begins with an extra-sized, 40-page dose of fear in EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1 – on sale July 24th! Beginning right here, witness shocking tales of torment and tension in the eternal EC tradition—as wrenched from the grave by the vile intentions of acclaimed writers Brian Azzarello (Batman: Damned, 100 Bullets), Chris Condon (That Texas Blood, Night People), J. Holtham (Night Thrasher, Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale), and Stephanie Phillips (Harley Quinn, Grim) and realized into bloody reality by “all-slaughter” artists Jorge Fornés (Rorschach, Danger Street),Phil Hester (Family Tree), Peter Krause (Irredeemable), and Vlad Legostaev (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).

What the Comics Code Authority couldn’t kill has only made it stronger… EC Comics enters the 21st century with a jugular-pounding horror milestone that not only features four self-contained exercises in adrenaline from Brian Azzarello & Vlad Legostaev, Chris Condon & Peter Krause, J. Holtham & Jorge Fornés, and Stephanie Phillips & Phil Hester, and more — but also the first glimpse of EC’s new cast of horror hosts…and a razor-sharp gallery of covers inspired by the eternal artistry of the EC’s infernal legacy with talents including Lee Bermejo (Batman: Damned, A Vicious Circle), Andrea Sorrentino(Gideon Falls, Batman: The Imposter) with Dave Stewart (Hellboy), Jay Stephens (Dwellings), Rian Hughes (The Multiversity), and Dustin Weaver (Avengers, Paklis).

All EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1 A cover (Lee Bermejo) and B cover (Andrea Sorrentino with Dave Stewart) orders will be completely returnable with no minimum order for retailers to qualify, and all orders will count towards incentive covers.

All CRUEL UNIVERSE #1 A cover (Greg Smallwood) and B cover (J.H. Williams III) orders will be completely returnable with no minimum order for retailers to qualify, and all orders will count towards incentive covers.

Doomsday is close at hand! It all begins July 24th with EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1!

EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1

WRITTEN BY BRIAN AZZARELLO, CHRIS CONDON, J. HOLTHAM & STEPHANIE PHILLIPS

ART BY JORGE FORNES, PHIL HESTER, PETER KRAUSE & VLAD LEGOSTAEV

COVER A BY LEE BERMEJO

COVER B BY ANDREA SORRENTINO WITH DAVE STEWART

EC HOMAGE VARIANT (1:10) BY JAY STEPHENS

B&W ARTIST EDITION VARIANT (1:50) BY RIAN HUGHES

HORROR HOST VARIANT (1:100) BY DUSTIN WEAVER

FOIL COVER (GOLD) BY LEE BERMEJO

FOIL COVER (SILVER) BY ANDREA SORRENTINO WITH DAVE STEWART

BLANK COVER ALSO AVAILABLE

ON SALE JULY 24TH | $4.99 (STANDARD) | $7.99 (FOIL) | 40 PGS | FC

IOC: 05/30/2024

FOC: 07/01/2024

CRUEL UNIVERSE #1

WRITTEN BY TO BE REVEALED!

ART BY TO BE REVEALED!

COVER A BY GREG SMALLWOOD

COVER B BY J.H. WILLIAMS III

EC HOMAGE VARIANT (1:10) BY JAY STEPHENS

B&W ARTIST EDITION VARIANT (1:50) BY J.H. WILLIAMS III

TOP-SECRET VARIANT (1:100) BY TO BE REVEALED!

FOIL COVER (SILVER) BY GREG SMALLWOOD

FOIL COVER (GOLD) BY J.H. WILLIAMS III

BLANK COVER ALSO AVAILABLE

ON SALE AUGUST 7TH | $4.99 (STANDARD) | $7.99 (FOIL) | 40 PGS | FC

IOC: 06/27/2024

FOC: 07/15/2024

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