Ever since Bill Gaines’ iconic EC Comics titles bit the dust (thanks to the introduction of the Comics Code in the 1950s) there has been a space in the market for a fun, gruesome comic-horror anthology. Although there have been many excellent horror comics from the likes of DC, Chaos! and Dark Horse there hasn’t been a collection of tales fit to carry EC Comics torch. Until now.

EEEK! From Asylum Press/Rat Race Comics is a retro gem. It has captured the essence of EC‘s output and brought it kicking, screaming and stabbing into the 21^st century. Creator Jason Paulos has expertly grasped the often missed humour bull by the horns and created a dark twisted niche for himself – and what’s even better is that it’s a digital exclusive!All the hallmarks of the EC greats are there to enjoy. Each black and white story has it’s own illustrative style. Some are high on detail, stuck rigidly inside traditional panels and others bust out blending with others, almost as if they are trying to escape. There is a fabulous use of vintage fonts that cut through the art and move your eye from panel to panel. The art does occasionally feel rushed but is on the whole excellent and you can tell it is created by someone who knows and loves the genre.

But ultimately it’s the stories that make EEEK! such fun. Short and snappy tales of greed, gluttony and ghosts leap from the page. They invite the reader to guess each characters twisted demise. Standout story from EEEK! #1 is the cannibalistic Just Desserts – which follows a bored, chubby food critic as he seeks the ‘Ultimate Gastro’ experience. Then there is Stuffed, in which a strange old animal loving lady cares for her pets (including dead ones) and her relationship with a wheelchair bound brute of a husband. You also get another two gruesome tales to sink your teeth into.

At 26 pages EEEK! isn’t a long comic, but for lovers of vintage horror novels, comics and movies there is a lot to enjoy, especially at the bargain price of £1.49 . As with any anthology there are bound to be more misses than hits but Jason and Asylum are having  fun with their creations and so did we.

EEEK! #1 is available on ComiXology for £1.49/$1.99 per issue or as part of a larger anthology for $8.99