In the introduction to the massive, gorgeously illustrated recent book The History of EC Comics, author Grant Geissman asks, “Why should there be a gigantic, weighty tome in celebration of these comics?” His answer: “Put simply, because this lesser-known company had an enormous impact on American pop culture, managing to be both commercially successful as well as boldly innovative. At its creative peak in the 1950s . . . EC reads like a ‘who’s who’ of mid-20th Century comic books.” Founded by legendary comic book pioneer M. C. Gaines, then inherited by his son William Gaines in 1947, EC Comics (Entertaining Comics), thrilled kids in the 1950s with lurid art, gory stories, sexy women, and space adventures. With titles such as