Impact (RCP)

(RCP, 1999)
® and © William M. Gaines, Agent

This series was an issue-by-issue reprinting of the classic EC title “Impact”

There were six E.C. titles in its “New Direction,” cover-bannered as “an entirely novel and unique reading experience.” The cover of each had a frame with the title on top and an identifying icon down the left side. The “New Direction” was one designed to accommodate the Comics Magazine of America’s new Comics Code, though the first issue of each did not carry the Code stamp, and all but one lasted for five issues. The six titles were: Aces High, Extra!, MD, Psychoanalysis, Valor—and Impact.

Above Impact’s title was the line “Tales designed to carry an …” and the stories were each designed to have a punch ending. The first issue cover-featured the classic Bernie Krigstein-illustrated “Master Race,” and for its time, and considering the restrictions, the series was outstanding. In at least one case (the cover story of #4), Code censorship rendered the story incomprehensible. Nevertheless, the anthology series was powerful, illustrated by Jack Davis, Reed Crandall, Graham Ingels, George Evans, Krigstein, Joe Orlando, and Jack Kamen.

— Maggie Thompson

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