Corinna Bechko Talks About The Blood Revival Of E.C. Comics (INTERVIEW)
In the world of horror comics, few publishers are as well-known as the classic, EC Comics. What began as “Educational Comics” started by Maxwell Gaines became “Entertainment Comics” after Gaines’ son, William took over the publication due to his father’s unfortunate boating accident. That macabre origin is akin to the kinds of adult-oriented comics the brand would be known for under William, which would go on to publish such series as “Tales from the Crypt,” “The Vault of Horror,” and “The Haunt of Fear” to name a few. The brand went dormant in the 70s after a series of acquisitions and pivots but was kept alive through reprints over the years through publishers like IDW and Dark Horse Comics, in 2024 it re-emerged cryptically and is heading into what we can only describe as a “summer of blood,” or “Blood Type” to be exact.
Leading the charge is renowned writer Corinna Bechko, who is helming the story for “Blood Type,” set to release this June from Oni Press. Corinna was gracious enough to answer some of our questions about the upcoming series, which picks up from a short story she penned for a previous collection, “Epitaphs From The Abyss,” which was released last year. Please enjoy the interview, and we hope to bring you more details on the series as it gets closer to release!
Macabre Daily: What do EC Comics mean to you?
Corinna Bechko: Short, sharp, and wicked. Inventive, full of twists and clever bon mots. Often the characters don’t have good intentions, but they get what they deserve. Relevant, timely, and satisfying. A showcase for stunning art and clever dialogue. That’s the short version, at least!
MD: What was your inspiration for bringing a vampire to a Caribbean resort? A place one might assume they'd maybe seek to avoid!
CB: I love the idea of sunshine noir and sunshine horror. I’m from a touristy beach community myself, so I know that the glitzy exterior of a place like that disguises a lot of darkness. Ada, the main character, is the type of person who leaps before she thinks, figuring she’ll work out any kinks as she goes along. Sometimes this gets her into trouble, but she never doubts she can get herself out of it, even in a place encumbered by so much sunlight. Fate might have other plans, though.
MD: You have said that "Horror has just always been where I've felt most at home," what do you mean by that?
CB: The horror genre is very freeing. It’s what I gravitate toward when choosing what to read or watch, and it’s what I tend to write when left to my own devices. It’s a genre that’s all about feelings while being elastic enough to tell stories in any time or place. I love that horror appeals to empathetic people because, while the characters might be going through terrible things, they are still trying and hoping or they’d give up. Horror stories might not always be about good people, but in my experience good people enjoy horror.
MD: How does it feel to not only be tapped to write for a brand as iconic as EC Comics, but also be the inaugural return of the brand in over 70 years?
CB: Unreal? That’s the best way to describe it. I can’t even describe how excited I am to be working on Blood Type. I’ve now penned six shorts across the reborn EC line and can honestly say it’s some of my favorite work. And now that I’ve seen some of Andrea Sorrentino’s work on the first issue? I’m over the moon. It’s bloody and beautiful and thrilling and… Well, just perfect. I can’t wait for folks to see the first issue.
MD: You and Andrea both share a love of the horror genre, how did you collaborate on "Blood Type," and what was the most challenging and rewarding part of the process?
CB: It’s wonderful to work with someone who shares the language of horror in common! It’s always a challenge to work with someone new because comics are so collaborative that you have to find a rhythm that works for everyone. It’s a lot easier when you’re both aiming for the same thing, though. In this case, it's a bloody and entertaining horror comic about a self-assured vampire who couldn’t care less that she’s at a disadvantage from the start. Andrea’s work is absolutely gorgeous, so the preliminary reward is seeing the pages of art as they come in. The big reward at the end will be having the comic in hand. Nothing in the world feels better.
MD: When and how were you approached to take your story from the "Epitaphs From The Abyss" to a debut limited series?
CB: It all began at SDCC last year when I got the news it was a possibility during a breakfast meeting. I was so excited I forgot to eat! From there it was a process of working with everyone involved, including the EC folks, to ensure that what we were making still felt like an EC Comic despite the longer format. I believe we’ve found a good balance so now it’s down to telling the story.
MD: Any recent books, comics, movies, etc. that have really scared you? Which ones, and why?
CB: For books, I’ll say How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix. Pupkin is genuinely the most frightening character I’ve encountered in anything in the last year. That needle scene! I also enjoyed We Used to Live Here, by Marcus Kliewer. I guess I have a thing for haunted houses? While I’m talking about disquieting domiciles, why not throw in the comic The Nice House on the Lake by James Tynion IV and Álvaro MartÍnez Bueno. A lot of the creeping dread in that one is based on implication, a lovely use of the format. The true answer for movies would probably be Flow, because I have a black cat. So, I spent the whole run time being scared something would happen to the kitty. Same thing happened during A Quiet Place: Day One, come to think of it. Probably no coincidence that both of them made me cry. A better answer might be Talk to Me. I found the characters relatable, which made the scares more visceral. The twist was great fun too.
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