Incredible Science Fiction #33 – Key Highlights
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Publisher: EC Comics
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Publication Date: January–February 1956
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Editor: Albert B. Feldstein
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Cover Artist: Wally Wood
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Genre: Science Fiction
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Pages: 36
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Original Cover Price: $0.10
🔥 Key Significance
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Final issue of Incredible Science Fiction and the last color comic published by EC Comics.
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Marks the end of EC's classic comic-book publishing era. Following this issue, the company continued publishing MAD magazine and related products rather than comic-sized color titles.
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Features “Judgment Day,” a landmark science-fiction story about prejudice told through a robot parable.
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The Comics Code's objections to “Judgment Day” and the resulting censorship dispute became the breaking point in William Gaines' relationship with the Comics Code Authority and EC's comic-book publishing operation.
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The cover features Wally Wood's characteristically intricate space machinery.
📖 Story Highlights
- “Big Moment” – 7 pages
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Script by Jack Oleck; art by Wally Wood.
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A post-apocalyptic science-fiction story and Wood's final science-fiction story for EC.
- “Kaleidoscope” – 6 pages
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Script by Jack Oleck; art by Jack Davis.
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A science-fiction tale featuring Davis's distinctive artwork.
- “One Way Hero” – 6 pages
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Script by Jack Oleck; art by Bernie Krigstein.
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A would-be space explorer and his brother discover one of the harsh realities of life in space.
- “Judgment Day” – 7 pages
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Script by Al Feldstein; art by Joe Orlando.
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A robot is sent to evaluate Earth's future space-colonization prospects. His findings reveal the prejudice and discrimination embedded in human society.
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Originally intended as a different story, “An Eye for an Eye,” illustrated by Angelo Torres, was rejected by the Comics Code. “Judgment Day” was substituted at the last minute.
📌 Additional Details
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Text Article: “The Entertainment Box” – 1 page, written by Fred Von Bernewitz, reviewing three science-fiction paperbacks.
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Text Story: “Small World” – 1 page, written by Jack Oleck.
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Cover Coloring: Marie Severin.
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Interior Coloring: Marie Severin is credited on all four comic stories.
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Reprint History: The cover, stories, and text features were reprinted in the Gemstone edition of Incredible Science Fiction #11 (May 1995), with the exception of “Judgment Day,” which is listed as reprinted from Weird Fantasy #18 (March–April 1953).
Incredible Science Fiction #33 is a historically significant final chapter in EC's comic-book legacy, featuring the controversial “Judgment Day” and bringing the company's groundbreaking color-comic era to a close.
