Piracy #3 (February–March 1955) – Key Highlights
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Publisher: EC Comics
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Cover Artist: Reed Crandall
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Editor: Al Feldstein
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Publication Date: February–March 1955
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Genre: Adventure, piracy, war, and suspense
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Pages: 36 pages
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Original Cover Price: $0.10
🔥 Key Significance
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One of EC Comics' late New Direction titles, exploring high-seas piracy, maritime adventure, and historical intrigue.
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Features a remarkable lineup of EC artists, including Reed Crandall, Bernie Krigstein, George Evans, and Graham Ingels.
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The cover features detailed artwork by Reed Crandall, who also illustrates the lead story, "Blackbeard."
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Includes "Slave Ship," a particularly dark tale of treachery, murder, and mutiny, written by Carl Wessler and illustrated by Graham Ingels.
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All five features were later reprinted in Gemstone's Piracy #3 in May 1998.
📖 Story Highlights
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Blackbeard – 7 pages. Pencils and inks by Reed Crandall. A historical pirate adventure featuring the notorious Blackbeard.
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U-Boat – 6 pages. Written and illustrated by Bernie Krigstein (script by Carl Wessler). A wartime story illustrated with Krigstein's distinctive artwork.
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The Beast – 1-page text story.
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Mouse Trap – 6 pages. Pencils and inks by George Evans. A suspenseful adventure.
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Slave Ship – 7 pages. Written by Carl Wessler, with pencils and inks by Graham Ingels. Sailor Tod Ellis awakens aboard a slave ship, discovering that he is being transported as cargo rather than serving as crew.
📌 Additional Details
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Cover Pencils and Inks: Reed Crandall.
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Interior Artists: Reed Crandall, Bernie Krigstein, George Evans, and Graham Ingels.
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Coloring: Marie Severin.
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Reprint History: All five stories were reprinted in Piracy #3 (Gemstone, May 1998).
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Format: 36 pages, full color.
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Original Cover Price: 10 cents.
A standout example of EC's New Direction era, combining atmospheric maritime storytelling with artwork from some of the publisher's most celebrated artists. Reed Crandall's cover and the unsettling premise of "Slave Ship" make this an especially interesting issue for EC collectors.
