Always on the cutting edge in their titles like Tales from the Crypt and Weird Science, EC Comics produced the most provocative stories of horror, crime, politics, and social justice in the restrictive early 1950s-tales once again topical today. Tucked inside the horror were yarns that took on issues like prejudice and nationalism. Of course, EC got in trouble, and in 1954 publisher William Gaines was called to testify before the U.S. Senate in a hearing that ultimately caused the wide censorship of comics. An interactive discussion led by Ben Dickow, lecturer in comics history, and EC comics expert Grant Geissman will examine that fateful day in comics history. Augmenting the discussion, members of Los Angeles's Captured Aural Phantasy Theater will dramatically read from the Senate testimony and some of the controversial comics. These short excerpts preview a major theatrical production about EC Comics that Captured Aural Phantasy Theater will be bringing to audiences in the fall; they are the only performance group in the world authorized to bring EC Comics to life on stage.
Saturday July 22, 2017 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 26AB
