# Weird Science (comics)

Weird Science was an American science fiction comic book magazine that was part of the EC Comics line in the early 1950s. Over a four-year span, the comic ran for 22 issues, ending with the November–December, 1953 issue. Weird Fantasy was a sister title published during the same time frame.

## Publication history

Published by Bill Gaines and edited by Al Feldstein, the bi-monthly Weird Science replaced Saddle Romances with the May/June 1950 issue. Although the title and format change took effect with issue 12, Gaines and Feldstein decided not to restart the numbering in order to save money on second class postage. The Post Office took note and, starting with issue #5, all the issues were numbered correctly. Because of this, Weird Science #12 could refer to either the May/June 1950 issue, or the actual 12th issue published in 1952. The same confusion exists for issues #13-15, #15 being the last issue published before EC reset the numbering.
Artist/Writer Harry Harrison claims credit for originally giving Gaines the notion of publishing science fiction. Harrison has stated that he and artist Wally Wood were interested in science fiction and gave Gaines science fiction stories to read. Harrison, however, had no editorial control over the contents of the comic aside from his own stories and left EC by the end of 1950.

## Artists and writers

Early cover illustrations were by Feldstein. Wood, the title's leading artist, took over as the regular cover illustrator in 1952. For a period of time in 1952, Wood drew two stories per issue. The other Weird Science interior artists were Feldstein, Frank Frazetta, Al Williamson, Joe Orlando, George Evans, Harvey Kurtzman, George Roussos, Harrison, Will Elder, Jack Kamen, Sid Check and Jack Olesen. Writers in the early issues included Feldstein, Gaines, Kurtzman, Harrison and Gardner Fox. Gaines and Feldstein wrote nearly all stories from 1951 to 1953.

## Stories and themes

As with other EC Comics, Gaines and Feldstein used some Weird Science stories to teach moral lessons. "The Probers" (#8) features a space shuttle doctor who pays no mind to dissecting various animals, only to end up on an alien planet where aliens plan to dissect him. In "The Worm Turns" (#11) astronauts have fun with Mexican jumping beans but face a similar situation when they hide in a piece of fruit on an alien world and are found by a giant alien. "He Walked Among Us" (#13) was a take on organized religion in which a Christ-like astronaut helps the impoverished populace of an alien world but is killed by those in power, prompting the birth of a religion.
Gaines and Feldstein made cameo appearances in "Chewed Out" (#12), and other EC staffers were drawn into "EC Confidential" (#21).

## Influences and adaptations

As with the other EC comics edited by Feldstein, the stories in this comic were primarily based on Gaines reading a large number of science fiction stories and using them to develop "springboards" from which he and Feldstein could launch new stories. Specific story influences that have been identified include the following:
* "Lost in the Microcosm" (issue 12 [1950]) - Henry Hasse's "He Who Shrank"
* "The Micro Race" (issue 13 [1950]) - Theodore Sturgeon's "Microcosmic God"
* "The Sounds from Another World" (issue 14 [1950]) - Roald Dahl's "The Sound Machine"
* "Machine from Nowhere" (issue 14 [1950]) - Maurice Hugi's "Mechanical Mouse"
* "Divide and Conquer" (issue 6) - Donald Wandrei's "A Scientist Divides"
* "Monster from the Fourth Dimension" (issue 7) - Donald Wandrei's "The Monster from Nowhere"
* "The Martian Monster" (issue 9) - Anthony Boucher's "Mr. Lupescu"
* "Why Papa Left Home" (issue 11) - Charles Harness's "Child by Chronos"
* "Chewed Out!" (issue 12) - Katherine MacLean's "Pictures Don't Lie!"
* "Say Your Prayers" (issue 13) - Anthony Boucher's "Expedition"
* "The Island Monster" (issue 17) - Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack's King Kong
* "Keyed Up!" (issue 19) - Duncan Munro's "U-Turn"
After their unauthorized adaptation of one of Ray Bradbury's stories in another magazine, Bradbury contacted EC about their plagiarism of his work. They reached an agreement for EC to do authorized versions of Bradbury's short fiction. These official adaptations include:
* "The Long Years" (issue 17)
* "Mars Is Heaven!" (issue 18)
* "The One Who Waits" (issue 19)
* "Surprise Package" (issue 20)
* "Punishment Without Crime" (issue 21)
* "Outcast of the Stars" (issue 22)

## Demise

EC's science fiction comics were never able to match the popularity of their horror comics like Tales from the Crypt, but Gaines and Feldstein kept them alive using the profits from their more popular titles. In the EC Library reprints, comics historian Mark Evanier theorizes that the short story format, where no story was longer than eight pages helped contribute to poor sales because the horror comics were much better suited for very short stories with shock endings than the science fiction comics. Evanier also ponders whether the very similar logo style of Weird Science and its companion comic Weird Fantasy as well as similar cover subjects contributed to lower sales due to customers thinking they already owned the issues on sale. Historian Digby Diehl wondered whether having host characters like EC's horror comics would have helped the comics be more commercially successful.
When the poor sales became too much to handle, Weird Science combined with companion comic Weird Fantasy in 1954 to become Weird Science-Fantasy. As discussed in an "In Memoriam" feature in the final issue, it was stated that every issue for the previous year and a half lost money and they had no choice but to combine the two comics into one. Weird Science-Fantasy ran for seven issues before a title change to Incredible Science Fiction for four issues.

## Reprints

As with many other EC titles, Weird Science has been reprinted numerous times over the years. Ballantine Books reprinted selected stories in a series of paperback EC anthologies in 1964-66. All 22 issues were published in black and white in four hardbound volumes in 1980 as part of publisher Russ Cochran's The Complete EC Library. This set was published in two versions, the original, with what Cochran later said were his own incomplete and occasionally erroneous analyses, and a revised version containing analysis from outside contributors. In addition, all 22 issues were reprinted in comic form in the mid-1990s by Cochran and Gemstone Publishing. This complete run was later rebound, with covers included, in a series of five softcover EC Annuals. In 2007, Cochran and Gemstone began to publish hardcover, re-colored volumes of Weird Science as part of the EC Archives series. Three volumes (of a projected four) were published before Gemstone's financial troubles left the project in limbo. Dark Horse published the fourth and final volume in 2015.

## Media adaptations

HBO's Perversions of Science was a science fiction/horror anthology series with episodes adapted from stories found in Weird Science as well as Weird Fantasy and Incredible Science Fiction. The following Weird Science stories were adapted into episodes:
* "Dream of Doom" (Weird Science #12)
* "Given The Heir" (Weird Science #16)
* "Panic" (Weird Science #15)
* "Snap Ending" (Weird Science #18)
* "The People's Choice" (Weird Science #16)
John Hughes' 1985 film has become the most famous bearer of the Weird Science name. Joel Silver, the producer of the film, had acquired film rights to EC Comics in the early 1980s. However, the film has little in common with the comic book series besides sharing the title. A television series aired from 1994 to 1997 following the success of the film.
It has been suggested on The Simpsons season 3 DVD commentary for the episode "Treehouse of Horror II" that the appearance of Kang and Kodos was based on cover art from EC Comics. No specific issue number is mentioned, but it may be a combination of different covers including possibly Weird Science #6 and #16.

## Issue guide

| # | Date | Cover Artist | Story | Story Artist |
| 12(1) | May/June 1950 | Al Feldstein | Lost in the Microcosm | Harvey Kurtzman |
| 12(1) | May/June 1950 | Al Feldstein | Dream of Doom | Wally Wood & Harry Harrison |
| 12(1) | May/June 1950 | Al Feldstein | Experiment... In Death | Jack Kamen |
| 12(1) | May/June 1950 | Al Feldstein | "Things" from Outer Space! | Al Feldstein |
| 13(2) | July/Aug 1950 | Al Feldstein | The Flying Saucer Invasion | Al Feldstein |
| 13(2) | July/Aug 1950 | Al Feldstein | The Meteor Monster | Wally Wood & Harry Harrison |
| 13(2) | July/Aug 1950 | Al Feldstein | The Micro-Race! | Jack Kamen |
| 13(2) | July/Aug 1950 | Al Feldstein | ...The Man Who Raced Time | Harvey Kurtzman |
| 14(3) | Sept/Oct 1950 | Al Feldstein | Destruction of the Earth! | Al Feldstein |
| 14(3) | Sept/Oct 1950 | Al Feldstein | The Sounds from Another World! | Harvey Kurtzman |
| 14(3) | Sept/Oct 1950 | Al Feldstein | Machine from Nowhere | Harry Harrison |
| 14(3) | Sept/Oct 1950 | Al Feldstein | The Eternal Man | Jack Kamen |
| 15(4) | Nov/Dec 1950 | Al Feldstein | Panic! | Al Feldstein |
| 15(4) | Nov/Dec 1950 | Al Feldstein | The Radioactive Child! | Harvey Kurtzman |
| 15(4) | Nov/Dec 1950 | Al Feldstein | House, in Time! | Graham Ingels |
| 15(4) | Nov/Dec 1950 | Al Feldstein | Gargantua! | Jack Kamen |
| 5 | Jan/Feb 1951 | Al Feldstein | Made of the Future! | Al Feldstein |
| 5 | Jan/Feb 1951 | Al Feldstein | Return | Wally Wood |
| 5 | Jan/Feb 1951 | Al Feldstein | The Last War on Earth | Harvey Kurtzman |
| 5 | Jan/Feb 1951 | Al Feldstein | Killed in Time! | Jack Kamen |
| 6 | March/April 1951 | Al Feldstein | Spawn of Venus | Al Feldstein |
| 6 | March/April 1951 | Al Feldstein | Man and Superman! | Harvey Kurtzman |
| 6 | March/April 1951 | Al Feldstein | Sinking of the Titanic! | Wally Wood |
| 6 | March/April 1951 | Al Feldstein | Divide and Conquer | Jack Kamen |
| 7 | May/June 1951 | Al Feldstein | Monster from the Fourth Dimension | Al Feldstein |
| 7 | May/June 1951 | Al Feldstein | Something Missing! | Jack Kamen |
| 7 | May/June 1951 | Al Feldstein | ...Gregory Had a Model-T! | Harvey Kurtzman |
| 7 | May/June 1951 | Al Feldstein | The Aliens! | Wally Wood |
| 8 | July/Aug 1951 | Al Feldstein | Seeds of Jupiter! | Al Feldstein |
| 8 | July/Aug 1951 | Al Feldstein | The Escape | George Roussos |
| 8 | July/Aug 1951 | Al Feldstein | Beyond Repair | Jack Kamen |
| 8 | July/Aug 1951 | Al Feldstein | The Probers | Wally Wood |
| 9 | Sept/Oct 1951 | Wally Wood | The Gray Cloud of Death! | Wally Wood |
| 9 | Sept/Oct 1951 | Wally Wood | The Martian Monster | Jack Kamen |
| 9 | Sept/Oct 1951 | Wally Wood | The Invaders | Wally Wood |
| 9 | Sept/Oct 1951 | Wally Wood | The Slave of Evil! | Jack Oleson |
| 10 | Nov/Dec 1951 | Wally Wood | The Maidens Cried | Wally Wood |
| 10 | Nov/Dec 1951 | Wally Wood | Reducing... Costs | Jack Kamen |
| 10 | Nov/Dec 1951 | Wally Wood | Transformation Completed | Wally Wood |
| 10 | Nov/Dec 1951 | Wally Wood | The Planetoid! | Joe Orlando |
| 11 | Jan/Feb 1952 | Al Feldstein | The Conquerors of the Moon! | Wally Wood |
| 11 | Jan/Feb 1952 | Al Feldstein | Only Human! | Jack Kamen |
| 11 | Jan/Feb 1952 | Al Feldstein | Why Papa Left Home | Joe Orlando |
| 11 | Jan/Feb 1952 | Al Feldstein | The Worm Turns | Joe Orlando |
| 12 | March/April 1952 | Wally Wood | A Gobl is a Knog's Best Friend | Wally Wood |
| 12 | March/April 1952 | Wally Wood | The Last Man! | Jack Kamen |
| 12 | March/April 1952 | Wally Wood | The Android! | Wally Wood |
| 12 | March/April 1952 | Wally Wood | Chewed Out! | Joe Orlando |
| 13 | May/June 1952 | Wally Wood | A Weighty Decision | Wally Wood |
| 13 | May/June 1952 | Wally Wood | Saving for the Future | Jack Kamen |
| 13 | May/June 1952 | Wally Wood | He Walked Among Us | Wally Wood |
| 13 | May/June 1952 | Wally Wood | Say Your Prayers | Joe Orlando |
| 14 | July/Aug 1952 | Wally Wood | There'll Be Some Changes Made! | Wally Wood |
| 14 | July/Aug 1952 | Wally Wood | Inside Story! | Bill Elder |
| 14 | July/Aug 1952 | Wally Wood | Strategy! | Sid Check |
| 14 | July/Aug 1952 | Wally Wood | They Shall Inherit | Joe Orlando |
| 15 | Sept/Oct 1952 | Wally Wood | The Martians! | Wally Wood |
| 15 | Sept/Oct 1952 | Wally Wood | Captivity | Al Williamson |
| 15 | Sept/Oct 1952 | Wally Wood | Miscalculation | Jack Kamen |
| 15 | Sept/Oct 1952 | Wally Wood | Bum Steer! | Joe Orlando |
| 16 | Nov/Dec 1952 | Wally Wood | Down to Earth | Wally Wood |
| 16 | Nov/Dec 1952 | Wally Wood | Space-Borne! | Al Williamson |
| 16 | Nov/Dec 1952 | Wally Wood | Given the Heir! | Jack Kamen |
| 16 | Nov/Dec 1952 | Wally Wood | The People's Choice! | Joe Orlando |
| 17 | Jan/Feb 1953 | Wally Wood | Plucked! | Wally Wood |
| 17 | Jan/Feb 1953 | Wally Wood | The Island Monster | Al Williamson |
| 17 | Jan/Feb 1953 | Wally Wood | Off Day! | Jack Kamen |
| 17 | Jan/Feb 1953 | Wally Wood | The Long Years! | Joe Orlando |
| 18 | March/April 1953 | Wally Wood | Mars Is Heaven! | Wally Wood |
| 18 | March/April 1953 | Wally Wood | Snap Ending! | Al Williamson |
| 18 | March/April 1953 | Wally Wood | The Parallel! | Jack Kamen |
| 18 | March/April 1953 | Wally Wood | Disassembled! | Joe Orlando |
| 19 | May/June 1953 | Wally Wood | The Precious Years | Wally Wood |
| 19 | May/June 1953 | Wally Wood | The One Who Waits | Al Williamson |
| 19 | May/June 1953 | Wally Wood | Right on the Button! | Bill Elder |
| 19 | May/June 1953 | Wally Wood | Keyed Up! | Joe Orlando |
| 20 | July/Aug 1953 | Wally Wood | The Loathsome! | Wally Wood |
| 20 | July/Aug 1953 | Wally Wood | Surprise Package | Jack Kamen |
| 20 | July/Aug 1953 | Wally Wood | The Reformers | Joe Orlando |
| 20 | July/Aug 1953 | Wally Wood | 50 Girls 50 | Al Williamson |
| 21 | Sept/Oct 1953 | Wally Wood | EC Confidential! | Wally Wood |
| 21 | Sept/Oct 1953 | Wally Wood | Punishment Without Crime | Jack Kamen |
| 21 | Sept/Oct 1953 | Wally Wood | Two's Company... | Al Williamson & Frank Frazetta |
| 21 | Sept/Oct 1953 | Wally Wood | The Ugly One | Joe Orlando |
| 22 | Nov/Dec 1953 | Wally Wood | A New Beginning | Al Williamson |
| 22 | Nov/Dec 1953 | Wally Wood | The Headhunters | George Evans |
| 22 | Nov/Dec 1953 | Wally Wood | My World | Wally Wood |
| 22 | Nov/Dec 1953 | Wally Wood | Outcast of the Stars | Joe Orlando |