Johnny Craig at E.C. Comics in the Fifties

Craig had no formal training, but managed to get a job working as an assistant for M.C. Gaines, publisher of All-American Comics, and later Eduational Comics (EC). Over the course of several years, he gradually learned the craft of drawing comics. Never a very fast drawer, he was nevertheless respected by his peers for his craftsmanship and care. When William Gaines took over EC Comics after the death of his father, he deciced to focus on the more popular horror and science fiction comics.

Craig became the editor of “The Vault of Horror”, writing and drawing many stories for that line, as well as designing the “host”, the Vault Keeper. Craig and EC became the center of controversy in the 50s after the publication of Dr. Wertham’s “Seduction of the Innocents” and the subsequent Congressional hearings investing the link between juvenile deliquency and comics. Ironically, while Craig’s work was generally staid compared to other EC artists, it was his cover to “Crime SuspenStories #22″ that was diplayed in the Senate as an example of the depravity of horror comics.

After the collapse of EC’s horror comics line, Craig temporarily left comics and worked in the advertising industry. He found this unsatisfying, though, as it left him with little time for drawing. In the 1960s, he returned to comic illustrating, first unsuccessfully in the super-hero line, but later finding his niche in the 1970s revivals of the horror comics. After retiring from comics in the 80s, he supplemented his income by drawing recreations of his famous 1950s EC covers and characters for comic art collectors.

Johnny Craig in a Promotional Photo as The Crypt Keeper