Ray Bradbury Science Fiction in EC Comics appeared between March 1951 and September 1954. This began as a bit of story stealing, when Al Feldstein combined “Kaleidoscope” (Thrilling Wonder Stories, October 1949) and “The Rocket Man” (Maclean’s, March 1 1951) in a comic story called “Home to Stay” (Weird Fantasy #13, May June 1952). Ray kindly wrote Bill Gained and thanked him for using his material, though he had yet to receive his check. Bill wisely paid him, and an arrangement was made to do official adaptations of Bradbury stories after that.
All the SF stories were adapted by Al Feldstein. Marie Severin also deserves credit as the artist who colored every story. What strikes me about these Bradbury tales is so many of them are talking heads. The writer and artists had to find ways to make the stories be more. Bradbury’s great ideas and characters help too.
“Mad Journey” (aka “The Earthmen”)(Thrilling Wonder Stories, August 1948) appeared in Weird Fantasy #14 (July-August 1952).
Art by Vincent Napoli
“The Long Years” (Planet Stories, Spring 1949) was in Weird Science #17 (January-February 1953)
“There Will Come Soft Rains” (Collier’s, May 6, 1950) appeared Weird Fantasy #17 (January-February 1953).
“Zero Hour” (Planet Stories, Fall 1947) was in Weird Fantasy #18 (March-April 1953).
“Mars is Heaven” (Weird Science #18, March-April 1953) (Planet Stories, Fall 1948) art by Wally Wood
“The One Who Waits” (The Arkham Sampler, Summer 1949) (Weird Science #19, May-June 1953)
“King of the Grey Spaces” (aka “R is for Rocket”) (Famous Fantastic Mysteries, December 1943) was in Weird Fantasy #19, May-June 1953.
“I, Rocket” (Amazing Stories, May 1944) appeared in Weird Fantasy #20 (July-August 1953).
“Surprise Package” (aka “Changeling”) (Super Science Stories, July 1949) was in Weird Science #20 (July-August 1953).
“The Million Year Picnic” (Planet Stories, Summer 1946) appeared in Weird Fantasy #21 (September-October 1953).
“Punishment Without Crime” (Other Worlds, March 1950) was in Weird Science #21 (September-October 1953).
“The Silent Towns” (Charm, March 1949) appeared in Weird Fantasy #22, November-December 1953).
“Outcast of the Stars” (aka “The Rocket”) (Super Science Stories, March 1950) was in Weird Science #22 (November-December 1953).
“The Flying Machine” (Playboy, August 1954) appeared in Weird Science-Fantasy #23 (Spring 1954).
“A Sound of Thunder” (Collier’s, June 28, 1952) was in Weird Science-Fantasy #25 (September 1954).
In the end EC produced 31 comics from Bradbury’s work, mostly horror (we’ll do those another time). The association after 1952 was quite pleasant and open. For many young Bradbury fans, these were the works that led them to the original stories. The EC gang created a high water mark for Science Fiction comics that has been imitated but never duplicated.
