William M. Gaines

William Maxwell Gaines (March 1, 1922 – June 3, 1992), was an American publisher and co-editor of EC Comics. Following a shift in EC's direction in 1950, Gaines presided over what became an artistically influential and historically important line of mature-audience comics. He published the satirical magazine Mad for over 40 years. He was posthumously inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame (1993) and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame (1997). In 2012, he was inducted into the Ghastly Awards' Hall of Fame.

Works

Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics

A look at the history of the comic book publication that launched such legendary characters as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

Release Date2010-11-09

Charactersd Self (archive footage)

Vote Count46

Comic Book Confidential

A survey of the artistic history of the comic book medium and some of the major talents associated with it.

Release Date1989-06-14

Charactersd Self

Vote Count27

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault

THE AGFA MYSTERY MIXTAPE VAULT is a 2-disc, 500-minute odyssey that collects eight feature-length VHS mixtapes from the crackpots at AGFA—including two that have only ever been available theatrically.

Release Date2025-03-25

Charactersd Self

AGFA MYSTERY MIXTAPE #3: SEQUELITIS

Unleashed from the video vaults of the American Genre Film Archive (AGFA), AGFA MYSTERY MIXTAPE #3: SEQUELITIS is a brand new compilation of the most electrifying found footage mayhem that you’ll see this week. For our third tape, we’re diving into the most controversial, hotly debated topic of all time: HORROR SEQUELS! Thank you for your generous support during these difficult times. And remember: “This makes Guns N’ Roses look like THE BRADY BUNCH.”

Release Date2020-05-06

Charactersd Self

Vote Count2

Tales from the Crypt

Cadaverous scream legend the Crypt Keeper is your macabre host for these forays of fright and fun based on the classic E.C. Comics tales from back in the day. So shamble up to the bar and pick your poison. Will it be an insane Santa on a personal slay ride? Honeymooners out to fulfill the "til death do we part" vow ASAP?

Release Date1989-06-10

DepartmentWriting

JobComic Book

Episode Count1

Vote Count918

Bordello of Blood

Private eye Rafe Guttman is hired by repressed, born-again Katherine to find her missing bad-boy brother. The trail leads him to a whorehouse run by a thousand-year-old vampire and secretly backed by Katherine's boss, televangelist Jimmy Current.

Release Date1996-08-16

DepartmentWriting

JobComic Book

Vote Count387

The Vault of Horror

The sequel to Tales from the Crypt. Five strangers trapped in a basement vault converse about their recurring nightmares. Their stories include vampires, bodily dismemberment, east Indian mysticism, an insurance scam, and an artist who kills by painting his victims' deaths.

Release Date1973-03-16

DepartmentWriting

JobStory

Vote Count153

Tales from the Crypt: You, Murderer

Plastic surgery makes a criminal look like Humphrey Bogart. Years later, he's a successful businessman. His angry wife finds out about his past and threatens him. He asks his plastic surgeon friend to end her. Twist after twist ensues.

Release Date1995-01-25

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter