Incredible Science Fiction
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Incredible Science Fiction, published by EC Comics in 1955 and 1956, was a retitled version of the comic Weird Science-Fantasy, which changed its title in 1955 in order to be accepted under the Comics Code, which did not allow the use of the word "Weird." The comic changed its title with issue 30, but due to attempts to save money on postage, the numbering did not restart (and hence, issue 30 is actually the first issue of this title).
Aside from the title change, Incredible Science-Fiction was also different from its predecessor because it now had to follow the tight standards of the Comics Code, which was created in 1954 to censor the controversial comics of that time. Eventually the Comics Code would spell the end of not only this comic, but all comics produced by EC. When a story in issue 33 did not meet the standards of the Code, publisher Bill Gaines and editor Al Feldstein decided to reprint the story "Judgment Day!" (originally in Weird Fantasy #18). A powerful anti-racism story, "Judgment Day!" was also rejected because the Comics Code demanded that perspiration on the face of the black man be removed. Gaines refused and threatened to take the matter to the Supreme Court. The Comics Code backed down, and Gaines then printed the story without any changes.
Incredible Science-Fiction ran for four issues, boasting a number of skilled artists including Jack Davis, Wally Wood, Bernard Krigstein, Joe Orlando and Roy Krenkel. Three of its covers were done by Davis, with the final issue's cover by Wood.
The title resurfaced in a 1974 fantasy story, "Present Perfect", by Thomas F. Monteleone. The story focuses on William Rutherford, who is the editor of a speculative fiction magazine titled Incredible Science Fiction. After rejecting one story after another, he picks up a manuscript which is Monteleone's "Present Perfect". This tale was published in Fantastic (September 1974). [1] Such recursive plotting was employed several times by EC, notably in "The Aliens," illustrated by Al Williamson for Weird Fantasy 17 (January-February 1951).
[edit] Issue guide
| # | Date | Cover Artist | Story | Story Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | July/Aug 1955 | Jack Davis | Clean Start | Wally Wood |
| Marbles | Bernard Krigstein | |||
| Conditioned Reflex | Joe Orlando | |||
| Barrier | Jack Davis | |||
| 31 | Sept/Oct 1955 | Jack Davis | You, Rocket | Wally Wood |
| Fulfillment | Bernard Krigstein | |||
| Time to Leave | Roy Krenkel | |||
| Has-Been | Wally Wood | |||
| 32 | Nov/Dec 1955 | Jack Davis | Fallen Idol | Joe Orlando |
| Food For Thought | Al Williamson | |||
| The Ultimate Weapon | Bernard Krigstein | |||
| Marked Man | Jack Davis | |||
| 33 | Jan/Feb 1956 | Wally Wood | Big Moment | Wally Wood |
| Kaleidoscope | Jack Davis | |||
| One Way Hero | Bernard Krigstein | |||
| Judgment Day! | Joe Orlando |
