After rival Pacific Comics went bankrupt in 1984, Eclipse took over many of their titles, including two issues of Bruce Jones' horror anthology Twisted Tales. As a result Eclipse planned their own similar horror anthology to replace Twisted Tales, and kept on the services of artists John Bolton and Joe Chiodo. In order to reach a wider audience, Eclipse planned to scale back the previous title's sexual content.[1]
The new title was named as Tales of Terror and would run bi-monthly alongside Alien Encounters, a similar replacement for Alien Worlds. Unlike Twisted Tales, which was nearly entirely written by Jones, Tales of Terror would feature a number of writers, with Buzz Dixon and Alan Moore among those to express interest, along with artists Bo Hampton, Ken Steacy and Tom Yeates.[2]
Steve Bissette, Mike Gustovich, Mark Wheatley contributed to the first issue.[3]
Jones would write "Slasher" for the fourth issue.[4]
The title ended when Eclipse linked up with Bruce Jones Associates for an ultimately short-lived revival of Twisted Tales.[5]
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_Comic_Books_and_Graphic/YbkJ0QJrEZ8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=tales+of+terror+eclipse+comics&pg=PA152&printsec=frontcover[6]
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Folk_Horror_Revival_Field_Studies_Second/1P1jDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=tales+of+terror+eclipse+comics&pg=PA132&printsec=frontcover[7]
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Understanding_Genres_in_Comics/6kzcDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=tales+of+terror+eclipse+comics&pg=PA58&printsec=frontcover[8]
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Comics_through_Time_A_History_of_Icons_I/hnuQBQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=tales+of+terror+eclipse+comics&pg=PA1073&printsec=frontcover[9]
https://totaleclipse.blog/2018/03/25/1985-tales-of-terror/
https://universaldork.com/2023/03/17/comic-cover-of-the-week-bill-sienkiewicz-meets-cerebus/
https://reelnewsdaily.com/tag/eclipse-comics-story-bag-limit/
- ^ "Newsflashes". Amazing Heroes. No. 64. Redbeard, Inc. February 1, 1985.
- ^ "Newsflashes". Amazing Heroes. No. 66. Redbeard, Inc. March 1, 1985.
- ^ "Newsflashes". Amazing Heroes. No. 72. Fantagraphics Books. May 29, 1985.
- ^ "Newsflashes". Amazing Heroes. No. 83. Fantagraphics Books. October 29, 1985.
- ^ "Newsline". Amazing Heroes. No. 118. Fantagraphics Books. June 1, 1987.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels [2 volumes]: [Two Volumes]. Abc-Clio. 11 May 2010. ISBN 9780313357473.
- ^ Folk Horror Revival: Field Studies - Second Edition. Lulu.com. 11 March 2018. ISBN 9780244068301.
- ^ Understanding Genres in Comics. Springer. 9 April 2020. ISBN 9783030435547.
- ^ Comics through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas [4 volumes]: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas. Abc-Clio. 28 October 2014. ISBN 9780313397516.