FOOLISH HUMAN! Oni Press and EC Comics Unveil CRUEL UNIVERSE #1’s Galaxy-Shattering “SPA FON!” Variant by Artist Tom Fowler

Compelled to OBLIVION, driven to ENTROPY, all life in our cosmos can only end in one place: COMPLETE ANNIHILATION! Erupting in the aftermath of EC Comics’ hugely anticipated resurrection this July in the pages of EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1 from Oni Press, the limitless fury of the most infamous and influential comics imprint of all time – the immortal EC Comics – rages onward to wrench bizarre tales of time and space into our dimensional plane on August 7th in CRUEL UNIVERSE #1!

Now, for the first time anywhere, Oni is proud to reveal a reality-shattering take on a timeless EC tradition with the CRUEL UNIVERSE #1 “SPA FON!” variant cover – a limited-edition, 1:100 retailer incentive by master cartoonist Tom Fowler (Refrigerator Full of Heads, Mad Magazine)! First introduced in the classic WEIRD FANTASY story, “The Aliens,” the extraterrestrial exclamation “Spa Fon!” (and its rejoinder, “Squa Tront!”) have become the rallying cry for discerning EC fans across more than five decades. And, soon, on August 7th, it rockets back to rightful place in comic book infamy in CRUEL UNIVERSE #1 – featuring 40, all-new pages of destructive wonder with cosmic implications!

Who are our guides across this double-sized, 40-page introduction to a cosmic maelstrom of strange alien entities, malevolent scientists, and terrifying technological catastrophes? Learn to fear the void with the irradiated imaginations of Hugo Award nominee Corinna Bechko (Green Lantern: Earth Two), rising star Chris Condon (That Texas Blood), Eisner Award nominee Matt Kindt (BRZRKR, Mind MGMT), and Edgar Award winner Ben H. Winters (CBS’ Tracker, The Last Policeman) as they collide with the wondrously destructive visions of artists Jonathan Case (Green River Killer), Kano (Gotham Central), Artyom Topilin (I Hate This Place), and Caitlin Yarsky (Black Hammer: Reborn)!

CRUEL UNIVERSE #1 (of 5)
WRITTEN BY CORINNA BECHKO, CHRIS CONDON, MATT KINDT, & BEN H. WINTERS
ART BY JONATHAN CASE, KANO, LEOMACS, ARTYOM TOPILIN, & CAITLIN YARSKY
COVER A BY GREG SMALLWOOD
COVER B BY J.H. WILLIAMS III
EC HOMAGE VARIANT (1:10) BY JAY STEPHENS
B&W ARTIST EDITION VARIANT (1:50) BY J.H. WILLIAMS III
SPA FON VARIANT (1:100) BY TOM FOWLER WITH BILL CRABTREE
FOIL COVER (SILVER) BY GREG SMALLWOOD
FOIL COVER (GOLD) BY J.H. WILLIAMS III
BLANK COVER ALSO AVAILABLE

IN 2024, EC COMICS LIVE AGAIN! This summer, four-color fear infects a new generation in EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #1 – coming to comic shops everywhere on July 24th! Then, two weeks later on August 7th: The next shocking chapter in EC’s long-awaiting resurrection continues in CRUEL UNIVERSE #1 – 40 all-new pages of space-bending stories where existence and annihilation will collide with our reality to make comics history once and for all time!

ON SALE AUGUST 7TH | $4.99 (STANDARD) | $7.99 (FOIL) | 40 PGS | FC
IOC: 06/27/2024 / FOC: 07/15/2024

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!