Love can be a beautiful thing—or a bloody, terrifying nightmare. That's the deliciously twisted premise behind Tortured Hearts, the horror-romance anthology from EC Comics and Oni Press. After a successful debut earlier this year, the series is returning just in time for Valentine's Day 2025, and we've got an exclusive first look at the chilling covers that will adorn its pages.
For those unfamiliar, EC Comics is the legendary publisher behind Tales from the Crypt and MAD magazine, resurrected under Oni Press in 2024. The first Tortured Hearts one-shot was a hit, blending the sweetness of romance with the gruesome thrills of horror—a combination that's been captivating audiences from classic horror films to modern streaming hits. Now, the second volume is set to hit comic shops on January 27, 2025, and it promises to be even more heart-stopping.
Exclusive Covers That Bleed Love
The five covers we're unveiling each capture the anthology's theme of love gone horribly wrong. Dustin Weaver, known for his work on Avengers, delivers a cover featuring a tentacled monster on a live TV dating show, snacking on the host—a perfect blend of romance and horror. Reiko Murakami, whose recent credits include DC's Absolute universe and Dune: House of Harkonnen, offers a haunting image of an environmentalist embraced a bit too tightly by trees. Shawn McManus, a veteran of Fables and The Sandman, pays homage to EC's classic style with a variant that evokes the publisher's golden age. And Patricia Martín, a Transformers artist, rounds out the set with an Archive Edition variant featuring a heart served on a plate.
A Stellar Creative Team
Inside the 56-page issue, readers will find stories from an impressive roster of writers, including Michael W. Conrad (Wonder Woman), Melissa Flores (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Sarah Gailey (Eat the Rich), and Malachi Ward (Black Hammer). The art is handled by Ryan Kelly (Stranger Things), Sami Kivelä (The Forever Home), and Jenna Cha (The Sickness). The publisher promises "splatter de spectacular" tales that will get your blood pumping, with surprise "blind date" creators to be revealed in the book itself.
This revival is part of EC's broader comeback, which has included other new titles like Epitaphs from the Abyss and Cruel Universe, each featuring new horror hosts that carry on the EC spirit. The success of Tortured Hearts shows that audiences still crave the kind of boundary-pushing horror that EC pioneered before the Comics Code Authority forced them to tone things down in the 1950s.
For fans of horror-romance, this anthology is a must-read. Whether you're a longtime EC devotee or new to the genre, Tortured Hearts 2 promises to deliver the perfect blend of love and terror. And if you're looking for more spooky entertainment, check out our list of the most fun R-rated horror movies to get in the mood.
Mark your calendars for January 27, 2025, when Tortured Hearts 2 #1 hits comic shops. It's the perfect Valentine's Day gift for the horror lover in your life—or for yourself, if you prefer your romance with a side of blood.
