We know that sometimes things go bump in the night. We know that sometimes there are strangers under our beds. We know that sometimes when the full moon sits high in the sky it might be a good idea to stay indoors. We know that sometimes the scuttering sounds in our walls aren't just the pitter-patter of tiny mice feet... We know these things. And we love it. Throughout the years, there have been people who have stood out from the crowd, folks with a handle of their craft unmatched by others, masters who have been able to hold the evil essence of fear in their hands and create something magical with it. These masters are authors, film directors, producers, publishers, screenwriters, actors, musicians, programmers, and artists. And here are the 50 greatest of all time...
50. EC Comics
Okay, the graphic product of the masterminds behind such wonderfully creepy series as Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror may not scare too many people today--alas, probably not even the children--but in their time, these funny book stories weren't terribly funny to the folks who read them. And beyond the honestly-bought scares these stories imparted on the youth of yesteryear--which were many--the influence of EC Comics (founded in 1944 by the inimitable Max Gaines) is undeniable as it sparked the imaginations of many of today's biggest Masters of Fear (not to mention the ire of the Comics Code Authority, who were just as terrifying and sadistic in their own way).