E.C. Classic Reprint #3
"Deadline" is a chilling tale from the E.C. Classic Reprint series, showcasing the masterful storytelling of Al Feldstein and the striking art of Wally Wood, whose pencils and inks bring this tense, psychological thriller to life. The story follows a man released from prison after serving 15 years for a crime he committed long ago—stealing a fortune and hiding it under a false name—only to find himself trapped by memory and desperation when the past catches up. The haunting final image, rendered in bold neon, lingers long after the last page.
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A hotel clerk steals $100,000 from a diamond merchant and then rents a safety deposit box years in advance under the name 'Brad Gilbert'. He serves 15 years for the theft, then meets with the girl who promised to wait for him because she wants the money. Unable to remember the name he used, the girl berates his inability to recall the name, and he slashes her face with a steak knife. As the police close in on him, he jumps off a roof, clutching at letters of a sign, and, as he lies dying on the pavement, he sees the remaining neon letters spell out 'Brad Gilbert'.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).