M.D. (comics)

M.D. was a short lived comic book published by EC Comics in 1955, the sixth title in its New Direction line. The bi-monthly comic was published by Bill Gaines and edited by Al Feldstein. It lasted a total of five issues before being cancelled along with EC's other New Direction comics.

M.D.
Cover illustration by Johnny Craig
Publication information
PublisherEC Comics
ScheduleBi-monthly
FormatAnthology
Publication dateApril/May 1955 - December 1955/January 1956
No. of issuesfive
Creative team
Written byCarl Wessler
(?Al Feldstein?)
Artist(s)Graham Ingels
George Evans
Joe Orlando
Reed Crandall
Colorist(s)Marie Severin

Content

M.D. focused on medical stories, surgical practices and the day-to-day work of doctors. Each issue featured four stories, plus at least one text piece about a real-life major medical figure.

The frontispiece to the first issue set out its role:

This magazine, M.D., is the sixth of E.C.'s "New Direction" publications. It is dedicated to Mankind's tireless and unceasing battle against disease and to the man who fights that never-ending battle day after day after day... your Family Doctor... your M.D.

But although the M.D. is the protagonist in this magazine, he is not necessarily the hero! The real hero is the man, woman, or child who enters into the M.D.'s stirring and grim world of real medicine to seek out the help and relief his wisdom and experience can give.

This, then, is the theme of M.D. It will contain stories of people... people who are helped by their Family Doctor and his associates in the Medical Profession. It will deal frankly and honestly with the diseases and misfortunes that beset people. It will deal graphically and candidly with the treatment they receive. At times, its stories will be poignant... at time they will be sad... at times they will be grim. But at all times, they will be true to life!

And now, because we feel it best epitomizes the ideals of the Medical Profession, we, the editors of M.D. offer the view taken by all M.D.'s... "The Hippocratic Oath":

...the Hippocratic Oath was then reprinted in full.

The letters page (upon the first of which the above text appeared in lieu of early letters) was titled "The Needles", and contributors to M.D. include Graham Ingels, Marie Severin, George Evans, Joe Orlando, Reed Crandall and Carl Wessler.

Reprints

M.D. was reprinted as part of publisher Russ Cochran's Complete EC Library collection, alongside Valor and Impact as Volume 2 of the "New Direction Part 2" slipcased set (1985). Between September 1999 and January 2000, Cochran and Gemstone Publishing reprinted the five individual issues. This complete run was later rebound, with covers included, in a single softcover EC Annual.

Issue guide

#DateCover artistStoryStory ArtistStory Writer
1April/May 1955Johnny CraigThe Fight For LifeGraham Ingels?
Janie Some DayGeorge Evans?
The Pain Killer (text piece on William Thomas Green Morton)
To Fill The BillJoe Orlando?
The AntidoteReed Crandall?
2June/July 1955Johnny CraigThe BalanceReed Crandall?
Fever Fighter (text piece on William Gorgas)
DifferentJoe Orlando?
A Case For The BooksGraham Ingels?
The Trailblazer (text piece on Edward Jenner)
Even For a WhileGeorge Evans?
3August/September 1955Johnny CraigWhen You Know HowJoe Orlando?
The Right CureGraham Ingels?
Advert for other "New Direction" titlesJack Davis?
Shock TreatmentGeorge Evans?
The Pioneer (text piece on Ignaz Philipp Semmelweiss)
The LessonReed CrandallCarl Wessler
4October/November 1955Johnny CraigSo That Others May WalkReed CrandallCarl Wessler
Advert for other "New Direction" titlesJack Davis?
Doctor Wizard (text piece on William Harvey)
New OutlookJoe Orlando?
Point of ViewGraham Ingels?
Worried SickGeorge EvansCarl Wessler
5(December 1955/January 1956)Johnny CraigComplete CureReed Crandall?
Advert for other "New Direction" titlesJack Davis?
"Army Doc" (text piece on Major-General Leonard Wood)
Child's PlayJoe Orlando?
EmergencyGraham Ingels?
The Right DiagnosisGeorge Evans?
gollark: Hmm, is this your "wellbeing robot" project?
gollark: It isn't a 2FA thing. Read the link.
gollark: Sure.
gollark: Are you """"enjoying" it?
gollark: I see.
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