M.D. (comics)

Supercbbox|
title = M.D.


caption = Cover illustration by Johnny Craig
schedule = Bi-monthly
format = Anthology
publisher = EC Comics
date = April/May 1955 - December 1955/January 1956
issues = 5
main_char_team =
writers = Carl Wessler
(?Al Feldstein?)
artists = Graham Ingels
George Evans
Joe Orlando
Reed Crandall
pencillers =
inkers =
colorists = Marie Severin
creative_team_month =
creative_team_year =
creators =

M.D. ("MD") 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 5 issues before being cancelled, along with EC's other "New Direction" comics.

Content

M.D. was unlike practically any other comic published, focusing on medical stories, surgical practices and the day-to-day work of doctors. Each issue featured four stories and at least one text piece on major medical figures.

The frontispiece to the first issue set out its role:cquote|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 it 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 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 issues, with readers' letters on their other recent E.C. reprints (as well as some on "M.D.").

Issue guide