Classics Illustrated #159 [O]

"The Octopus" in Classics Illustrated #159 (1960) dramatizes the ruthless grip of corporate power through the story of the Pacific and Southwestern railroad, whose rising shipping costs and violent tactics plunge farmers in California’s San Joaquin Valley into ruin. Written by Frank Norris and Alfred Sundel, with evocative art by Gray Morrow, the tale unfolds with a stark, unflinching look at economic exploitation. The cover by L. B. Cole captures the story’s tense atmosphere in bold, striking lines.