In DC’s Watchmen timeline, superheroes did not have a resurgence in popularity in comic books in the late 1950s. Instead, pirate-themed comic books took over the industry with “Tales of the Black Freighter” being popular. This apparently is based in some reality: EC’s Crypt of Terror #45 (August 1954), includes the above ad where they admit desperately trying to come up with a new trend in comics: Piracy.
There were other signs that EC was on the brink in this issue, including a call for people to write in to save comics from persecution:
