Auctions: comic books in 'Marvel Legacy Numbering: Tales of Suspense'

Tales of Suspense (1959) 52 CGC 5.5 SS Stan Lee

Paper: Off white

Signed by Stan Lee on 11/11/2016.

Label #1431082013

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Paul Reinman. First appearance of the Black Widow in "The Crimson Dynamo Strikes Again!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Don Rico (as N. Korok), art by Don Heck; The Black Widow and Boris are sent to America to kill Anton Vanko, the Crimson Dynamo, for defecting to America; They are also tasked with killing both Iron Man and Tony Stark. The first half of "The Magician" text story. "The Seance!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber, pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Chic Stone; A fake medium uses special effects to simulate supernatural powers, but he is taken into the spirit world by real ghosts as punishment. "The Failure!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Paul Reinman; The Earth of the future is overwhelmingly materialistic, except for one idealistic young man and his lover; They are abducted by aliens, who have determined that he is the best suited to be absolute ruler of their empire. This issue includes a statement of ownership - average print run, 318,932; average paid circulation, 188,005. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 59 VG 4.0

Cover oxidation. Water spotting.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. Iron Man and Captain America double feature begins. The Avengers guest star in the Iron Man story, "The Black Knight," script by Stan Lee, pencils by Don Heck, inks by Chic Stone; Iron Man battles the Black Knight; Wasp, Giant-Man, Captain America, and Thor appear. Part of the story continues in "Captain America," the first Silver Age Captain America solo story, script by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (co-plot), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone; While Cap lounges around Avengers Mansion, thinking about Bucky and his place in the world, a gang of costumed thugs break in intent on stealing any secrets or weapons Stark may have lying about the place, to sell for profit; They figure Cap's "just an acrobat"; Bucky Barnes cameo; First appearance of Jarvis (the Avengers' butler). Letters page begins. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 65 CGC 9.0

Paper: White

Label #4499605002

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone. "When Titans Clash!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Don Heck, inks by Mike Esposito (as Mickey Demeo); Small-time burglar Weasel Wills stumbles upon Iron Man's armor and Tony Stark must don his old armor to stop his crime spree. First Silver Age appearance of the Red Skull (turns out to be an imposter; the real one appears next issue) in "The Red Skull Strikes!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone; Cap and Bucky track down the Red Skull, only to discover that he is an imposter who replaced tycoon Maxon; The real Red Skull is manipulating the "Maxon" Skull; This is a re-telling of "The Riddle of the Red Skull" from Captain America Comics # 1, March 1941. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 77 CGC 7.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4114564021

Cover pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Jack Abel. "Ultimo Lives!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Gene Colan (as Adam Austin), inks by Jack Abel (as Gary Michaels); While Iron Man fights the Mandarin and his Ultimo robot, senator Byrd closes down Stark Industries. "If a Hostage Should Die!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby (layouts) and John Romita (pencils), inks by Frank Giacoia (as Frank Ray); In a flashback to World War II, we see how Cap spends a few weeks with Peggy Carter and her resistance fighters. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.