Set Description:
Synopsis: This is a complete set of all 61 books with a minimum grade of 9.4, which has topped the registry for 12 years. Overall, 43 of our books are 9.8s, with 16 9.6s and just two 9.4s. Only problem is those two 9.4s are probably the two most valuable issues in this set. Forty-seven books in our set are highest graded with just a pair of single highest graded books as of early 2024.
Background: Both Tales of Suspense and its sister publication, Tales to Astonish, were launched with a January 1959 cover date. The title was initially published under Atlas Comics, the 1950s forerunner of Marvel. It fell under the Marvel banner with issue #19 (July 1961), the first with a cover sporting the early "MC" box. The title contained science-fiction mystery/suspense stories written primarily by editor-in-chief Stan Lee and his brother, Larry Lieber, with artists including Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck.
In Issue #39 (March 1963), Marvel introduced the superhero Iron Man, created by editor and plotter Lee, Lee’s brother scripter Lieber, and artists Heck and Jack Kirby. Iron Man generally starred in 13-page, but occasionally 18-page, adventures, with the rest of Tales of Suspense devoted to the anthological science fiction and fantasy stories the comic normally ran.
After debuting with bulky gray armor in Issue #39, Marvel redesigned Iron Man with golden armor in Issue #40 (April 1963). Ditko drew the first iteration of the modern, sleek red-and-golden armor appeared in Issue #48 (Dec. 1963). From Issues 53-58 (May-Oct. 1964), the cover logo was "Tales of Suspense featuring The Power of Iron Man".
Two months before the debut of the sorcerer-hero Doctor Strange, Lee, Kirby and scripter Robert Bernstein, under the pseudonym "R. Berns", introduced a same-name criminal scientist and Ph.D., Carl Strange. Making his sole appearance in the Iron Man story "The Stronghold of Dr. Strange" in Tales of Suspense #41 (May 1963), the character gained mental powers in a freak lightning strike. Issue #50 (Feb. 1964) marked the debut of The Mandarin who went on to become one of Iron Man's major enemies. The Black Widow made her first Marvel appearance in Issue #52 (April 1964), while Hawkeye was introduced to the Marvel Universe in Issue #57. Both issues are considered Marvel keys.
From Issues #49–58 (Jan.–Oct. 1964), one anthological story each issue acquired a framing sequence and ran as "Tales of the Watcher," narrated by the namesake cosmic witness introduced in The Fantastic Four #13 and used as a Marvel Universe supporting character since. The final "Tales of the Watcher" story introduced veteran artist George Tuska as a Marvel regular. Four years later, Tuska would become one of Iron Man's signature artists.
Captain America made his first appearance in TOS in Issue #58 and, beginning with Issue #59 (Nov. 1964), he and Iron Man began sharing the now "split book.” Jack Kirby, Captain America's co-creator during the 1940s Golden Age of comic books, had drawn the character as part of the superhero team the Avengers earlier that year, and was now illustrating his hero's solo adventures for the first time since 1941. Issue #63 (March 1965), in which editor-scripter Stan Lee retold Captain America's origin, through Issue #71 (Nov. 1965) featured period stories set during World War II, and co-starred Captain America's Golden Age sidekick, James Buchanan Barnes aka Bucky. Sharon Carter was introduced in Issue #75 (March 1966) and later became a love interest for Captain America.
The Red Skull, Captain America's major nemesis in the World War II era, was revived in the present day in Issue #79 (July 1966). MODOK first appeared in Issue #94 (Oct. 1967).
Tales of Suspense became Captain America with #100 (April 1968), while Iron Man appeared in the one-shot Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 (April 1968), and then debuted in his own title with Iron Man #1 (May 1968).
Our Collection: TOS was one of the titles we started collecting back in the early 2000s and we have topped the registry in this one for more than a decade. These were some of my favorite books, as even when I fantasized about being a superhero or villain as a kid, I figured that only two were really possible, Iron Man and Batman.
The highlights of our set are two single highest graded issues, Issue #68 and Issue #99, along with highest graded copies of Issue #40 (Western Penn 1/3), Issue #41 (Pacific Coast 1/2), #42 (formerly single highest graded, now 1/2), Issue #43 (1/2) and Issue #44 (1/2). We also have highest graded examples of Issue #46 (1/2), Issue #48 (Don & Maggie 1/3), and Issue #50 (Pacific Coast 1/2). In total, 47 out of 61 issues are highest graded and all but one issue is at least second highest graded. The biggest weaknesses of this set are #39 (9.4 restored), #52 (9.4) and #57 (9.6), which are probably three of the five most expensive books in this set.
It is hard to set goals for this set as many issues are exceedingly rare and difficult to find. It would not be difficult for someone to top the census by buying a very high grade #39, if one has a spare million or so sitting around for one book. But compiling a 9.6/9.8 set of these books is damn near impossible. That being said, the effort goes on and, if you have a better copy of any book registered here and would like a quick sale at a very good price, please drop us a line.
2024 Update: We did not do much with this set in 2023, upgrading just two books from 9.6 to 9.8, which proved to be expensive for such small upgrades. There also was very little movement in the census in 2023. While this one remains far from our best set when viewed relative to the census, it does contain numerous early 9.8s, which are one of just two or three highest in the census. Ideally, we would like to upgrade our two 9.4s in this set, Issues #39 and #52, to unrestored 9.6s, but for now the cost of doing so remains beyond our means.
Current Stats:
61/61 Books
43 9.8s-42 Highest Graded
16 9.6s-5 Highest Graded
2 9.4s
31 WP
27 OW/W
4 OW
2 Single Highest Graded
47 Highest Graded
13 Second Highest Graded
1 Third Highest Graded
15 Pedigrees
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