CATALOG RECORD

Tales of Suspense #52

Marvel · Series began 1959 · April 1964

first appearance of Black Widow

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WHY COLLECTORS WANT IT

Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) — introduction
Crimson Dynamo (Boris Turgenev, Marvel) — introduction

Dates

Cover date: April 1964
On sale: January 10, 1964
Pages: 36

Editions and covers (2)

Copies of #52 are not all the same book. Here is how to tell each one apart.

Original edition12¢ cover
Source ↗
UK pence edition9d [0-0-9 GBP] cover

British

Printed cover price 9d [0-0-9 GBP].
This edition’s page

Creators

script: Stan Lee, Don Rico, Larry Lieber, Martin Goodmanpencils: Jack Kirby, Don Heck, Larry Lieberinks: Paul Reinman, Don Heck, Chic Stone, George Roussoscolors: Stan Goldbergletters: Artie Simek, Sam Rosen, Ray Hollowayediting: Stan Lee

Stories

The Crimson Dynamo Strikes Again! · 13 pages
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 Magician · 1 pages
A TV studio page and aspiring magician gets a lucky break when he meets a real sorcerer time traveling from the past.
The Seance! · 5 pages
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! · 5 pages
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.

Characters

Tony StarkIron ManNatasha RomanoffBlack WidowUatuThe WatcherPepper PottsHappy HoganNikita KhrushchevCrimson DynamoBoris TurgenevAnton Vanko

Reprinted in

The Invincible Iron Man Omnibus (2008), Marvel Collectors' Item Classics (1965), Fantastic! (1967), Spider-Man Comics Weekly (1973), Terrific! (1967), Titan Pocket Book (1980), The Marvel Saga the Official History of the Marvel Universe (1985), Essential Iron Man (2000), Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Tales of Suspense (2006), Black Widow: The Sting of the Widow (2009), Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades Magazine (2010), Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man (2010), Marvel's The Avengers: Black Widow Strikes (2012), Iron Man Epic Collection (2013), Marvel's Mightiest Heroes (2014), Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Rarities (2014), The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus (2019), Black Widow Epic Collection (2019), Marvel Tales: Black Widow (2019), Marvel's Black Widow Prelude (2020)