TALES OF SUSPENSE (1ST SERIES)

Publishers: ATLAS / MARVEL COMICS GROUP
Dates: 1 Jan 1959-9 May 1960 (all ND); 10 Jul 1960-99 Mar 1968
Issues: CLICK HERE to view issues, super-size cover images and values in 9 grades

AS WITH ALL COMICS/TITLES, VALUES SUGGESTED ARE FOR 'RAW' COPIES. THIRD-PARTY GRADED COPIES CAN FETCH SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ESPECIALLY IN HIGH GRADES.

Between May and Jul 1960, Atlas comics titles featuring strange monsters and weird creatures in a (mostly) science fiction context were gradually introduced into British newsagents. The first UK Tales of Suspense issue was #10 dated Jul 1960. So the previous issues nine that began with #1 cover dated Jan 1959 are always American cents cover priced. It is possible that a very small amount of issue #9 came over as market testers or 'make-weights' that came with #10 but I have never seen a #9 with a printed ninepence cover price. If you have one, send me a picture!

Somewhere up to 5% of the original American print run (probably 2-3% rather than 4-5%) was given over to British-priced copies for distribution primarily in the UK with some going to South Africa and Australia.

Note: see also Spellbound and Terrific in the British comics section for reprints of early Iron Man stories.

From #69 UK variant copies have printed 10d cover price.

Tales of Suspense is one of the most significant Marvel titles of the Silver Age. The title both introduced Iron Man to public and showcased the bulk of Captain America's earlier Silver Age appearances. For many decades, both Iron Man and Captain America have played a central role for Marvel as both stand-alone superheroes and central members of the Avengers super-hero team. TOS also reintroduced the Red Skull, Cap s nemesis going back to the dawn of the Golden Age, and spawned several other popular characters including Hawkeye and the Black Widow. Both Iron Man and Captain America are finding ever broader attention recently as the result of the popular Iron Man movies (with Cap's shield making a cameo in both), and the Captain America and Avengers movies. Collector interest has been rising sharply and the supply of quality examples is not keeping up with demand.

Total value for all issues of this title listed:

Condition

PR
1.0
FR
1.5
GD
2.0
VG
4.0
FN
6.0
VF
8.0
VF/NM
9.0
NM-
9.2
NM
9.4
MINT
10.0
Issues 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99
Total £ 988.43 1,970 2,950 5,830 10,140 23,020 48,730 66,660 80,040 Total title value in pounds in UK markets
Total $ 2,150.00 4,290 6,430 12,670 22,090 49,730 106,430 147,410 176,970 Total title value in dollars in US markets

Note: some PR issues may have no value. Selected issues in FN, VF or VF/NM may not exist in some titles.