Sean Clarke :: Don Heck

Tales Of Suspense #53, page 3

Artist: Don Heck (All)

6 Comments - 643 Views - 7 Likes

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Additional Images:

in color, as printed

alternate color version

the cover, by Jack Kirby and Sol Brodsky

top tier

middle tier

bottom tier

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The Avengers #35, page 9

Artwork Details

Title:	Tales Of Suspense #53, page 3
Artist:	Don Heck (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	643
Likes on CAF:	7 8
Favorited on CAF:	1
Comments:	6
Added to Site:	12/31/2020
Comic Art Archive:

Description

I've been looking for the right example of Don Heck's Black Widow art featuring her first incarnation as an uncostumed Soviet-era spy and Iron Man villain, and this is my favorite page from her second appearance. I'm delighted to offer it a nice home with its silver age Black Widow siblings.

See: Nikita Khrushchev, who was ousted as first secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union shortly after this book saw print!

Witness: The Black Widow smoking, for the first and last time!

Behold: Natasha's birthmark on her left cheek, which was never seen again after her next appearance!

Gaze upon: Natasha's d�collet�, whited out or left un-inked here, but rendered less demurely six and a half years later... to life-altering effect!

Marvel at: The fact that Stan Lee scrawled the script and captions in long hand underneath Sam Rosen's lettering, for some reason!

Contemplate: Don Heck's elegant and expressive pencils and inks, and a few elements that he left un-inked for clarity: an additional officer in panel one, backgrounds of Natasha's apartment in panel three, and the Guipure lace neckline from Natasha's dress (from her first appearance).

For early Black Widow art, this is my second favorite example. The jewel in the crown is Madame Natasha's first panel page appearance in the previous Tales of Suspense issue, but that one remains elusive. I'd give this page from the Black Widow's sophomore outing the edge artistically, if not historically, though.

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About the Owner

	Sean Clarke Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	January 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Sean's Classifieds Sean's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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P A
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 12/31/2020

Outstanding piece of Black Widow history! Huge congrats!

Justin Karlson
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 1/1/2021

Great page!

Peter Sullivan
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 3/17/2021

Are you sure thats whiteout? It might have been the reaction of an excited Marvel censor.Lol.

Bill J
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 2/17/2022

What an interesting inroduction to the Black Widow! Love the whole 1960's spy motif going on here. Makes me want to dig up my old Ian Fleming paperbacks! Beautiful storytelling here by Don Heck, possibly the most underappreciated artist in the Marvel Bullpen!

Michael Greczek
Member Since 2003

Posted on 11/4/2023

Another example on how the color brings the piece down. Put Giacoia on the inks and, voila, a top seller !!

Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 12/21/2024

Early, but very deadly version! Pure 60's spy and aimed at greater things... She aged well!

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