Ron S :: Tales of Suspense

Tales of Suspense #86, page 1

Artists: Jack Kirby (Penciller) , Frank Giacoia (Inker)

33 Comments - 3,645 Views - 2 Likes

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Artwork Details

Title:	Tales of Suspense #86, page 1
Artist:	Jack Kirby (Penciller)
Artist:	Frank Giacoia (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Splash Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	3,645
Likes on CAF:	2 3
Favorited on CAF:	4
Comments:	33
Added to Site:	4/7/2011
Comic Art Archive:	Tales of Suspense Issue: 86 Page: 18 View

Description

Well, I took at look at the Captain America trailer, and I, for one, am psyched. For me, Cap was the 60�s and 70�s. Yes, there was Spider-Man, and a ton of neat stuff going on in a lot of other books, but Cap was the book I looked forward to the most.

Trivia question time! A �no-prize� to anyone who knows why the first issue of Captain America�s solo book for Marvel was #100? Why did everyone else start with #1, and Cap got #100?

Listen up, �True Believer�, and I�ll tell you the story! I originally thought that there must have been 99 other issues dating back to the first issue of Captain America Comics in March of 1941 that I had never seen. But, that�s not it! Now, I may be the only mook that didn�t know this, but I believe that it�s because Cap�s stories migrated from Tales of Suspense (ToS), which he shared with Iron Man and ended with issue #99. Why Cap got #100 and Iron Man got #1, I don�t know. Coin flip? Was it some sort of marketing ploy? Sure, Cap was around as a character since the 40�s, but Iron Man was in ToS first. I wonder if there was some advantage to continuing the numbering? Certainly, nowadays it seems like characters get a new issue #1 whenever the writer changes. I suppose #1�s just plain sell more. That said, I wonder why they just didn�t go with an Issue #1 for both?

I reviewed every issue of Tales of Suspense I could find. The early issues were non superhero stories, but the book took a clear turn when Iron Man first appeared in the now famous issue #39. From then on till Cap joined the fun, IM was the anchor for the book. Captain America first entered the Marvel Universe in Avengers #4. For a short time, that was his home. He showed up in ToS as a guest with issue #58, and began splitting the book with Iron Man with his own feature in Tales of Suspense with issue #59. The book ended with #99, and then Cap and Iron Man each moved to their own books.

It seems like we all spend a lot time arguing over who penciled and inked any given page. I guess that�s why I like the splashes. Splashes generally make the pencils and inks clear (until you get to layouts � and then the fight starts all over again). Most people think of Kirby handling all the penciling chores for Cap, but the truth is a bit more varied. The same is true for the inkers. Of the 41 ToS issues with a Cap story, it looked to me like Kirby penciled 27 of those (Kane and Tuska each had 4, Romita has 2, Sparling and Ayers each had 1, and there were two that didn�t show up online for some reason, so I don�t know who penciled those, but my guess is that one was Kirby (#66), and one Tuska (#73)). From reviewing the splashes, it appears that Kirby did layouts for 6 issues (maybe 7 if I�m right about Tuska on issue #73). As for inkers, I think people think of Frank Giacoia as Kirby�s primary inker for Cap on Tales of Suspense. But, the inking duties were actually spread around a bit. Of the stories I saw, Kirby�s inkers were Giacoia (11), Sinnott (7), Stone (5), Ayers (2), Heck (1), and Shores (1).

Of the Kirby Tales of Suspense Cap stories, I personally like the ones where Cap is taking on hordes of bad guys, all armed to the teeth. Of course, Cap had his shield and the super soldier serum coursing through his veins. What more did you really need? Sounds like an even fight to me! Much has been written about Kirby�s style, and I won�t presume to think I can describe it better than what�s out there already. But, his pages always tried to leap out and grab you. Everything was just that much more. Something otherworldly? The cosmic power crackled. Heroes didn�t walk, they leaped. Punches were thrown with enough velocity to break the sound barrier. Even the weapons were more than you�d expect. In Sgt. Fury, we saw real guns, but when we moved into New York in the 60�s Marvel universe, we started seeing guns unlike any other. A classic AIM weapon would likely weigh hundreds of pounds. And, it wasn�t always clear what was actually going to come out of the muzzle � if, in fact, there was an identifiable muzzle. My guess is that Kirby made the weapons more imposing so they looked as if they could actually menace a hero�

If you enjoyed those times too, take a journey back with me to a time where Cap is about to take on a horde of evil doers, armed with guns the size of a small car! Take a look at the splash to Tales of Suspense #86 �The Secret�, penciled by Jack Kirby, and inked by Frank Giacoia.

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	Ron S Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	June 2007
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Comments on this Artwork

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Colorado Kid
Member Since 2007

Posted on 4/7/2011

WONKA!

Will Gabri-El
Member Since 2004

Posted on 4/7/2011

The good Captain is among my favorites as well Ron, congrats on picking up this bit of Kirby niceness!

George H
Member Since 2009

Posted on 4/7/2011

You've struck gold again my friend! Such an incredible splash from a truly classic series!

Matt S
Member Since 2006

Posted on 4/7/2011

Awesome Splash!.. for me Kirby's the only King!

Felix Lu
Member Since 2005

Posted on 4/7/2011

LOTS to love about this one. Congrats again, Ron!!

Chris C
Member Since 2004

Posted on 4/7/2011

Sweet and Spicy at the same time. Funky Kirby all the way. Love it.

Carlos DS
Member Since 2006

Posted on 4/7/2011

you have still killed me !!! congratulations !!!

. BRAUNY
Member Since 2007

Posted on 4/7/2011

Congrats Ron. Awesome job of landing these gems!

Wesley Liu
Member Since 2009

Posted on 4/7/2011

Awesome! That is the perfect Kirby TOS/Cap splash.

David Mandel
Member Since 2004

Posted on 4/7/2011

I like this very much!

Adam Ianbarry
Member Since 2010

Posted on 4/7/2011

Wowzas!!!!!!!!!

Scott Williams
Member Since 2004

Posted on 4/7/2011

Great splash Ron, but my favorite part is the foreground dude on the right and his weapon. It just reeks of Kirby at his absolute peak powers. Even the reflection in his goggles is pure Kirby goodness (all wonderfully inked by Giacoia). Oh yeah, the shot of Cap pretty much rocks too.

Mike W
Member Since 2007

Posted on 4/7/2011

You are the MAN, Ron!!! You make me want to shout "MAKE MINE MARVEL!" Just spectacular, my friend!!

E DLS
Member Since 2005

Posted on 4/7/2011

When it comes to these Silver Age gems, apparently there is no letting up with you. To use a sports metaphor, it's like a slam dunk or home run every time! But whereas even that would eventually become boring to watch, thank goodness this is art and not sports. Just keep these beauties coming Ron! I for one would enjoy watching you break the home run record. Just stay away from the steroids brother! LOL! Oh, and it's nice to finallly see someone who writes longer descriptions than I do! LOL!

J L
Member Since 2005

Posted on 4/8/2011

Fantastic splash and your write up is great too!!!! Congrats as always.

Terry Doyle
Member Since 2004

Posted on 4/8/2011

Congratulations, Ron. You're putting-together an outstanding selection of Silver Age splashes. This is a really cool Cap piece, though I still have a soft spot for your Ant-Man ;)

- Artemaria
Member Since 2007

Posted on 4/8/2011

This is just a literary lover's dream! First, there is the nice use of the word "mook" in the description. Second, there is the reference to "decadent democracies" in the dialogue. Why, this page may have just predicted the rise and fall of the American economy over the last two decades. Oh, and the art is nice too. Congratulations Ron, I feel that your next purchase will be a new house so that you have the wall space to show off all these Silver Age beauties!

Romain Verlier
Member Since 2009

Posted on 4/8/2011

Plain AWESOME !!!!

Chris K.
Member Since 2008

Posted on 4/8/2011

The typical superlatives just don't seem enough for this gorgeous piece of history, Ron. What an amazing addition to your already stellar collection. One of my favorites!

David O
Member Since 2007

Posted on 4/9/2011

Forgot you bought this one�.. I�m really jealous! I love all your Kirby acquisitions.

Don Raskin
Member Since 2010

Posted on 4/11/2011

Classic Kirby/Giacoia. Great layout and fantastic rendition of the character. That gun must weigh a ton.

Nelson Animated Ink
Member Since 2005

Posted on 4/11/2011

It's ironic that the title of the splash is called "The Secret". Well it's no secret that Ron Sonenthal has built up quite the collection of vintage splashes from the 1960's. Another masterpiece from Kirby. Congratulations Ron. Cheers! N.

Alex B
Member Since 2008

Posted on 7/19/2011

Ron, I really need sunglasses now when I look at your collection ! I'm blinded and in awe ;-) Congrats for another stunning classic !

Larry Wilson
Member Since 2012
Forum Moderator

Posted on 4/14/2012

Always liked Franks ink over Jack. So clean. CLASSIC!

j sly
Member Since 2011

Posted on 5/20/2012

Unbelievable Kirby Title Splash with Cap! Huge Congrats!

Gene Park
Member Since 2004

Posted on 6/1/2012

Drool...I feel a bad case of Kirby Cap Envy coming on...

michael dunne
Member Since 2004

Posted on 8/30/2012

Great documentation on the pencilers and inkers on Tos. I blivet Wally Wood did uncredited inks for a couple of pages, maybe three on one ToS story. If memory serves me right it is the splash panel with Cap telling the Kooky Quartet about the sleeper.

Marvelman Excelsior
Member Since 2011

Posted on 1/2/2013

Guns the size of a small car! Love it! Great piece, owned by a collector who knows how to appreciate the good stuff. Kirby forever!

Edward Grekoski
Member Since 2006

Posted on 7/15/2013

Love this Splash..Giacoia is my favorite inker over Kirby for Cap and he threw a strike inking this one. Congrats!

Sean Rutan
Member Since 2012

Posted on 9/1/2013

Added to favorites...because it most definitely is a favorite. What a fantastic piece of art of my favorite character by the King of Comics

PHILIPPE VIENNE
Member Since 2012

Posted on 7/6/2014

perfect kirby!!

Andy Robbins
Member Since 2003

Posted on 11/5/2014

Kirby-tech and Cap - what more could a decadent democracy want?!?!?!!?

Bill J
Member Since 2009

Posted on 8/23/2018

Another fabulous splash. Fantastic!

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