Kirby, Jack - Tales of Suspense, issue 81, page 13, title splash (Sept 1966)
Artists: Jack Kirby (Penciller) , Frank Giacoia (Inker)
45 Comments - 8,183 Views - 13 Likes
Artwork Details
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DescriptionTales of Suspense #81 concludes the Cosmic Cube storyline and this title splash from the issue by Jack Kirby & Frank Giacoia begins with Captain America facing a big problem – the Red Skull possesses the Cosmic Cube. No wonder why the story is titled, “The Red Skull Supreme!” Not to worry, Cap eventually takes care of business, the Red Skull ‘disappears’ (he returns in issue #89…shocker) and the Cosmic Cube is thought to have been lost forever (not true - it makes numerous additional appearances in the Marvel Universe, the most recent being in the Avengers movie as the ‘Tesseract’).Tales of Suspense ran from 1959 to 1968. It began as a science-fiction anthology, but migrated to featuring superheroes (first Iron Man, then Captain America) during the Silver Age of comic books before changing its title to Captain America with issue #100 (April 1968). The plural ‘Tales’ was intentional as the title incorporated multiple stories per issue (as was the case with its’ sister title, Tales to Astonish). The early run of the first volume of Tales of Suspense ran from issues #1-38 (January 1959 – February 1963), initially under Atlas Comics, the 1950’s forerunner of Marvel. It was published under the Marvel banner with issue #19 (July 1961), the first with a cover sporting the early "MC" box. It 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, Don Heck, Dick Ayers, Joe Sinnott and Paul Reinman. Issue #39 (March 1963) introduced the superhero Iron Man, created by editor and plotter Lee, scripter Lieber, and artists Heck and Kirby. He starred in generally 13-page but occasionally 18-page adventures, with the rest of Tales of Suspense devoted to the science fiction and fantasy stories the comic normally ran. After debuting with bulky gray armor, Iron Man was redesigned with similar but golden armor in his second story in issue #40 (April 1963). The first iteration of the modern, sleek red-and-golden armor appeared in issue #48 (December 1963), drawn by Steve Ditko. From issues #53-58 (May – October 1964), the cover logo was "Tales of Suspense featuring The Power of Iron Man". Things really got interesting with issue #59 (November 1964), as Iron Man began sharing the now "split book" with Captain America, who had guest-starred in the Iron Man feature the previous issue. Jack Kirby, Captain America's co-creator during the 1940’s 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. Kirby drew all but six of the Captain America stories, for which Gil Kane (issues #88-91) filled in for four, John Romita Sr. (issue #76) for one and Jack Sparling (issue #87) for one. Several stories were finished by penciler-inker George Tuska over Kirby layouts (issues #70-74), with one finished by Romita Sr. (issue #77) and two others by penciler Dick Ayers (issue #69 and #75). Kirby's regular inkers on the series were Frank Giacoia (as "Frank Ray") and Joe Sinnott, though Don Heck, John Tartaglione and Golden Age Captain America artist Syd Shores inked one story each. Tales of Suspense became Captain America with issue #100 (April 1968). Iron Man went on to appear 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). Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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larry clay
Member Since 2006
Posted on 3/5/2013
Iconic and one of the most memorable splashes from the run! Congrats.
George H 
Member Since 2009
Posted on 3/5/2013
Such a mind-blowing, early Kirby/Lee Cap and Red Skull splash!!!! This is truly a GRAIL piece my friend!
Charles Dahan
Member Since 2005
Posted on 3/5/2013
"If he isn't stopped... Humanity is doomed!.." How can any page which features dialogue like that not be classic Marvel. I love it!
Wesley Liu
Member Since 2009
Posted on 3/5/2013
It doesn't get more iconic than a Kirby splash with Cap lunging at Red Skull holding the Cosmic Cube.
aric shapiro
Member Since 2006
Posted on 3/5/2013
You can officially retire from collecting now because you will NEVER top this....wow...
Daren Domina
Member Since 2006
Posted on 3/5/2013
Wow--that is a "supremely" great splash! Congrats!
E DLS
Member Since 2005
Posted on 3/5/2013
What can I say? You've done it again Ron. At this rate, I will run out of praise long before you run out of these Silver Age gems! After a while, I'll simply be reduced to the perennial WOW's and AWESOME's.
Will Tervay
Member Since 2005
Posted on 3/5/2013
Always enjoy your updates and the descriptions that go along with them. Thanks for sharing!
Ron S
Member Since 2007
Posted on 3/5/2013
A tremendous pick up! The Red Skull, the cosmic cube, that about says it all.....
Felix Lu
Member Since 2005
Posted on 3/5/2013
Congrats!! Between you and Ron, all the SA splashes are going to Chicago these days. I need to see them!!
Joseph Serpico
Member Since 2009
Posted on 3/5/2013
Quite simply, one of the nicest plashes I have ever seen. Content, composure, clarity, Cap and Kirby !!
Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004
Posted on 3/5/2013
Awesome. The more I collect and the more I drift away from mainstream comics and superheroes also seems the more I am in need of a few big classics like a twice up Kirby splash. This is a great one.
Alex Johnson
Member Since 2006
Forum Moderator
Posted on 3/5/2013
Now that is a classic Kirby splash! Wonderful find. Congratulations. PS. I love the cosmic cube. That thing gets around.
Bill C
Member Since 2009
Posted on 3/5/2013
This is insane! A classic on many levels, thanks for sharing
John Cogan
Member Since 2004
Posted on 3/5/2013
Congrats, me of the nicest Cap Kirby slashes I've seen.
Mike (aka Off White) White
Member Since 2008
Posted on 3/6/2013
Wow! A really great pick-up! Congrats!!!
Al Gordon
Member Since 2006
Posted on 3/6/2013
AWESOME!!! Jack and Frank were one of my fave-rave Art Teams when I was growing up (They still are).
Marvelman Excelsior
Member Since 2011
Posted on 3/7/2013
Bang on in every way! Great design, crackling with Kirby power and urgency! And the Red Skull's face is incredible!
Larry Wilson
Member Since 2012
Forum Moderator
Posted on 3/13/2013
Gosh, how good were Jack and Frank together? Sheesh!
Andy Robbins
Member Since 2003
Posted on 3/24/2013
Cap, Skull, Cosmic Cube... this one's got it all, true believer!
COMIC PARADISE
Member Since 2005
Posted on 11/19/2013
gotta get myself a Kirby piece like this. congrats
Steve Welch
Member Since 2005
Posted on 9/3/2014
Man, the more I look at this, the more awesome it gets!
Len G
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 5/2/2018
Good grief -- How have I not noticed this untill now? I love it -- adore it - covet it (Sorry but I do lol!) -- just stunning and incredible in every possible way that comic art can be. The Red Skull's head on this page is a good as Kirby gets - and therefore as good as coimic art gets. Giacoai shined here supporting the King's lines structually without drowning them.I'm sure there is a 'one day if' list -- please stick me on it :)
Tony Saylor
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 8/16/2022
This is a spectacular display of Kirby greatness.
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 4/22/2024
Wow! What an amazing Page One Title Splash by Jack Kirby and Frank Giacoia! This splash has everything you could want in a Captain America piece: A strong image of Cap springing into action; A major villain (I assume the Red Skull qualifies); Lots of over-the-top dialogue; A world hanging in the balance. By all qualifications, this is a primo, A+++ Captain America splash! Congratulations, you will recieve your Certificate of Excelllence in the mail.
Dan P
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 8/16/2024
Still kicking myself for not buying this back in '12!
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