First appearance

Black Widow's first appearance: Tales of Suspense #52

Black Widow first appeared in Tales of Suspense #52, cover dated April 1964, published by Marvel and created by Stan Lee, Don Rico and Don Heck.

Why it matters

Natasha Romanoff's first appearance, as a Soviet spy sent after Iron Man. She had no costume at first. The films turned her into a major character and this issue into a key Silver Age book.

Related key issues

• Tales of Suspense #64 (April 1965), her first costumed appearance.
• The Amazing Spider-Man #86 (July 1970), the debut of her classic black costume.

Before you buy or sell, check

• An original has a 12-cent cover price. Reprints are marked.
• Check that it's #52; #53 and #57 are related Iron Man issues that are sometimes mixed up in listings.

Then look up what copies in similar condition actually sold for. Prices for keys like this move with grade and with news about the character, so a recent sale tells you far more than a printed guide. Our guides on the grading scale and spotting reprints help you compare like with like.

More first appearances

• Iron Man: Tales of Suspense #39 (March 1963)
• Daredevil: Daredevil #1 (April 1964)
• Spider-Man: Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962)
• Wolverine: The Incredible Hulk #181 (November 1974)
• Venom: The Amazing Spider-Man #300 (May 1988)

Questions