Black Widow First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #52 and How to Identify It

Black Widow first appeared in Tales of Suspense #52 (cover date April 1964), published by Marvel, by Stan Lee, Don Rico, Don Heck. The source puts it this way: "Black Widow first appeared in Tales of Suspense #52 (1964) as an opponent of Iron Man.".

• Cover artist and cover composition: the cover was drawn by Jack Kirby, and it is Crimson Dynamo, not Black Widow, who gets most of the cover's attention.
• Creator credits: Black Widow was created by editor Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck.

• Indicia: the small print on the first page or inside cover gives the issue number, date and publisher; reprints usually say so there.
• Cover price and barcode: a price or barcode format that did not exist in the year printed means a later edition.
• Paper and staples: decades-old newsprint is tan at the edges; bright white pages on an old date are a warning sign.
• Restoration: color touch, trimmed edges and married covers are common on expensive keys; a grading service can detect them.

Shoot the front cover flat, straight on, in even light, then the indicia page and the back cover. Include the top edge and staples in one frame. The app reads the title, issue number and cover and matches it against the checks above; the indicia photo settles most reprint questions.