History ComicBook / TalesOfSuspense

The comic began as a science-fiction series with multiple unrelated stories in each issue. In 1963, issue #39 introduced an ongoing ''Iron Man'' series, firmly set in the shared Franchise/MarvelUniverse, with one-off stories remaining as back-up strips. The alien known as The Watcher, who had been introduced in Marvel's ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' series, became the narrator for the one-off stories.

A year later, in issue #59, a solo ''Captain America'' story was added alongside ''Iron Man'', at which point the comic completely dropped the standalone back-up stories and adopted a split-book format.

The series effectively ended with issue #99, when Iron Man was relaunched in his own comic. At that point ''Tales of Suspense'' was retitled to become a solo ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' comic, but kept its original numbering.

* AnthologyComic: Initially there were multiple short science-fiction stories in each issue. Once the ''Iron Man'' series took the lead they remained as back-ups.

* WinsByDoingAbsolutelyNothing: In ''Tales of Suspense #54'' a radioactive cloud that the Watcher could have stopped was hit by a runaway uninhabited planet, destroying both and saving populated worlds. The Watcher was quick to extol the virtues of doing nothing.

* ArtisticLicenseNuclearPhysics: In ''Tales of Suspense'' #49, guest starring Angel of the ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen'', Angel is accidentally caught in Tony Stark's nuclear weapons test. His immediate first thought afterwards? ''He can feel his personality getting eviler''. And no, it's not just implied by his actions, he literally '''states''' the radiation made him evil. At no point does he mention feeling anything, like crippling radiation sickness.
* BreakoutCharacter: Issue #39 introduced a hero in a grey armored metal suit. Tony Stark, alias ''ComicBook/IronMan''. He went on to become one of Marvel's LongRunners, a founding member of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' and a key character in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.
* MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter: Carla Strange, the daughter of Doctor Strange (No relation to [[ComicBook/DoctorStrange Dr. Stephen Strange]], the MadScientist who threatened both America and the USSR with nuclear armageddon. Eventually, she turned against her father's ambitions and helped Iron Man defeat him.

''Tales of Suspense'' is a AnthologyComic from Creator/MarvelComics, debuting in 1959. The series introduced Characters/IronMan and gave Characters/CaptainAmerica his first modern solo stories.

* BreakoutCharacter: Issue #39 introduced a hero in an armored metal suit named Tony Stark, alias ''ComicBook/IronMan''. He went on to become one of Marvel's LongRunners, a founding member of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' and a key character in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.

The series effectively ended with issue #99, when Iron Man was relaunched in his own comic. ''Tales of Suspense'' was then retitled to become the solo ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' comic, but kept its original numbering.