Tales of Suspense #49: Review

Jan 1964

Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

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Story Name:

The New Iron Man Meets the Angel

Review & Comments

Rating:

Tales of Suspense #49 Review by Peter Silvestro (February 15, 2010)

Hulk is seen only in a group picture of the Avengers. Bruce Banner is shown working in his lab in New Mexico. First appearance of the X-Men outside their own title.

Tales of Suspense #49 Review by Rob Johnson (August 8, 2011)

There is a continuity problem with Bruce Banner's appearance here. He is listed as one of the Avengers, but he quit in AVENGERS #2 when Iron Man still had his bulky yellow armour. It is obviously just an editorial error. But in the spirit of No-Prizes I could offer an explanation. Obviously Prof X couldn't contact each Avenger's secret identity directly because he wouldn't know who they were. Presumably his message went to Avengers HQ and was relayed to the individuals, in a way that didn't compromise their secrets. Maybe the Avengers hadn't got round to deleting Hulk from their database. Maybe they still hoped to bring him back into the fold. More significantly, if we accept the cameo, it shows that Hulk was in control enough to use his transforming machine (from Hulk #6) to revert to Banner in between Avengers #2 and #3.

Comments: Second story: Text story with one illustration, reprinted from reprinted from SPY THRILLERS #4; story also printed in TALES TO ASTONISH #35. Third Story: First “Tales of the Watcher” in this book.

This is the first appearance of the Avengers as a group (sort of) outside their own title.

Tales of Suspense #49 Review by T Vernon (March 7, 2012)

Review: Weak issue is largely two heroes fighting, and it isn’t an interesting fight. See, Iron Man can punch out a tank. But Angel’s only power is that he has wings. That’s it. Period. Full Stop. And the wings are likely hollow, like a bird’s to enable him to fly. So what we have is a machine of mass destruction trying his utmost not to hurt the poor lil’ guy. For eighteen pages. Sigh. But it marks the first guest appearance of another Marvel hero in the title.

Comments: Marvel Science Tip #47: If atomic radiation does not give you superpowers, it will turn you evil.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Tales of Suspense #49 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Iron Man is overseeing the test of an atomic weapon when the Angel appears overhead. Misunderstanding Shellheads warning, Angel flies too close to the explosion and is exposed to radiation which turns him evil. Returning to the X-Men, he announces his intention to join their enemy Magneto and flies off before his partners can restrain him. Professor X sends out a call for help to the Avengers but only Tony Stark is available to answer the call. Donning his armor, Iron Man stops Angels acts of sabotage and a furious battle takes place in the skies. In a desperate gamble, Iron Man allow himself to be defeated and plummets from the sky. Seeing a hero in danger snaps Angel back to his normal good self and he swoops down and saves Shellhead.

“Strange Encounter”
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Joe Maneely.
Synopsis: An American tourist in Paris is mistaken for a government courier by a Russian spy and taken prisoner. Not to worry, the French police have been following the Commie and rescue the hero!

“The Saga of the Sneepers!”
Writer: Larry Lieber. Plot: Stan Lee. Pencils: Larry Lieber. Inks: George Roussos. Colors: ? Letters: Sam Rosen.
Synopsis: The Watcher relates the story of a warrior race called the Sneepers who observe Earth’s civilization from prehistoric times onward. During the Twentieth Century the Sneepers begin to worry if Earth may eventually prove a threat to them but with the invention of atomic weapons and the turmoil that follows, they relax, deciding the Humans will destroy themselves before long!