Tales of Suspense #98 — Marvel Comics (February 1968) — Cap vs. The Panther — Silver Age Key — Raw/Ungraded

Tales of Suspense #98 — Raw/Ungraded Copy

Publisher: Marvel Comics Group
Issue: #98
Cover Date: February 1968
Condition: Raw/Ungraded — see photos for grade assessment — estimated GD/VG (2.0–4.0 range)
Cover Price: 12¢
Comics Code Authority: Approved — stamp visible on cover
Storage: Bagged and boarded

Creative Team — Captain America Story

• Story: Stan Lee
• Art: Jack Kirby & Frank Giacoia

★ KEY ISSUE — Captain America vs. Black Panther!

This is one of the most iconic Silver Age Marvel covers ever published — Captain America vs. The Black Panther, boldly announced at the bottom of the cover: "CAP VS.…. THE PANTHER." This issue features a landmark early confrontation between two of Marvel's greatest heroes, written by Stan Lee with art by the legendary Jack Kirby. The Black Panther — created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby — had only debuted two years earlier in Fantastic Four #52 (1966), making his appearances in this era extremely significant to collectors. This is a genuine Silver Age key issue.

Cover Details

Jack Kirby's explosive cover depicts Captain America in full battle gear — shield raised, fist cocked — squaring off against a powerful black-silhouetted figure of The Black Panther (T'Challa), rendered dramatically in solid black against a burst of yellow radiating lines. The bold yellow background with radiating speed lines creates a kinetic, high-impact composition. The masthead reads "Tales of Suspense" in large letters above "Captain America and Iron Man" — reflecting the dual-feature format of the title. The Captain America/Iron Man corner box appears in the upper left. The cover is signed in the lower right corner.

Featured Characters

• Captain America (Steve Rogers)
• Black Panther (T'Challa) — early Silver Age appearance
• Iron Man (Tony Stark) — co-feature (interior)

Historical Significance

Tales of Suspense was one of Marvel's most important Silver Age anthology titles, featuring both Captain America and Iron Man as co-features. The title ran from issue #39 (Iron Man's first appearance) through #99, before splitting into Captain America #100 and Iron Man & Sub-Mariner #1 in 1968. Issue #98 is one of the final issues of this landmark title — just two issues before the historic split. The Black Panther appearance makes this one of the most desirable issues in the entire run.

Condition Notes — Please Read Carefully

This is a raw (ungraded) copy with visible wear consistent with a 58-year-old Silver Age newsprint comic. Based on the photos, the estimated grade range is approximately GD to VG (2.0–4.0). Visible condition notes include:

• Cover shows significant creasing and stress lines across the upper left quadrant and spine area
• Yellowing/tanning to cover consistent with age
• Spine shows wear and possible small tears
• Colors remain vibrant and the cover image is fully intact and displayable
• Stored in protective bag and board

Please review all provided photos carefully before purchasing. All sales are final. If you have specific condition questions, please message us before buying. This book is priced to reflect its raw, lower-grade condition — it is a reader/display copy, not a high-grade investment piece.

Back Cover — Famous Artists Schools — Norman Rockwell Ad

Features a remarkable and highly collectible full-page advertisement for Famous Artists Schools — headlined with a Norman Rockwell illustration and the quote: "We're looking for people who like to draw," says Norman Rockwell. The ad lists the founding faculty of Famous Artists Schools, including: Norman Rockwell, Jon Whitcomb, Al Parker, Stevan Dohanos, George Giusti, Peter Helck, Fred Ludekens, Ben Stahl, Robert Fawcett, Austin Briggs, Harold Von Schmidt, and Albert Dorne — a who's who of mid-century American illustration. Famous Artists Schools, Studio 5621, Westport, Connecticut. This is one of the most celebrated and nostalgic back cover advertisements of the Silver Age — the Norman Rockwell connection makes it especially collectible.

Shipping

Shipped securely in a rigid comic mailer with additional protective packaging. Fully insured and tracked. Ships within 1–2 business days of payment.