American Comics Update: Mighty Marvel Firsts: 1st full Wolverine appearance in Hulk #181
*Marvel: This week the most sought-after comic of the 1970s. Hulk #181 features the first full appearance of Wolverine, the Canadian super-hero who, outstripping everyone’s expectations, became the most popular Marvel character created since the dawn of the Marvel Age. Created by Len Wein and Herb Trimpe (from a John Romita design), Wolvy was revived by Wein when he put together the ‘New’ X-Men who debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1, and since then, Wolverine has become the star of the lucrative X-Men franchise, and a multi-media darling in his own right. This issue, where it all really kicked off following a one-panel cameo in the preceding ish, is a superior copy with brilliant cover colour and gloss, firm, tight staples at spine and centrefold and supple white to off-white pages. Most crucially, the Marvel Value Stamp (probably the most important appearance of Shanna the She-Devil, bless her!) is still in place. This promotional coupon is the blight of Marvels from a certain period, often clipped and missing – but not in this instance! There are the most minimal signs of handling wear at the spine, right corners and along lower right edge, but this copy is conservatively graded. Not the rarest Marvel key by any means, but the most in demand and fastest-selling. High resolution images are available on request.
PICTURED: HULK #181 VF- £4,250 SOLD