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Character

Wolverine comics

Wolverine first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #181, cover-dated November 1974, from Marvel Comics, created by Len Wein, Herb Trimpe and John Romita Sr.. A one-panel cameo on the last page of Incredible Hulk #180 (October 1974) precedes the first full appearance in #181.

First appearance
The Incredible Hulk #181
Cover date
November 1974
Publisher
Marvel Comics
Creators
Len Wein, Herb Trimpe and John Romita Sr.

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Wolverine guides

First appearance, key issues and what drives the prices.

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  • Collecting

    First appearance vs cameo: what is the difference?

    A cameo is a brief appearance — often a single panel, a shadowed figure, or a last-page teaser — while a first full appearance is the issue in which the character plays a real part in the story. The market usually prices the first full appearance higher, but when the cameo is the first time the character is seen at all, both issues become keys. Incredible Hulk #180 (cameo) and #181 (first full appearance) for Wolverine is the classic example.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Characters

    What is the first appearance of Wolverine?

    Wolverine's first full appearance is The Incredible Hulk #181, cover-dated November 1974, by Len Wein and Herb Trimpe, with the costume designed by John Romita Sr. He is seen first in a one-panel cameo on the last page of Incredible Hulk #180 (October 1974). Hulk #181 is the most valuable comic of the Bronze Age.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Characters

    What is the first appearance of Storm? Giant-Size X-Men #1 explained

    Storm first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1, cover-dated May 1975, by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum — the issue that also introduced Nightcrawler, Colossus and Thunderbird and brought Wolverine, Banshee and Sunfire together as the new X-Men. The regular series resumed with X-Men #94 (August 1975), which began Chris Claremont's sixteen-year run as writer.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Key issues

    Why is Incredible Hulk #181 so valuable?

    Incredible Hulk #181 (November 1974) is the first full appearance of Wolverine, the most popular character Marvel created after the 1960s, and it is the most valuable comic of the Bronze Age. Demand comes from Wolverine's decades as an X-Men and film lead; supply in high grade is limited by ordinary 1974 print runs, by the Marvel Value Stamp many readers cut from the issue, and by fifty years of handling.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026

  • Key issues

    Giant-Size X-Men #1 vs X-Men #94: which is the key?

    Both. Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975) introduces the new team — first appearances of Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus and Thunderbird — and is the more valuable book. X-Men #94 (August 1975) is the first regular issue of the new team, the first issue written by Chris Claremont, and the start of the run that made the X-Men Marvel's best-selling franchise. Collectors treat Giant-Size #1 as the first appearance key and #94 as the first-issue key.

    Updated Sep 14, 2026