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ow/white pages; Signature Series: Signed by Stan Lee, Len Wein & Roy Thomas
1st full Wolverine app; Marvel Value Stamp #54 (Shanna); Herb Trimpe cover & art; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 10 (CBI)


Incredible Hulk #181 is only rivaled by Amazing Spider-Man #129 as the top collectible of the Marvel Bronze Age. The classic comics bookended 1974 with the introduction of anti-heroes who would become two of the comics industry's most beloved figures. That was further illustrated when a copy of Incredible Hulk #181 — featuring the first full appearance of Wolverine — became the first Bronze Age book to break the $100,000 sales mark.

This is where it all began, with Wolverine stealing the show in an already impressive two-part story arc involving the Wendigo. The scrappy and brutal brawler was an instant fan favorite. Marvel then wisely found the character a home in the revamped X-Men of 1976, with Wolverine going on to become a uniquely complicated and spiritual protagonist.

Wolverine quickly became one of Marvel's most potent weapons for sales-inspiring guest turns and hot spin-off titles. It was no surprise when Hugh Jackman found overnight stardom for the role in 2000's big-screen X-Men film. 25 years later, Wolverine remains one of the hottest figures in both comics and film — as further confirmed when Hugh Jackman returned to the role for the massive success of 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine.