Wolverine Comic Book Covers
Canada’s Superstar Superhero
The final page of The Incredible Hulk #180, featuring the 1st appearance of Wolverine by name in the last panel
Wolverine is first introduced to readers in The Incredible Hulk #180 (October 1974) in the final panel. Collectors, however, assign significantly greater value to #181, which features Wolverine’s first cover and first full appearance. To differentiate between these appearances, many in the hobby/industry refer to Wolverine’s appearance in #180 as his first cameo appearance and to #181 as the first full appearance. As for simply Wolverine’s first appearance? Marvel says it is #180!
Both comics are considered grails, but many consider #181 a “holy grail,” or one of the most desirable comics in the hobby. Only a handful of modern comics have attained the status of “holy grail” for collectors since Marvel introduced The Fantastic Four, The Amazing Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk in the early 1960s. (To be fair, we cannot think of any other modern comics identified as “holy grails” as frequently in the industry.)
Wolverine, a wildly popular Canadian superhero…
More info coming soon
Sources: CGC Message Boards (“Hulk 180 Is Wolverine’s 1st Appearance According To Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2“)
Hulk (Vol 6) #13 (Steve McNiven Virgin Variant) – April 2023
Hulk (Vol 6) #13 (Steve McNiven Trade Dress Variant) – April 2023
Wolverine (Vol 7) #29 (Adi Granov Homage Variant) – March 2023
Amazing Spiderman (Vol 6) #9 (Junggeun Yoon Hulk 340 McFarlane Homage Variant) – December 2022
Wolverine (Vol 7) #23 (Scott Williams SDCC Black & White Virgin Variant) – September 2022
Wolverine (Vol 7) #23 (Scott Williams NYCC Virgin Variant) – September 2022
Wolverine (Vol 7) #23 (Scott Williams Trade Dress Variant) – September 2022
X-Men (Vol 7) #1 (Crain Black Light Virgin Variant) – September 2021
Extreme Carnage: Alpha #1 (Crain Black Light Virgin Variant) – September 2021
Wolverine (Vol 7) #13 (Simone Bianchi Incentive Variant) – August 2021
Wolverine (Vol 7) #8 (Clayton Crain Virgin Black Light Variant) – February 2021
Wolverine (Vol 7) #8 (Crain Black Light Virgin Variant) – February 2021
X-Men (Vol 5) #11 (David Nakayama Secret Virgin Variant) – October 2020
Wolverine (Vol 7) #1 (Mico Suayan Virgin Homage Sketch Variant) – April 2020
Wolverine (Vol 7) #1 (Mico Suayan Red Eye X-Force Virgin Homage Variant) – April 2020
Wolverine (Vol 7) #1 (Mico Suayan Virgin Homage Variant) – April 2020
Wolverine (Vol 7) #1 (Mico Suayan C2E2 Homage Variant) – April 2020
Marvel Zombies: Resurrection (Kael Ngu Virgin Variant) – December 2019
Marvel Zombies: Resurrection (Kael Ngu Trade Dress Variant) – December 2019
3D Uncanny X-Men #1 (3D Reprint of X-Men #268) – March 2019
Return of Wolverine #1 (Mico Suayan Sketch Variant) – December 2018
Return of Wolverine #1 (Mico Suayan NYCC Virgin Variant) – December 2018
Return of Wolverine #1 (Mico Suayan Trade Dress Variant) – December 2018
Return of Wolverine #1 (Mico Suayan NYCC Trade Dress Variant) – December 2018
Return of Wolverine #1 (J Scott Campbell NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2018
Return of Wolverine #1 (J Scott Campbell NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2018
Return of Wolverine #1 (J Scott Campbell NYCC Glow-in-the-Dark Variant) – November 2018
Weapon H #1 (Adam Kubert Variant) – May 2018
Wolverine: Epic Collection (Vol 12) (Leinil Francis Yu Cover) – February 2017
Death of Wolverine #2 (J Scott Campbell Midtown Exclusive) – November 2014
X-Men (Vol 4) #5 (Leonell Castellani Lego Sketch Variant) – November 2013
X-Men (Vol 4) #5 (Leonell Castellani Lego Variant) – November 2013
Uncanny Avengers #12 (Leonel Castellani Lego Sketch Variant) – November 2013
Uncanny Avengers #12 (Leonel Castellani Lego Sketch Variant) – November 2013
Avengers Arena #14 (Mike Deodato, Jr. Newsstand Variant) – October 2013
Avengers Arena #14 (Mike Deodato, Jr. Direct Variant) – October 2013
Wolverine & the Black Cat: Claws II Trade Paperback (Joseph Michael Linsner Cover) – May 2012
Wolverine (Vol 4) #18 (Koi Pham Homage Variant) – January 2012
Wolverine & the Black Cat: Claws II Hardcover (Joseph Michael Linsner Cover) – November 2011
Wolverine & the Black Cat: Claws II #3 (Joseph Michael Linsner Cover) – November 2011
Wolverine & the Black Cat: Claws II #2 (Joseph Michael Linsner Cover) – October 2011
Wolverine & the Black Cat: Claws II #1 (Joseph Michael Linsner Cover) – August 2011
Wolverine: Origins #29 (Mike Deodato Jr. Zombie Variant) – December 2008
Wolverine (Vol 3) #55 (Greg Land Homage Variant) – September 2007
Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darkness #5 – September 2007
Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darkness #2 – June 2007
Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darkness #1 – May 2007
Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darkness #1 – May 2007
Marvel Zombies #3 (1st Printing) – March 2006
Hulk Visionaries: Peter David (Vol 2) TPB – October 2005
Wizard Comics Magazine #157 (John Cassaday X-Men 141 Homage Variant) – November 2004
Wizard Comics Magazine #157 (Steve McNiven Wolverine 1 Homage Variant) – November 2004
Wizard Comics Magazine #157 (Joe Queseda Hulk 340 Homage Variant) – November 2004
New X-Men #151 (Marc Silvestri Cover) – March 2004
Wolverine (Vol 2) #145 (Leinil Francis Yu Cover) – December 1999
Wolverine (Vol 2) #145 (Leinil Francis Yu Silver Foil Variant) – December 1999
Wolverine (Vol 2) #145 (Leinil Francis Yu 2nd Print Gold Foil Variant) – December 1999
Wolverine (Vol 2) #145 (Leinil Francis Yu Error Bone Claw Variant) – December 1999
Uncanny X-Men #268 (Jim Lee J.C. Penney Variant) – September 1990
Uncanny X-Men #268 (Jim Lee Direct Variant) – September 1990
Wolverine (Vol 2) #23 (John Byrne Cover) – April 1990
The Incredible Hulk #340 (Todd McFarlane Cover Art) – February 1988
Wolverine #1 (Newsstand Edition; Frank Miller & Josef Rubinstein Cover) – September 1982
Wolverine #1 (Direct Edition; Frank Miller & Josef Rubinstein Cover) – September 1982
Uncanny X-Men #141 (John Byrne Cover Art) – January 1981
