NEWS: Hulk #180 Wolverine Splash

[DirtbagSailor]

I doubt any of us will get this, but it will be a very interesting auction to watch...

Heritage Auctions will host this auction in May, if anyone is interested.

http://www.newsarama.com/20408-historic ... ction.html

[iggy101us]

All yours sonicdan!

[kevinbastos]

I can remember someone saying that the most amazing piece of art from the Silver Age was the cover to Avengers 4.

It's not a cover, but...

This may be the most valuable piece of bronze age (internal) art. Holy smokes.

[greg]

WOW

[DirtbagSailor]

You know, this sort of makes me wonder a bit.

Looking at this page, it seems pretty clear that this was the FIRST appearance of Wolverine, yet Hulk #181 is the issue everyone wants (I recently snagged up a mid-range copy of #181 as well).

Why is this? Seriously, why do we consider #181 the first appearance of Wolverine when it was really in #180?

DBS

[kevinbastos]

You know, this sort of makes me wonder a bit.

Looking at this page, it seems pretty clear that this was the FIRST appearance of Wolverine, yet Hulk #181 is the issue everyone wants (I recently snagged up a mid-range copy of #181 as well).

Why is this? Seriously, why do we consider #181 the first appearance of Wolverine when it was really in #180?

DBS

It's the way I always saw it - but I own a Hulk 180.

Have you read both books? 180 is mostly the battle with the Wendigo - and 181 has the entire Wolverine story - and the cool cover.

[Chiclo]

You know, this sort of makes me wonder a bit.

Looking at this page, it seems pretty clear that this was the FIRST appearance of Wolverine, yet Hulk #181 is the issue everyone wants (I recently snagged up a mid-range copy of #181 as well).

Why is this? Seriously, why do we consider #181 the first appearance of Wolverine when it was really in #180?

DBS

I have seen this debate before and you are not the only to make this argument.

The answer generally given is that Wolverine only made a cameo on the last page of the issue. We in the Valiant community had a similar disagreement regarding Bloodshot in the original Valiant line.

[greg]

When it comes to a single page of art, this is THE first appearance of Wolverine.

When it comes to a comic book, Hulk #180 has one page, one panel with Wolverine. It's first, but the rest of the book is not Wolverine.

It's a hard debate to have with just those two books, because the moment someone looks up the definition and says "first appearance anywhere"
there will be advertisements in other comics the month before and publisher preview books like Marvel Age thrown into the mix.

So, the main point seems to be "first published appearance in the story of a regular comic book".
That rules out advertisements and publisher preview books like Marvel Age.

Hulk #180 qualifies for that definition, but it's not the first published book where you can read a Wolverine story. That's Hulk #181.
Hulk #180 is also not the first time you can see Wolverine on the cover of a comic book. That's Hulk #181.

Similar problem for Amazing Spider-man #299. Final page. That's Venom... no doubt.
But Amazing Spider-man #300 is the first published story you can read about Venom.
It was Amazing Spider-man #316 before you could see Venom on the cover of a comic book.
(There's a little Venom head on #315, but it's nothing compared to #316.)

[DirtbagSailor]

Don't get me wrong, I like #181 and see it as a, if not the, Bronze Age gem. The community considers #181 to be the 1st appearance, and so it is. But ink-on-paper, #180 has the first ever image (and words) of Wolverine. I DON'T own #180, but now will probably have to get a copy to feel complete...

And CRAP! ASM #299 now too...

[greg]

And CRAP! ASM #299 now too...

Last page of ASM #299:

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5f7j ... o1_500.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Daniel Jackson]

I like the comments at the bottom of the article....

[nycjadie]

I call 180 the first appearance and this might arguably be the most important piece of bronze age art!

[nycjadie]

PS - I received Heritage's magazine today and the estimate for this piece was $100K+.

[obijuan]

So how much did this sell for?

[nycjadie]

I think the auction is next month, IIR.

[greg]

The auction is running now.
It ends in 18 days.
Currently at $190,000.
http://www.ha.com/c/mobile/view-item.zx ... otNo=92191" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Intrepidxc]

The auction is running now.
It ends in 18 days.
Currently at $190,000.
http://www.ha.com/c/mobile/view-item.zx ... otNo=92191" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jmatt]

The auction is running now.
It ends in 18 days.
Currently at $190,000.
http://www.ha.com/c/mobile/view-item.zx ... otNo=92191" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can you imagine how rich you'd have to be to drop that kind of loot on a page of comic book art? We can only dream...

[AnthonyF]

Sigh.... Well I'm out.
Guess I'll have to find another first appearance to spend my $189,000 on.

[Dr Noel]

Sigh.... Well I'm out.
Guess I'll have to find another first appearance to spend my $189,000 on.

Ah...so you're the one who outbid my $188,500. Damn you!

[Elveen]

What 1st appearance page would be the most $$$$?

Supes? Bats? Spidey? Cronos from Harby Wars?

[greg]

What 1st appearance page would be the most $$$$?

Supes? Bats? Spidey? Cronos from Harby Wars?

Except for Chronos , I'm not sure the other three are even possible.

Superman and Batman's first appearances likely no longer exist.
Spider-man's first appearance is in the Library of Congress.

In all three cases, the cover of their first appearance issues would be worth more than any interior pages (if the covers still existed).

It could be that this Wolverine first appearance page is the best first appearance page for which a sale is possible.
Hulk 181 cover might be more valuable as a piece of original art, but it isn't the first appearance since it was a month later.

[AnthonyF]

OMG, it's so obvious.

It's Toyo Harada, from Solar #3 but didn't appear on a cover until Harbinger #2. He's the corner stone of the Valiant universe, and introduced Harbingers to the world.

[greg]

The auction is running now.
It ends in 18 days.
Currently at $190,000.
http://www.ha.com/c/mobile/view-item.zx ... otNo=92191" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can you imagine how rich you'd have to be to drop that kind of loot on a page of comic book art? We can only dream...

SOLD! $657,250

[nycjadie]

Is that a record? That seems higher than the recent auctions for McFarlane and Miller art, as far as I recall. Crazy.