The Story
The Incredible Hulk #181 opens with the Canadian government sending a new operative to bring in the Hulk, who has wandered across the border and stumbled into a fight with Wendigo, the cursed man-beast currently possessing Georges Baptiste. That operative is a short, clawed figure in a yellow-and-blue costume who cuts into the fight without waiting for orders. Len Wein plotted the issue, John Byrne is credited with the character's design, and Herb Trimpe drew the finished pages, giving Wolverine a scrappy, feral energy that reads nothing like the polished antihero he becomes later.
Marie Cartier, a Canadian scientist and Wendigo's would-be rescuer, rounds out the small cast, but the issue belongs to the fight choreography: Wolverine's claws draw blood on a Marvel cover for the first time, and the character reads as dangerous rather than heroic. He would join the X-Men the following spring, and the first Wolverine NFT covers the character in figure form, a different way to hold this same debut.
This issue sits alongside the site's other Marvel comic keys: the first Marvel Comics #1 NFT, the first Amazing Fantasy #15 NFT, and the first Tales of Suspense #39 NFT. The Hulk himself has his own figure collectible too, the first Hulk NFT.
The Collectible
Original copies of Incredible Hulk #181 in high grade are one of the most expensive Bronze Age keys on the market, driven entirely by Wolverine's later popularity. VeVe's digital edition reproduces Trimpe's cover art at full resolution, and after the January 2026 Collect migration, every edition self-custodies on-chain. The Classic Cover carries the original 1974 art, while the Rare Hero Variant and Ultra Rare Vibranium Variant feature new cover work by Stephen Mooney, colored by Romulo Fajardo Jr., that never appeared on a printed copy.
The Drop
VeVe released Incredible Hulk #181 on July 11, 2024 at $20 through a waitlist drop, spanning five cover variants from Common through Secret Rare. Wolverine's standing as one of Marvel's most licensed characters made this one of the more anticipated comic drops that year.
Edition Breakdown
| Tier | Editions | Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Common | 6,000 | Classic Cover |
| Uncommon | 2,250 | Vintage Variant |
| Rare | 1,000 | Hero Variant, exclusive cover |
| Ultra Rare | 500 | Vibranium Variant, exclusive cover |
| Secret Rare | 250 | True Believer Variant |
10,000 editions total with none burned, so all 10,000 circulate at an 8.5% market fee. The 250-edition Secret Rare tier is the scarcest print in the run.
Market Context
Wolverine's first full appearance carries weight in both print and digital form, and VeVe's 2024 drop tracked that demand closely, distributing through a waitlist rather than an open sale. The Rare and Ultra Rare tiers carry cover art exclusive to this release, which has kept them the most sought-after editions on the secondary market. The January 2026 Collect migration moved every edition to self-custody on-chain, with no further minting possible.
Collector's Note
This is the issue where Wolverine stops being a rumor and starts being a fixture, clawing into a Hulk fight he wasn't invited to. Even a Common edition represents ownership of that debut, while the Rare and Ultra Rare tiers carry art no printed copy has. Copies are listed on the VeVe secondary market, sometimes below retail. New to VeVe? Take $10 off your first purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Incredible Hulk #181, cover-dated November 1974. He cameos briefly at the very end of issue #180, published the same month, but #181 is his first full appearance. Len Wein wrote it and Herb Trimpe drew it.
A Canadian government operative named Wolverine is sent to capture the Hulk, who is already fighting Wendigo, a man-beast possessing scientist Georges Baptiste. The issue is a three-way brawl that introduces Wolverine's claws and feral fighting style.
10,000 across five tiers: 6,000 Common, 2,250 Uncommon, 1,000 Rare, 500 Ultra Rare, and 250 Secret Rare. None have been burned, so all 10,000 circulate.
Yes. Collectors list copies on the VeVe secondary market, sometimes below retail. Prices vary by tier, with the 250-edition Secret Rare the scarcest.
They use VeVe-exclusive art by Stephen Mooney, colored by Romulo Fajardo Jr., created for this drop and not printed on the original 1974 issue.
