The Incredible Hulk #180
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeThe Incredible Hulk #180 contains the very first printed panel of Wolverine — one of the most consequential debuts in Marvel history — when the Canadian government's Weapon X agent interrupts a rampaging battle between the Hulk and the Wendigo in the forests of Quebec. Although debate has long swirled over whether this single-panel finale constitutes a 'cameo' or a true first appearance, Marvel has in recent years moved toward recognizing #180 as Wolverine's legitimate introduction, a character who would go on to become arguably the publisher's most popular creation of the Bronze Age. The issue simultaneously serves as the second appearance of the Wendigo, tying together a storyline Len Wein had begun nearly twenty issues earlier and giving the creature narrative closure that spilled into the following issue. That a figure originally conceived as a throwaway antagonist for a single story arc would eventually anchor decades of X-Men comics, major motion pictures, and a global merchandise empire makes this modestly-budgeted October 1974 issue one of the most significant single chapters in the medium's history.
In The Incredible Hulk #180, a weary Hulk seeks solitude in the Canadian wilderness—only to be drawn into a chilling ritual by Marie Cartier, sister of the man who became the Wendigo. With her magic faltering and the ancient spirit of the Wendigo awakening, the Hulk must face both the supernatural and a new threat: Wolverine, sent by the Canadian government to deal with the Hulk’s presence. Written by Len Wein and illustrated by Herb Trimpe, with inks by Jack Abel and colors by Glynis Wein, this issue features a cover by Herb Trimpe and John Romita.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Editor-in-chief Roy Thomas initiated the character by asking writer Len Wein to create a short, feisty Canadian hero — reasoning that Marvel had a meaningful readership north of the border and that a wolverine's ferocious willingness to attack creatures far larger than itself made for a natural superhero analogue. Thomas turned the name and three core requirements over to Wein, who developed the character's backstory, powers, and voice, while Marvel art director John Romita Sr. designed the costume and the now-defining retractable adamantium claws. Herb Trimpe — the regular Hulk artist — then rendered the character for publication starting with the final page of #180, though Trimpe himself later recalled that at the time there was 'no particular notion of it going anywhere.' The creative team for the issue was completed by inker Jack Abel, colorist Glynis Wein, letterer Artie Simek, and editor Roy Thomas.
Trivia · 6 facts
- First appearance (cameo, final panel) of Wolverine (Logan / Weapon X / James Howlett), dispatched by the Canadian government to neutralize the Hulk — the character's very first published image in any Marvel comic.
- Written by Len Wein, penciled and cover-drawn by Herb Trimpe, inked by Jack Abel, colored by Glynis Wein, lettered by Artie Simek, and edited by Roy Thomas; John Romita Sr. designed the character's look prior to publication but did not draw the published pages.
- Story title: 'And the Wind Howls… Wendigo!' — the Hulk wanders into Quebec, where Marie Cartier lures him to a cave and attempts an occult ritual to transfer the Wendigo curse from her brother Paul Cartier into the Hulk; the plan fails when the Wendigo itself arrives and the two monsters battle until Wolverine appears on the final page.
- Second appearance of the Wendigo (Paul Cartier), Marie Cartier, and Georges Baptiste, all of whom first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #162.
- The issue carries Marvel Value Stamp Series A #67 (Cyclops) — a cut-out collectible stamp program Marvel ran across its line in the mid-1970s; intact stamps are considered an important completeness factor by collectors.
- The issue has been reprinted in numerous collected editions, including Incredible Hulk and Wolverine (1986), Wolverine Battles the Incredible Hulk (1989), Essential Hulk vol. 5 (2008), the Wolverine Omnibus (2009), and an official Marvel Facsimile Edition published in September 2023.
Cast · 10 characters
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Reprints
Reprinted in L'incroyable Hulk #39 (1974), La Masa #4 (1974), L'Uomo Ragno [Collana Super-Eroi] #192 (1977), The Incredible Hulk #[nn] (1978), La Masa #39 (1979), Gamma la bombe qui a créé Hulk #11 (1980), Hulk #8/1980 (1980), Hulk #8/1980 (1980), Der unglaubliche Hulk #6 (1982), Hulk pocket #5 (1982), Hulk Pocket [Hulk Superseriepocket] #5 (1982), Incredible Hulk and Wolverine #1 (1986), Strange Spécial Origines #226 (1988), Wolverine Battles the Incredible Hulk #1 (1989), Wizard Ace Edition: Hulk #181 #[nn] (2001), King-Size Hulk #1 (2008), Essential Hulk #5 (2008), Wolverine and the X-Men Magazine #1 (2009), Wolverine Omnibus #1 (2009), Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men #8 (2010), Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk #10 (2016), Marvel Facsímil #1 (2019), X-Men: Children of the Atom #[5] (2019), X-Men Epic Collection #4 (2019) + 5 more
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