The Incredible Hulk #181 · 1974
Three figures. One first encounter.
Herb Trimpe’s Wolverine debut cover frames a leaping combatant between two towering opponents, a confrontation echoed across decades of comics.
The origin pointThe Incredible Hulk #181 · Herb Trimpe
The original cover
The Incredible Hulk #181
Herb Trimpe’s Wolverine debut cover frames a leaping combatant between two towering opponents, a confrontation echoed across decades of comics.
This catalog follows the original cover’s composition across published comics and announced editions. Trade dress, virgin, foil and sketch treatments are described in edition notes. Connecting sets identify their participating issues and panels.
Verified records have source support for the exact cover and target. Partial records retain attribution or edition gaps. Reprints, different homage targets and unresolved references are listed separately below.
Marvel labels November 1 1974 as Published; this is cover-date metadata, not independently verified street date.
The The Incredible Hulk #181 collection
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- Homage entries
- 64
- Verified
- 34
- Qualified
- 30
Search by title, artist, publisher, character or edition. Entries may represent an individual panel or a documented connecting set; the count is not a count of unique complete panoramas.
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Research & releases · Reviewed October 14, 2026
New editions and open questions
- The Incredible Wolf #1 — Hulk #181 Monster Homage redemption exclusive
Announced cover; release or fulfillment remains unconfirmed.
Undisclosed print quantities, ambiguous credits and conflicting edition dates remain identified as unknown. This catalog can grow as publishers, artists and collectors provide new evidence.
Reprints, other targets and references under review (3)
- The Mighty World of Marvel #198
GCD explicitly identifies cover as an unaltered stat of Incredible Hulk #181. Retained as reference; excluded from distinct homage artwork.
Research source ↗ - La Masa #40
GCD cover date is April 1980; LCG gives April 1 1979 and Flickr says Spain 1979. Exact street date unresolved. GCD-derived credits describe original art with López Espí modifications. Foreign reprint; do not count as a distinct new homage.
Research source ↗ - Mark Spears Monsters #1
NCComicon variant and Ultimate Comics retail listing appear to describe the same Hulk 181 artwork; no independent distinct second composition documented. Link to CL-HULK181-0057 for one artwork with multiple finishes.
Research source ↗
Research changes and source notes
- CL-HULK181-0001: Updated
GCD cover credits and reprint identification.
- CL-HULK181-0002: Updated
Correct erroneous Mexico market and qualify date conflict/reprint.
- ih181-0003: Updated
GCD signed cover credits, cover characters, giveaway details.
- ih181-0004: Updated
GCD sale date; Key Collector explicitly names Hulk #181 target.
- ih181-0006: Updated
Specific edition credit and NYCC distribution.
- ih181-0009: Updated
CGC labels explicitly identify cover homage and McGuinness.
- ih181-0011: Updated
GCD signed Dan Day cover credit and CGC registry edition title.
- ih181-0019: Updated
GCD signed cover credits and explicit target.
- ih181-0023: Updated
Explicit cover reveal identifies Crain and target.
- ih181-0027: Updated
Explicit cover rather than interior artist credit.
- ih181-0030: Updated
Retailer regular cover credit and actual date.
- ih181-0031: Updated
Original exclusive retailer explicitly names Hulk 181 in Kirkham product title.
- ih181-0040: Updated
Original retailer confirms artist and print runs.
- ih181-0043: Updated
Exclusive retailer confirms Houston and target.
- ih181-0053: Updated
Marvel solicitation names cover creator; descriptive cover image shows characters.
- ih181-0055: Updated
Creator campaign corroborates precise edition/title.
- CL-HULK181-0058: Updated
Avoid counting uncertain duplicate as second artwork.
- ih181-0059: Updated
Marvel distinguishes regular Bradshaw cover from Todd Nauck connecting variant.
- ih181-0060: Updated
Retailer explicitly names virgin format and target.
- ih181-0062: Updated
Fill missing artist/publisher and metal edition, qualify estimated date.
- CL-HULK181-0063 The Incredible Hulk: Added
Artist primary announcement and retailer corroboration missing from 2024-ended lead list.
- CL-HULK181-0064 Do You Pooh?: Added
Previously absent distinct parody artwork. Other finishes are leads; no unverified limits adopted.
- CL-HULK181-0065 Vampirella vs. Red Sonja: Added
Original retailer corroborates target, detailed cover catalog distinguishes this from Vampirella/Dejah Thoris already present.
- CL-HULK181-0066 Punchline and the Vaude-Villains: Added
Publisher and retailer explicit target missing from original catalog.
- CL-HULK181-0067 The Incredible Wolf: Added
Direct browser visual inspection resolved title and issue of the 2026 redemption comic; artist left unknown.
- CL-HULK181-0001: Excluded / review
Unaltered cover stat of the original; no distinct homage artwork.
- CL-HULK181-0002: Excluded / review
Foreign reprint/modified original artwork rather than independently redrawn homage; date conflict retained.
- CL-HULK181-0058: Excluded / review
Likely edition duplicate of CL-HULK181-0057; preserve row and known retailer/limited edition data.
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #40 Jolzar Diego Galindo: Excluded / review
Retailer establishes edition/artist but exact Hulk 181 attribution currently only a Reddit lead.
- Incredible Hulk #181 Kaare Andrews 2023 facsimile exclusive: Excluded / review
Clearly new cover artwork, but Hulk 181 composition target not independently established; need image check.
- Stephen Mooney VeVe Hulk #181 (2024): Excluded / review
Digital NFT cover refers to interior first-fight panel rather than verified original cover composition.
- 2026 James Raiz Thanos/Conquest commission: Excluded / review
One-off commissioned artwork, not published comic variant.
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