Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jul 30, 2024 | 4 comments

It’s a big anniversary for the little Canadian — created by Len Wein, John Romita Sr. and Herb Trimpe…

By JIM BEARD 

If there’s one thing I hope you’ve learned from reading my articles — you have been reading my articles, right? — is that no matter what, I’m always gonna give you the plain truth, True Believers.

The plain truth this time is that up until now, I’ve never owned or read a copy of The Incredible Hulk #181, the first full appearance of Wolverine — published 50 years ago, on July 30, 1974.

I was never a big Hulk fan. That much is plain truth, too. Overall, my dad only bought me a small handful of issues back in the ’70s and I only ever bought a small handful of ’em myself in the ’80s. He’s never been a character I’ve cared for much. That’s just what it is.

Now, that said, one of the storylines I got back then was one that I not only enjoyed, but one that’s stuck with me over the years, the Warlock-Counter Earth saga of Incredible Hulk #176-178. That was an amazing story, something that kind of blew my 9-year-old mind when I first read it (and still does today). Please remember that ’cause I’ll bring it up again later.

OK, OK, I get it; you’re here for Incredible Hulk #181 because of its 50th anniversary, along with the short-stuff it spawned, namely “The Wolverine,” created by Len Wein, John Romita Sr. and Herb Trimpe. And I guess I’m going to have to lay even more plain truth on ya, Bunky, when I reveal that I’ve never been much of a Wolverine fan, either.

Now, you may rightfully ask why in the name of Irving Forbush I’d be writing an article about the Hulk and Wolverine, and I’d commend you for doing so. The answer is more plain truth: Dashing Dan Greenfield asked me and I just can’t refuse those dewy-wet, big blue eyes of his. Or whatever color his eyes are. (Brown. — Dan)

Plus, it gives me the chance to revisit an era of Marvel Comics I love, and what better way to do that than by going out and buying a $3.99 Facsimile Edition of Incredible Hulk #181 and basking not only in the times themselves, but also the ads and the lettercols and the Bullpen Bulletins and all that…

So, stand back, Marvelite, and face front, ’cause I’m about to call out 13 Interesting Items in Incredible Hulk #181!

Well, heck, they’re interesting to me, anyway. Plain truth.

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1. “…because moving is the thing I do best!” (Page 2). I guess this might be the beginning of the whole “he’s the best at what he does” schtick? Regardless, it’s cool that writer Len Wein establishes from the very get-go that Wolvy—oops, The Wolvy—is nimble and agile.

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2. “…forged of diamond-hard adamantium…” (Page 2). Ultron already had a lock on the marvelous metal in Avengers #66, but Wolvy’s boasting of it—way to tell your enemies everything about you—is a cool preview of things to come for the Canadian cut-up.

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3. “…can’t seem to pierce that incredible emerald hide of yours…” (Page 2). I wonder why he ever thought he could slice-dice ol’ Jade Jaws in the first place? But never fear, Wolvy quickly moves on to get his jollies from cutting up the Wendigo… which is weird.

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4. “Hah! Is good plan, friend.” (Page 4). It’s the old “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” bit, and though Wolvy sets it up by accident, it’s actually a nice little rare team-up for the Hulk, who isn’t normally a team-up kind of dude (at least not in Marvel Team-Up).

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5. “…transfer the curse of the Wendigo from my brother to the brute!” (Page 7). If I understand “grim” Marie Cartier correctly, she was aiming to combine the Wendigo and the Hulk into one chocolate and peanut butter mash-up… which is all kinds of speculative sexy cool.

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6. “…despite the few kinks still remaining in his psychological makeup…” (Page 8). Oh, my fair-haired RCAF officer man, you have no idea of the depths of kink Wolvy will get up and down to over the coming decades. Trust me. Plain truth.

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7. “Now nothing will stop Hulk from crushing you like a bug!” (Page 9). Because, right. I mean, we didn’t know back then he had an adamantium skeleton, and neither did Wein, so that’s just how that little brouhaha would’ve gone. Hulk Smash, Wolverine Goo.

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8. “…the two combatants stagger… gasp desperately for breath… and fall!” (Page 10). It’s some form of hoodoo that makes Hulk and Wolvy fall down, but considering my opining in the last bit about the power differences between the two, I’m a little surprised that something that takes down Green Jeans doesn’t wipe out Wolvy.

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9. “With bone-shattering force…” (Page 14). Let’s set the scene: Wolvy’s in chains and smart-assing the Hulk who proceeds to pick him up and dash him to the ground with the aforementioned “bone-shattering force,” and the dude then breaks out of the chains, “hurtling into action once more!” Gotta hand it to the runt; he’s totally adamantium before being totally adamantium.

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10. “…he senses what’s coming…” (Page 16). I like this. A nice nod to those vaunted senses we’ve known and loved in Wolverine all these years. They come in handy when, y’know, turning a full-on punch from the Hulk into only a “glancing” one and still keep your head (literally).

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11. “…a huge white-maned form lumbers off…” (Page 18). Was the Wendigo a good pattycake playmate for the Hulk? I’d say yes, perhaps even more so than the cutie-pie Canadian. Wendy (ugh!) was holding his own and might’ve even won if those RCAF dolts would’ve just minded their own business!

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12. Green Skin’s Grab-Bag. Boy, do I love an old-school lettercol. And this one here was cool because it offered commentary on the Warlock-Counter Earth saga (see, I told ya I’d circle back to it), which as the Rascally Editor One notes, are “three totally different interpretations and reactions to the same story.” Which of course made the comics world go ’round, eh?

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13. This Issue’s MVP. What did I turn to first when cracking open this book? Why the Marvel Value Stamp, of course. There I found the issue’s MVP, the sultry Shanna the She-Devil, leopard-skin bikini and all. ‘Nuff Said!

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MORE

— O CANADA! An American Salute to CAPTAIN CANUCK. Click here.

— Dig These 13 Bountiful BOB KANIGHER BRAVE AND BOLDs. Click here.

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When JIM BEARD’s not editing and publishing through his two houses, Flinch Books and Becky Books, he’s pounding out adventure fiction with both original and licensed characters. In fact, he’s put words in the mouths of Luke Skywalker, Superman, Fox Mulder, Carl Kolchak, Peter Venkman and the Green Hornet… and lived to tell about it. His latest pop culture non-fiction tome is Breaking Bold and Brave, available here.