A 50th ANNIVERSARY salute to the three men who gave life to one of comics’ greatest characters…
Wolverine turned 50 this week — his first full appearance in The Incredible Hulk #181 was released July 30, 1974. Jim Beard did a groovy column looking at 13 FASCINATING FINDS in the issue and I highly recommend it. (As editor of this site, I pitched it to him but he gets complete credit for actually creating it. It’s his article. That’s how being an editor works.)
But I wanted to do more. Everyone’s favorite angry mutant is making headlines this week, especially in the wake of the blockbuster success of Deadpool and Wolverine.
So, how about 13 ILLUSTRATIONS — from various online sources, including Marvel.com and Heritage Auctions — that salute the three men who created the heroic Canadian ruffian: writer Len Wein, and artists John Romita and Herb Trimpe? Wein wrote his first story, Trimpe drew it and Romita designed his original outfit.
Sadly, Wein, Trimpe and Romita are no longer with us to talk about Wolverine, but they deserve every fan’s enduring respect:
John Romita
Romita
Herb Trimpe, with Romita alterations
Trimpe recreation
Romita
The Incredible Hulk #180. Trimpe pencils, Jack Abel inks.
Original art
The Incredible Hulk #182
Trimpe
Trimpe
Trimpe
Trimpe
The Incredible Hulk #181
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MORE
— WOLVERINE AT 50: 13 Fascinating Finds in THE INCREDIBLE HULK #181. Click here.
— Comics Pros Pick Their Favorite Stories by LEN WEIN. Click here.
August 1, 2024
Like I said elsewhere, I first encountered Wolvie in the late 70s in X-Men. Thanks for posting these sketches and covers! SNIKKT! (I think that’s how the sound effect went!)
August 1, 2024
LOL, Well Played: “As editor of this site, I pitched it to him but he gets complete credit for actually creating it. It’s his article. That’s how being an editor works.”
August 2, 2024
Yikes. Shot across the bow.
August 1, 2024
Nicely done.
August 1, 2024
Happy birthday to you, Wolverine. 🙂
August 1, 2024
Nice piece here. The editor of that issue of The Incredible Hulk, what an unfortunate hill he chose to die on.
August 3, 2024
Missed #181 but had #182 back in the day. Crackajack Jackson teaching the Hulk how to write.
August 7, 2024
Thank you so much for posting this. Fortunately, you can find plenty of times Len Wein wrote or spoke about Wolverine over the years in Marvel publications or interviews (or that dialog with Stan Lee in the extras on one on the X-men movies.)