Very first Wolverine artwork, not known to exist, surfaces for auction

Break out the credit card!

The original artwork featuring the first ever appearance of Wolverine, by artist Herb Trimpe, on the final page of The Incredible Hulk #180 (1974) has surfaced from the private hands where it has resided for more than three decades. It’s going to be auctioned on May 16.

The backstory of where the artwork has been for the last 30 years is interesting and kudos to the current owner for designating “a large portion” of the profits to go to the Hero Initiative.

In 1983, on the afternoon that Trimpe handed over the piece of original art to the then-teenaged consignor of the piece as a souvenir of their visit that afternoon, neither had any idea that the ink, graphite and blue pencil drawing would turn out to be one of the most influential comic book images ever created. As the decades drew on, and Wolverine soared in popularity and influence in Pop Culture, it because obvious to the owner of the art that he had something of significant value and importance.

Inspired by Trimpe’s generosity to him more than 30 years ago, the consignor has specified that the majority of the after-tax proceeds from the sale of the artwork be donated, including a large portion designated for the Hero Initiative, the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in financial need.

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