Wolverine First Appearance: The Incredible Hulk #181 and How to Identify It

Wolverine first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #181 (cover date November 1974), published by Marvel, by Len Wein, Herb Trimpe, Roy Thomas, John Romita Sr.. The source puts it this way: "The first full appearance of Wolverine following a cameo in the previous issue. Created by Len Wein, Roy Thomas and John Romita Sr.".

• Cameo vs. full appearance (interior story detail): both the cameo issue and this full-appearance issue were created by the same team — Len Wein (writer), Herb Trimpe (artist), Jack Abel (inker), Glynis Wein (colorist), and Artie Simek (letterer).
• Cover date sequencing: he made his first major appearance in The Incredible Hulk #181 (November 1974), again by the Wein–Trimpe team.

• Indicia: the small print on the first page or inside cover gives the issue number, date and publisher; reprints usually say so there.
• Cover price and barcode: a price or barcode format that did not exist in the year printed means a later edition.
• Paper and staples: decades-old newsprint is tan at the edges; bright white pages on an old date are a warning sign.
• Restoration: color touch, trimmed edges and married covers are common on expensive keys; a grading service can detect them.

Shoot the front cover flat, straight on, in even light, then the indicia page and the back cover. Include the top edge and staples in one frame. The app reads the title, issue number and cover and matches it against the checks above; the indicia photo settles most reprint questions.