Wolverine‘s first appearance artwork already guaranteed to set a new world record when it crosses the block on May 16 as the centerpiece of Heritage Auctions’ Signature Comics & Comic Art auction. The original artwork from Wolverine’s first ever appearance in The Incredible Hulk #180, on the final page of the issue, Page 32, drawn by Herb Trimpe, has a $200,000 bid, easily eclipsing the current record for a piece of original American comic book art, set at $130,000 for page three of Fantastic Four #55 in 2012.
“This is legendary artwork, long thought missing, that is the one and only debut of indisputably one of Marvel’s most popular and enduring characters,” said Todd Hignite, Vice President of Heritage Auctions. “In 1983, as a teenager, our consignor was given this artwork by Herb Trimpe, and it’s remained in his possession ever since. Inspired by generosity shown him by Trimpe more than 30 years ago, the consignor will donate a substantial portion of the after-tax proceeds from the sale to the Hero Initiative, the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in financial need.”
Further major highlights from the sale include Steve Ditko artwork from Amazing Spider-Man #22, estimated at $50,000+; Alex Raymond’s original Flash Gordon Sunday Comic Strip art, dating from 1938 and estimated at $50,000+; and the best-known copy of Wonder Comics #1 from 1939, featuring the character Wonder Man who immediately disappeared when DC Comics filed a lawsuit for copying Superman, estimated at $50,000+
