As fans and collectors have long known, the X-Men’s Wolverine made his brief first appearance in Incredible Hulk #180, and his first full appearance in Incredible Hulk #181 (along with his first cover appearance). That’s been pretty well accepted. 

Or so we thought until now…  

Quietly hidden inside several Marvel Comic books published at the time was a half-page house ad for Incredible Hulk #181 featuring “the Dreaded Deadly Wolverine!”

The issues the ad was featured in included Daredevil #115, Marvel Premiere #19, and Thor #229. 

While not nearly as significant as the actual appearance of the character in the story in Incredible Hulk #180, this ad seems to show that even that far back Marvel Comics had serious hopes for Wolverine, way before he ever joined the X-Men or became the familiar pop culture icon he is today.

Thanks to a friend of Scoop for the tip.