Early bidding on a page of original artwork from Wolverine's first ever appearance - in The Incredible Hulk #180 from 1974 - stands at $200,000 at Heritage Auctions.

The lot has already shattered the record for a piece of original American comic book art, set at $130,000 for page three of Fantastic Four #55 in 2012, and will cross the block in Dallas on May 16.

Wolverine first appeared in the final panel of The Incredible Hulk #180 in 1974

The artist, Herb Trimpe, gave it to the consignor as a souvenir after a visit in 1983. No one could have guessed that Wolverine would go on to become one of the most iconic comic book characters of all time.

"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," explained Todd Hignite, vice president of Heritage Auctions.

"Up until the day I actually saw it and held it in my hands, I had a hard time believing it even really existed.

"Since the consignor isn't a collector, and therefore unknown to everyone in the hobby, it just wasn't even known for sure this survived."

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