Last page of Hulk 180 at Heritage auctions...

[Blue Meanie]

Went to NYCBM Convention in NYC yesterday with a few friends. I was talking to Herb Trimpe for about a half hour and during the conversation his friend pulls out a photo that was about the size of an original page of art. Turns it around and it's the last page of Hulk 180 with Wolverine. It was just a photo and not the original page. I said to him that I thought all of the Wolverine art was destroyed/burned up in the Len Wein house fire. He tells me that all of the 181 may have been destroyed but the last page of 180 was given away by Herb to a fan many years ago. I'm assuming that it was before the X-Men resurgence from X-Men 94. He then tells me it's going up in auction in a few months. Here it is in Heritage's auctions for May:

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7093&lotIdNo=22001#1100711007990

BTW, if you see Herb at a convention go up and say hello. If you are a fan of anything he has done just tell him thanks for all he has done. The man is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Huge baseball fan. It really is disgusting how Marvel treated him in the late 80's and early 90's. He can draw rings around any of the so called artists that Marvel has these days. An he knows how to meet a deadline.

[madmarva]

I've really come to appreciate his style and work in recent years. Would've loved for him to have drawn a GI Joe-Hulk encounter back in the day.

[clemso]

I was banging on about this page on a action figure forum the other day. None of them seemed to understand the significance of the page or of its existence even. Sometimes giving it away can be a blessing.

[kingdom warrior]

I read about it on the CBR site, thought all those pages were gone, very happy to see that it still exist and Yes, Herb Trimpe was a work horse for Marvel, my second favorite Hulk artist after Kirby.

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2014/02/original-art-from-wolverines-debut-heads-to-auction/

[Blue Meanie]

I was banging on about this page on a action figure forum the other day. None of them seemed to understand the significance of the page or of its existence even. Sometimes giving it away can be a blessing.

If Herb's friend didn't show me the pic I would have thought what I was already thinking and that was it was destroyed in Len Wein's house fire. It's a shame that all of the pages from 181 are gone. I wouldn't be surprised that this piece will break McFarlane's single page record of $600K + I think the 2 highest prices were from covers. It would be really interesting to see how a possible record breaker, like this one could be, would affect interior art prices. Anyone that collects art knows that covers ALWAYS get premium prices regardless of content. This auction is basically all about content. I know this is naive of me...but it would be really cool if the seller, if he is the original person that Herb gave the art to, would share a little of what will be some serious $$$$ with Herb. Again, total naivety on my part. Herb is such a good person and is someone I would love to see have a little Karma go his way for once.

[hartley0]

Absolutely wonderful to see that the sale proceeds are going to Hero Initiative! How often do we see that kind of generosity?

Hopefully Heritage will follow suit and wave their consignment fees as well.

[enyawd72]

Herb Trimpe was a work horse for Marvel, my second favorite Hulk artist after Kirby.


http://robot6.comicbookresources.com...ds-to-auction/

Yeah, his work is great...he drew my favorite splash page ever of my favorite Hulk baddie the Leader.

[WannabeMego]

Yup Hartley...

Inspired by Trimpe's generosity over thirty years ago, we're very pleased to note that the majority of the after-tax proceeds from the sale of the artwork is being donated by our anonymous consignor -- including a large portion to the Hero Initiative. The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. As Marvel Editor-In-Chief at the time, Roy Thomas came up with the original idea for the character and tells us "Because Wolverine was introduced in the final panel of the final page of Hulk #180, that has become one of the holy grail pages from any 1970s comic book. I'm overjoyed to know that it still exists -- and even happier that its sale will in part benefit the comics industry's own charity, Hero Initiative, on whose disbursement board I've sat since its founding. Wolverine was never a do-gooder... but this time he's going to do some good in spite of himself. Take that, Logan!" And artist Herb Trimpe agrees: "I am sure the fruits of this sale will be greatly appreciated by all concerned." For more information on the Hero Initiative and how to support the organization visit www.heroinitiative.org.

[kingdom warrior]

Yeah, his work is great...he drew my favorite splash page ever of my favorite Hulk baddie the Leader.

That's some good stuff right there......

[Earth 2 Chris]

Trimpe is the real deal. Defintely underrated. but I think that is changing.

Chris

[MegoSteve]

If you haven't read it, this article written by Mr. Trimpe about his time after working at Marvel appeared in the New York Times 14 years ago. Hard to believe it was that long ago.

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40F13FD3E5C0C7A8CDDA80894D8404482

[Blue Meanie]

If you haven't read it, this article written by Mr. Trimpe about his time after working at Marvel appeared in the New York Times 14 years ago. Hard to believe it was that long ago.

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstra...A80894D8404482

There is an on-line diary that Herb wrote somewhere. If I can find the link I will post it. It has the day that Marvel gave him his last check and what Herb did afterward in order to survive. It documents his going back to school and teaching. It was absolutely unconscionable how they treated him and how they have treated a lot of the veterans of the industry. Again, go up and talk to Herb at a show. Makes my top 3 of nicest and most genuine artists/writers/creators to meet.

[Mego Superboy Prime]

If Herb's friend didn't show me the pic I would have thought what I was already thinking and that was it was destroyed in Len Wein's house fire. It's a shame that all of the pages from 181 are gone. I wouldn't be surprised that this piece will break McFarlane's single page record of $600K + I think the 2 highest prices were from covers. It would be really interesting to see how a possible record breaker, like this one could be, would affect interior art prices. Anyone that collects art knows that covers ALWAYS get premium prices regardless of content. This auction is basically all about content. I know this is naive of me...but it would be really cool if the seller, if he is the original person that Herb gave the art to, would share a little of what will be some serious $$$$ with Herb. Again, total naivety on my part. Herb is such a good person and is someone I would love to see have a little Karma go his way for once.

Yeah, I spoke to Len about this. All of 181 including the cover was destroyed in that fire. But nobody talks about how all of Giant-Size X-Men#1, House of Mystery #93 and Hulk #182 (among other priceless things) were also destroyed.

This page is even more significant because there is no other Wolverine 1st appearances that exist. I predict 800k!!!!

[clemso]

The cover to Giant Size X-Men1 exists, plus there have been many interiors popping up over the years.

Yeah, I spoke to Len about this. All of 181 including the cover was destroyed in that fire. But nobody talks about how all of Giant-Size X-Men#1, House of Mystery #93 and Hulk #182 (among other priceless things) were also destroyed.

This page is even more significant because there is no other Wolverine 1st appearances that exist. I predict 800k!!!!

[Mego Superboy Prime]

Well, then I'm guessing that he meant pages of G.S. X-Men #1 were destroyed...it's what he said to me.