What is more important: Actual 1st appearance or cover appearance? 1 1

[APDallas]

What seems more important to you as a collector? A character's actual 1st appearance or the 1st Cover appearance. There seems to be some debate on this as I focused on actual first appearance (like HULK 180, FF 67, etc) but recently I have focused on 1st cover appearances. What do you think of this. What is your preference?

[theCapraAegagrus]

I prefer both. If I had to choose one, then it would depend on their importance to the story, which they are typically on the cover if they have an impact (see: IH 181).

[815K1]

A recent modern cover and appearance that is debatable is Knull. 
 

I would really like to know which is his first cover appearance.

 Thanks 

[Bigdavebooth]

Hello, I was looking into this myself about the first app and cover of Knull. From what I found is Venom #3 is first app and Venom #3 3rd print is first cover. So I thinking about getting a 3rd print of it for myself.

[rexinnih]

I thought about this recently with the revised interest in the Kingpin. 1st appearance in Spiderman 50 but first cover in Spiderman 51. With the price of 50 rising, glad I have that one. If the first appearance is substantial, moving past any Hulk 180 vs. 181 debate, I find that more important.