Set Description:
The inimitable Walter "Walt" Simonson's classic run on Marvel's Thor (1983–87)
Though Walt is best known for his 1980s run on Thor he had in fact worked on the title before. Between 1977 and 1978 he illustrated issues 260–71 as well as Annual no. 7. A Norse mythology enthusiast since his younger days and a fan of the Lee / Kirby God of Thunder, Walt already at that point had an idea for a Thor narrative arc of his own. He would have to wait another few years, however, before he got a chance to tell a Thor tale that was truly his own. The story goes that in the early '80s Thor sales were so bad that Marvel considered cancelling the title. Mark Gruenwald (of blessed memory) gave Walt free rein to do with the book as he wished. Walt got to work.
A hint of what was to come appeared at the end of the letters page in Thor no. 336 (October 1983), a promise of "The Mighty Thor: Unleashed!" What followed in Thor no. 337 was the astonishing introduction of Beta Ray Bill. Over the next few years, Walt went on to take Thor and his supporting cast to dizzying new heights: the Surtur Saga, the Asgardian invasion of Hel, the Frog of Thunder, and (my personal favorite) the Midgard Serpent. It was an era for Thor that Marvel has since described as "a time of magic," and indeed it was. Over the course of 44 issues Thor transformed--on one occasion into a frog(!)--a process one can follow in the trade dress box for issues 337, 338, 340, 341, 364, 366, 367, 380, 381, & 382.
As defined by the CGC Registry, the Simonson run is 45 issues comprising nos. 337–355, 357–369, 371–382 and annual no. 13 (for which Walt did the cover alone). Walt was writer, penciller, and (for the most part) inker for 337–354, 357–367, and 380. No earlier creator handled story, script, and visuals for Thor in this sustained serial narrative fashion, with multiple interwoven plots that converged and culminated in truly epic climaxes: Simonson is a true auteur. Even if he did not create Marvel's Thor, he is in my opinion (shared by many old farts like myself), the most important creator to work on the character apart from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. With all due respect to the younger generation of writers / artists (some of whom are impressive in their own right) Walt is the greatest living Thor scribe and illustrator.
After departing to pencil X-Factor, Walt stayed on as writer and cover illustrator for the rest of his Thor run. Sal Buscema took over pencils for nos. 355, 367–369, 371–379, and 381–382. Some important exceptions: Sal did the cover for issue 372 (the only cover not by Simonson in the whole of the run) while Sal's older brother John did the interior pencils for Thor annual 13. Finally, Walt returned on pencils (or at least "breakdowns") for the extraordinary all-splash issue Thor no. 380. John Workman Jr.’s letters (including some of the bombastic sound effects) feature throughout the entire run with only one exception (issue no. 375). The original coloring was mostly the work of Christie "Max" Scheele. Mark Gruenwald, who as mentioned gave Walt carte blanche to work his magic on Thor, did editorial honors for most of the first half of the run, with one assist from Mike Carlin (issue no. 339). Gruenwald was followed by Ralph Macchio for the second half. Jim Shooter served as evil overlord, which is overstating a bit but those who know their Marvel history will get my drift. If not, I recommend Sean Howe's 2013 Marvel Comics: The Untold Story.
An important tie-in to Walt's run was the four-issue limited series Balder the Brave, written by Walt and illustrated by Sal (Walt did the covers and Workman the lettering). The Balder issues are included in the Thor Simonson Omnibus (which has now seen two printings) and are integral to Balder's arc in the main Thor run. The CGC Registry lists them separately. Also notable is Avengers no. 242 (a Secret Wars tie-in that complements Thor no. 341); Avengers no. 249, which takes place more or less concurrently with Thor no. 352; an unfortunate attempt (not Walt's doing, I suspect) to squeeze Beta Ray Bill into an issue of Rom: Space Knight (issue no. 65, which it seems is supposed to take place immediately before Thor no. 354, or something like that); Marvel Team Up no. 148 (Thor and Spidey), which also takes place amid the events of Thor no. 354; and Thor Annual 13, which though not Walt's work, is supposed to take place in the orbit of (yet again) Thor no. 354.
The best and most seamless crossovers are with the work of Walt's wife, the great Louise "Weezie" Simonson, in Power Pack (issues 15, 18 and Thor 363) and in a rare meeting between Thor and the original X-Men during the "Mutant Massacre" storyline (X-Factor no. 11 and Thor nos. 373-374). There are some additional mutant ties to the work of Walt & Weezie buddy Chris Claremont on the New Mutants (issue 38 and Special Edition 1, the latter part of the "Asgardian Wars") and Uncanny X-Men (issue no. 188). Finally, in the penultimate issue of the run, there is a crossover with Al Milgrom and John Buscema's "Mephisto versus the Avengers" miniseries (issue no. 4). This list is probably not exhaustive, but I don't concern myself overly much with continuity problems posed by tie-ins or crossovers or whatever the proper noun is in the commentary that follows.
Is it tough to pull off the Simonson Thor run in 9.8? Yes, but not impossible. You'll see that the mighty mbakich held the title for best set in this category for many years with a straight flush. Lookin4newstands has taken the really hard road by privileging Canadian Editions and Newsstand copies and has nearly pulled it off. Both are serious collectors with impressive Thor collections beyond Simonson's run. If only I had the dough. In general, the rarest Simonson era books in 9.8 are those pencilled by Sal Buscema from later in the run. It's very easy to find a copy of Thor 337 in 9.8, for example, but not so much Thor 375, which with only 3 copies in 9.8 is currently the rarest issue in that grade on the census. With respect to the census, I've updated the stats for each issue in the run relative to where they were at this time last year (June '22).
As of October '24, 22 of the collection's 9.8s are signed, approaching 50% of the run as defined by the registry. Of these, six (issues 339, 349, 353, 374, 380, 382) feature bespoke remarques added by Walt in late ’21 (for which great thanks to Walt and CGC). Issue nos. 338, 339, 343, 353, 369, 373, 376, and 379 are represented by a Newsstand copy or both a Newsstand and Direct Market copy. Issue no. 363 is a Direct Market copy but I snuck in a pic of my Canadian here, too, as it was officially counted in this set before CGC excised Canadians and includes an important signature.
In addition to Walt’s signatures and remarques, the collection includes books signed by collaborators and other greats: John Workman Jr. (king of dynamic letters, issue no. 342); the mighty Sal Buscema (one of the pillars of Silver and Bronze Age Marvel, nos. 373 & 379); the notorious Jim Shooter (Marvel’s innovative and controversial editor-in-chief for much of the 1980s, issue nos. 364 & 365); Louise Simonson (issue 363); and of course, the great Stan Lee (Thor’s Marvel Poppa along with Jack Kirby, both of blessed memory, issue 337).
Each entry in the set is accompanied by an individual commentary. Here I've tried to notice things like references to Walt's favorite Lee / Kirby issues (Journey into Mystery no. 120 gets a ton of love), literary references, New York landmarks, etc. I'm a certain kind of nerd, so I've also pointed out the Eddic sources for aspects of Walt's new Thor mythology. Where anecdotes about the run are concerned, I've benefitted greatly from the hard work of some fantastic published interviews folks have conducted with Walt over the past few years. These include Modern Masters Volume Eight: Walter Simonson, eds. Roger Ash & Eric Nolen-Weathington (Raleigh, NC: TwoMorrows Publishing, 2006), interview conducted by Ash; from the same publishers, Michael Eury's interview with Walt in Back Issue no. 53 (Nov. 2011); and Miles Stokes and Elisabeth Allie's terrific podcast "The Lighting and the Storm" published online 2016–17, for which see (and hear) https://thelightningandthestorm.com/. I hope to be adding links to some pertinent youtube interviews presently. For the Poetic Edda I have relied on the translation by Carolyne Larrington for Oxford World's Classics, in this case the 2014 revised edition. For the Prose Edda, Jesse L. Byock's 2006 translation for Penguin Classics.
I want to thank fellow CGC collectors RMI High Tech (of Frank Miller Daredevil fame) for some solid, sober CGC collecting advice and Sauce Dog (Moon Knight 1985) for HTML tips. Good people. My dear friend BG made some sweet images and is kind enough to host them for me. He's a decent guy for a Spiderman fan. Factual errors, turgid prose, gratuitous use of parentheses, bad jokes: that's all on me.
If you think all of this obsessive, you're absolutely right. I started this project during the pandemic quarantine and "finished" it in February 2023, though I would call it a work in progress. I'm grateful to CGC for the recognition of this set in 2022 and hope you enjoy reading.
-Thorseface
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| The gallery tab shows only items with images. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. |
| Slot: |
Thor 337 |
| Item: |
Thor 337 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1000058004
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 337: "Doom"
Publication date: November 10, 1983
Signed by Walt Simonson on 10/10/09, by Stan Lee on 11/23/09.
Census: As of 6/13/23 the census lists three copies of 337 in 9.9 One of the 9.9 copies is signed, I think by Stan only. No change since last year.
There are now 1,610 copies of 337 in 9.8 (up from 1,513 this time last year). Of the 9.8s, 214 are signed (up from 208). I've seen one or two of these with three signatures (Jim Shooter with Walt and Stan, I think, maybe with a remarque). Mad respect. There are now 84 Canadian 9.8s (up from 76), with 3 signed (no change).
Writer, penciler, inker: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: George Roussos (NB: I'll be giving only the names of the original colorists; some of the images I provide are screenshots from a digital version of the recolored Omnibus editions, in which case the work is that of Steve Oliff and Olyoptics 2.0. The recoloring was not without controversy: https://comicbook.com/news/comics-great-walter-simonson-defends-recolored-reprint-editions/)
Favorite line and some thoughts:
"I do not understand the demon's transformation...but it would be unwise to question a gift horse too closely."
-Beta Ray Bill, standing over the unconscious body of Blake
It's difficult to do justice to how dramatic a break this issue was from what preceded it...apart from the obvious--the famous cover in which Bill, decked out in Thor gear, destroys the title's traditional trade dress with Mjolnir--Walt summarily disposed of the Chicago storyline and signaled the development of a new psychological depth for characters like Sif and Balder. The visuals are, of course, amazing. The introduction of Loki’s mountaintop fortress, which resembles a Norwegian stave church, anticipates Walt’s transformation of Asgard into a place where one believes ancient Viking God’s might actually live (with all due respect to the traditional Nordic Dubai created by Kirby, which according to one bonus map even featured a shopping mall). All of this, and the rather on the nose Father and Son relationship signaled in the last panels (Odin has "forsaken" Thor, the outstretched arms of Don Blake yelling "Father") is in keeping with the more theological / mythological approach for which Simonson is famous. Indeed, Surtur, who was in many ways just another clowny villain prior to this issue, is presented as the ancient force of nature that he is in Norse mythology, one poised to play something much more like his traditional role in Ragnarok. And again, everything looks AMAZING. The dramatically foreshortened SHIELD helicarrier and Skutllebutt (the name, we will learn, of Bill's sentient ship) profit from Walt's earlier work on Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, etc. Walt’s linear graphic style, developed over the course of his early career, is here at full power.
For collectors, this is an interesting book where the "Newsstand" question is concerned. The bar code copies tend to command a higher price but, as is occasionally observed in online forums, they seem more numerous than the direct market copies. An ebay search for "Thor 337" (slabbed or unslabbed) on any given day will typically yield a larger number of bar code copies. All of this seems to confirm what Walt has always said about this book, i.e. that its popularity came as a surprise to the direct market retailers. Accustomed to poor Thor sales the comic shops hadn't placed big orders for 337 and were caught with their pants down. According to Walt (and others) the retailers raided all of the newsstand copies, which possibly represent a greater proportion of the overall print run. Fun fact: you can spot a copy on the wall in the comic book shop in 1987's The Lost Boys. Whether the copy shows a Spidey or a bar code is hard to tell. Maybe teen idol Corey Feldman knows.
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| Slot: |
Thor 338 |
| Item: |
Thor 338 Signature |
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CGC |
| Cert #: |
1602042021
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 338: “A Fool and His Hammer”
Publication date: December 10, 1983
A Newsstand copy (like issue 337, there are many of these kicking around. Same for 339, btw).
Signed by Walt Simonson on 9/28/18.
Census: As of 6/20/23 there are 708 copies in 9.8 on the census (up by 114!), of which 58 are signed (up by 10). There are 67 Canadian 9.8s (up by 10), of which are 5 signed (no change).
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: George Roussos
Favorite line and some thoughts:
“Let me begin. I am Odin, son of Bor, son of Buri, and lord of Asgard. This is my Son, Thor.”
-Odin, addressing Bill
This sort of formal attention to lineage (I’m not certain we’ve heard Odin articulate his full heritage so clearly before) is another sign that we are dealing with an Asgard that, for lack of a better adjective, is more medieval than any we have encountered in this book before. The journey to rocky Hlidskjalf, high above the clouds, remains one of my favorite moments in Walt’s legendary run. Another reminder that with Walt’s Thor we are dealing with Norse mythology in a more serious manner than we have before.
Along similar lines: the trade dress logo redesign. It's actually neither Walt's work nor Workman's. Walt enlisted the artist Alex Jay for this purpose. Jay writes about the process here: https://alphabettenthletter.blogspot.com/2011/09/anatomy-of-logo-mighty-thor-part-1.html
For some additional commentary on the logo, see Todd Klein's blog post: https://kleinletters.com/Blog/logo-study-thor-part-2/
Walt also revised the trade dress box. This image of Beta Ray Bill is (I think) taken from Thor no. 339, for which Walt must have already completed the pencils.
The cover, or course, is Walt's homage to the great Jack Kirby's cover for Thor no. 126 (1966). The quotation helps to establish Bill as Thor's equal in terms of raw power, just like Hercules.
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| Slot: |
Thor 339 |
| Item: |
Thor 339 Modern |
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CGC |
| Cert #: |
1269392019
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 339: “Something Old, Something New”
Publication date: October 4, 1983
Signed with remarque by Walt Simonson on 8/25/2021. A Newwstand copy signed by Walt Simonson on 7/11/2024.
Census: As of 6/14/22 there are 764 signed copies in 9.8 on the census, of which 60 are signed, the latter up by 15 since last year.
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: George Roussos
Synopsis for “Something Old, Something New”:*
After arriving back in Asgard and pronouncing his victory, Beta Ray Bill collapses. Odin declares that neither warrior will perish, and to take them both to the house of healing. The attendants are very curious about Bill, but Lorelei finds him repulsive. Her and Sif debate overlooks versus honor, until Odin arrives. Odin goes in to see Thor who feels disgraced before him. Thor announces he will renounce his godhood and leave Asgard forever. Odin tells him that he will have to speak with Bill, who is not happy with the outcome either. Odin then goes to speak with Bill, who wants to know is his claim on the hammer only until someone stronger comes along? He knows it was forged for Thor, but he needs it as well. Bill asks if there is a way out of this dilemma of honor and need. Odin tells him that in the past, the gods demanded a sacrifice for help, but Bill has already given him something precious - the life of his son. So Odin will grant what aid he can and bestow on Bill a gift, one that may destroy him. Later that evening, a rider crests the hill, through the pass of Ullthang, and into Nidavellir. Eitri recognizes Odin immediately and asks what the dwarves can do for the gods. Through the night, the two talk, and Eitri agrees to the task on one condition. Odin must send a woman to defeat their champion, only then will old wrongs be redressed. Back in Asgard, Thor and Bill discuss the outcome of their contest, when they see Sif in full armor, riding fast. When they ask a nurse about what's going on, she tells them that Sif rides out to fight a champion on behalf of them both and that she may never return. On the ride, Sif recalls her meeting with Odin and her own secret reason for accepting Odin's request. She is intrigued by Bill and wants to find favor in his eyes. Suddenly, the dwarves champion ambushes Sif. She fights back, but the dwarf is larger than she is. Elsewhere, Volstagg is sitting on Agnar, telling him of the trials of Balder. Of how Loki tricked Hoder into killing Balder, and how he traveled through Hela's domain. Someplace else, the gigantic figure continues its forging, the forging of a great sword. In Quebec, Rene Baroque laments buying the food processor when Fafnir arrives and destroys the lighthouse with him in it. Back in Nidavellir, Sif overcomes Throgg and knocks him unconscious. Eitri arrives and is happy that Sif defeated Throgg. He tells her that Throgg has been using his freakish size to bully the dwarves. After having been beaten by a woman, he won't show his face for a long time. Eitri then tells the rest of the dwarves to stoke the furnaces, it's time to work! After Sif's return to Asgard, she speaks with Bill. He tells her that he longs to return to his people, his duty lies with them. Sif wants to know if he will return to Asgard, but Bill tells her no. Asgard reminds him of everything he gave up when he was remade, he has no humanity left...for anyone. In Nidavellir, Odin, Sif, Thor, and Bill are present while the dwarves work a forging unlike since the beginning of time. When the time is right, Odin unleashes the full force of his magic into the mold, and Bill reaches in. When he pulls out the hammer, he changes once more into Beta Ray Thor! Odin asks Bill if he accepts this great responsibility, and he does with all his heart. Odin names the hammer Stormbreaker and then returns Mjolnir to Thor, which is his alone. Odin then tells Bill that he must hurry, the demons are almost upon his people. Thor decides to go with Bill to help him and calls Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder to help carry them quickly. Sif tells them that she is coming with them, and the three of them race for the stars.
*Synopsis from marvel.fandom.com
Favorite line and some thoughts: It’s a tie between Bill and Thor.
Bill: “Look at me, Lady Sif. My brothers are the beasts of the forests, my sisters the machines that drive the great starships.”
In rereading this issue I was struck by the moment when Bill essentially refuses Sif’s sympathies. The reason Bill was so compelling lay in his monstrous appearance. How could this horse-faced alien be as worthy as Thor? With Beta Ray Bill, Walt challenged our expectations and perhaps even our prejudices. He showed us that appearances are deceiving and that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Unlike Lorelei, Sif (who kicks some serious butt in this issue and the next) could care less about Bill’s outward appearance.
Thor: “Up, Toothgnasher! Up, Toothgrinder! Pull for the stars! The foe awaits and joyous battle is before us!”
I had to give Thor some love at this point. This is the first time we’ve seen Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder as drawn by Walt (they had a much earlier, anecdotal appearance in the rather decent Thor annual no. 5, written by Steve Englehart). And they are AWESOME. Only Walt could take the ludicrous notion of Marvel’s Thor driving goats through the stars and make it work. Thor’s exhortation is clearly a nod to Clement Clark Moore’s A Visit from St. Nicholas. The names of Santa’s reindeer “Donder and Blitzen” derive from the Dutch for “Thunder” and “Lightning.” “Donder,” of course, is etymologically related to the name of Thor (“Donar”) in Old High German. Much as in English we have “Thursday” (Thor’s day) the German is still Donnerstag. Stimmt, baby.
The sweet safety goggles that Odin, Thor, Bill, and Sif wear as Stormbreaker is forged are a call back to Journey into Mystery 120 (1965), when for the first time Thor reforged a broken Mjolnir. He did it in a logical place for that day and age: Pittsburgh.
Awesome to have Walt’s remarque on this issue. Bill was the obvious choice. Grateful to Walt and CGC for making it happen.
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| Slot: |
Thor 340 |
| Item: |
Thor 340 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4427503002
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 340: “Though Hel Should Bar the Way!”
Publication date: February 10, 1984
Census: As of 6/20/23 78 copies in 9.8 (up by 11) with 6 signed (up by 4). There are 3 Canadian 9.8s, none signed.
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: George Roussos
Favorite line and some thoughts:
“Come Demons! Who will be the first to taste this sweet steel?”
-Sif, exhausted by battle but far from defeated, facing down a literal wave of demons. Skuttlebutt arrives just in the nick of the time and the duo manages to protect Bill’s fleet long enough for Thor and Bill to destroy the portal to that ominous place “beyond the fields we know.” One of Sif’s finest moments in Walt’s run.
Walt’s trademark writhing demon waves (or a version thereof) will show up again during his collaboration with Louise on the X-Factor issues of the "Inferno" crossover. Now that I think about it, X-Factor’s sentient celestial spaceship is likewise very similar to Skuttlebutt.
Notice how Walt consciously chose to show Odin’s empty eye socket in this issue…it’s a reminder that he nonetheless “sees” in a way that everyone else cannot, a hint that he somehow knew the good that would come from the arrival of Beta Ray Bill.
Thor 337–340 have been reprinted in various formats many times over the years, most notably in volume one of the IDW “Artist’s Edition” series dedicated to Walt’s Thor run and the Marvel Omnibus. A 1989 reprint TPB titled “The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill" featured an all new cover (it’s a wraparound) fully illustrated and painted by Walt that shows Bill and Sif atop Skuttlebutt on the front and Thor driving his goats on the back. There's also that "Thor Visionaries" volume from 2001 released in hardcover and later in paperback, which included 337-48. That hardcover came sealed with Walt's signature inside. For its cover Walt created a new illustration intended to serve as a bookend with Thor 382, the last issue in the run. You can still find those on ebay from time to time. Pretty cool.
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| Slot: |
Thor 341 |
| Item: |
Thor 341 Modern |
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CGC |
| Cert #: |
0743586003
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 341: “The Past is a Bucket of Ashes”
Publication date: March 10, 1984
Census: As of 6/20/23 there are 116 copies in 9.8 (up by 5), of which 5 are signed (up by 1). There are 7 Canadian copies in 9.8, none signed.
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: George Roussos
Favorite line and some thoughts:
“Here! Put these cheaters on! They always worked for that other guy!”
-Nick Fury, lending Thor some specs to complete his new secret identity of Sigurd Jarlson. My pic this time doesn't show the quoted text but what follows, when "Sigurd" literally bumps into "that other guy" at a press conference. Walt’s really having a good laugh here.
The splash that opens this issue, with Thor returned to the Manhattan skyline after his rather weird sojourn in Chicago, is beautiful and somewhat bittersweet. The Twin Towers get me every time I see them in pre-2001 comics.
On p. 3 Thor makes his way into Avengers mansion and the subsequent three panels are blank...Walt tells us to "watch this space" next month to find out just what the "the most surprising adventure of [Thor's] career" will be. In the letters page of Thor 342 Walt supplied the missing panels, which correspond to events in Avengers no. 242 and the beginning of the Secret Wars. Notice that when Thor shows up at Shield HQ later in this issue it is "a couple of weeks later," meaning the events of the Secret Wars transpired in the meantime. I think those three panels in the letters page contain the only example of a Walt-pencilled Captain America in the entirety of this run, which for some reason I find interesting.
A deep pull here with the full return of Fafnir, who hadn’t been seen since Thor #134. I reckon Walt wanted to put his own spin on the dragon, another character Stan and Jack pulled from Norse mythology. And it's surely no coincidence that Fafnir is the first serious foe fought by "Sigurd," if you know your Edda.
The coolest scene in this issue, however, is Odin etching runes into the claws of Hugin and Munin. Nowadays Thor scribes take it for granted that Odin’s ravens can zoom around the universe / reality at will, but the technical details of this ability we owe to Walt. Hugin ("Thought') and Munin ("Mind" or "Memory"). The Lay of Grimnir (in the Poetic Edda) says "I fear for Hugin / that he may not return / but I worry more for Munin." And isn't that the case in life...thoughts are fleeting but memories ever more so. I wonder if Walt had this verse in mind here, since only one of the ravens will make it back safely to Odin. Turns out it was Hugin that Odin should have worried for most in this instance!
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| Slot: |
Thor 342 |
| Item: |
Thor 342 Signature |
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CGC |
| Cert #: |
2549417023
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 342: “The Last Viking”
Publication date: April 10, 1984
Signed by Walt Simonson and John Workman on 10/19/19.
Census: As of 6/20/23 76 copies of this book in 9.8 (up by 2), of which 4 are signed (no change). There is a single, unsigned Canadian in 9.8.
CGC assigns more points for this book than most of the other members of this run. Not sure why.
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Favorite line and some thoughts:
“It was after the defeat of King Harald Hardrada in the year 1066 by Christian reckoning.”– Eilif the Lost
Most historians will tell you that, had Harold Godwinson not had to march north to face King Harald Hardrada of Norway immediately prior to his battlefield encounter with Duke William of Normandy, the famous Battle of Hastings (1066) would have turned out very differently. By the time the Anglo-Saxon army met the Normans they were diminished from the earlier battle. Per the Bayeux Tapestry, 'ol Harold got an arrow in the eye ("Harold rex interfectus est,"). I hope never to get interfectused myself.
Eilif and his fictional ancestors, for their part, managed to escape and make it to Antarctica, where Walt settled them in an environment somewhat reminiscent of the Savage Land. Note that Thor can hear Eilif calling / praying to him like the Vikings of old did. The obstacle course that Eilif and his people created to trap a god reminds me a bit of Raiders of the Lost Ark, which was still pretty fresh in the public's imagination (and Walt's, too, perhaps).
John Workman's signature is a must for a true Simonson fan. His lettering has an almost runic quality to it. He is also responsible for many of the explosive sound effects. Workman's contributions fit seamlessly with Walt's style. It's no wonder they've continued to collaborate throughout the years.
I believe this is the first issue that Christie "Max" Scheele colored. The image shown here is from the Omnibus recoloring, however. I think I say so elsewhere in this commentary, but if not, I often prefer Scheele's original work to the recoloring, especially in the finale issues of the Surtwar. Today Scheele is a well known and much respected landscape painter. I'd love to get her signature on one of my books at some point but not quite sure how to do that. You can hear a recent interview with her here:
https://anchor.fm/kaatscast/episodes/Catskills-Artist-Christie-Scheele-eef98n
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| Slot: |
Thor 343 |
| Item: |
Thor 343 Modern |
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CGC |
| Cert #: |
2009002024
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 343: “If I Should Die Before I Wake”
Publication date: May 10, 1984
Census: As of 6/20/23, 50 copies in 9.8 (up by 3), of which 4 are signed (up by 1). There are 2 Canadian 9.8s, none signed.
A Newsstand copy.
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Favorite line and some thoughts:
"No longer Eilif the lost, but Eilif the dragonslayer!"
-Thor, in his eulogy for the fallen Eilif.
In rereading the saga of Eilif the lost, I'm struck by how well the battle with the dragon Fafnir complements and anticipates Thor's encounter with another legendary serpent, Fin Fang Foom, near to the end of Walt's run (issues 379 & 380). There, it turns out that Fin Fang Foom is in fact another serpent of legend, Jormungand, in disguise. In any event, the Fafnir and Fin Fang Foom / Jormungand dragon battles bookend either end of the run in a rather pleasing symmetrical fashion. I wonder if that was Walt's intention.
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| Slot: |
Thor 344 |
| Item: |
Thor 344 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3743373011
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 344: “Whatever happened to Balder the Brave?”
Publication date: June 10, 1984
Signed by Walt Simonson on 11/12/20.
Census: As of 6/20/23, 202 copies in 9.8 (up by 11), of which 20 are signed (up by 2). There is 1 unsigned Canadian 9.8
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Favorite line and some thoughts:
"An excellent jest. Well worth the price of a stiff neck for a day or so."
-Loki, as he reattaches his head to his neck.
At the beginning of this issue we find Balder at Nornkeep with Karnilla (I've always dug Karnilla, the wicked medieval Cher of Marvel Comics whose fascination with Balder has always seemed to me as weird as Cher's marriage to Sonny Bono, but I digress). Geri, one of Odin's wolves (a creature from Norse mythology, like Odin's Ravens Hugin and Munin), makes a fun appearance here as Odin's messenger to Balder.
This issue features the first appearance of Malekith, lord of the Dark Elves. Like Bill he was Walt's creation (i.e. not directly drawn from Norse mythology and a brand new Marvel baddy), his purpose to serve as harbinger of approaching doom (or "DOOM!!!" to be more precise). The dark elves are referenced in the Poetic and Prose Eddas (the oldest written sources we have for Norse mythology) but not with great frequency, so not much is known about them. They do live underground, and Walt accordingly located their stronghold beneath the earth in subsequent issues. Malekith, for his part, looks rather like a jester / hair metal god from the planet Cheron. I wonder if he was partially inspired by the description of Hel, the daughter of Loki, in the Prose Edda, where we are told that her flesh is half black and half white (or lighter). I always found Malekith extremely disturbing and was disappointed by the dry representation of the character in 2013's "Thor: The Dark World" (I was also "ravenous" for another Walt and Weezie cameo and didn't get one. Grrrrrr, as Geri would say).
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| Slot: |
Thor 345 |
| Item: |
Thor 345 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1162366011
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 345: “That was no Lady!”
Publication date: July 10, 1984
Census: As of 6/20/23, 33 copies in 9.8 (up by 2), of which 4 are signed (no change). There are no Canadian 9.8s listed.
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Favorite line and some thoughts:
" "I must see a lawyer about a will!" By my father's beard, I do not recall Donald Blake having such problems!"
-Sigurd / Thor embarrasedly repeating to himself the excuse he just offered Melodi / Lorelei.
Donald Blake's problems--at least as far as relationships were concerned--usually involved persons named Jane or Sif. Unlike his other girlfriends Lorelei, introduced by Walt as the younger and far pettier sister of the legacy character Amora the Enchantress, doesn't really have Thor's best interests at heart. She is an agent of Loki, but at least one with a taste for art. Sigurd and Melodi are seen leaving the Guggenheim Museum (I believe we also glance the MET in this issue, too). I think that Walt was still living in New York at this point and as an artist I'm sure he knew (and knows) those sites well.
Malekith is a shapeshifter and not beyond swapping genders if it suits his needs. In this respect he is very much in the mould of the Loki of Norse myth, who once took on the guise of a mare in order to seduce the giant Svaðilfari, a union that begat Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged steed.
The funniest bit in this issue is Walt's sign-off / next-issue tease: "Confused? Bewildered? Afraid to eat a McBurger again? Don't be! All will be explained next issue (if we can figure it out in time)!" He was quite serious about the time constraints / work schedule: according to the date Walt added at the end of this issue (see the final page) he finished the inks on January 31, 1984. This was less than a month after his completion of issue no. 344 (see detail image in previous slot). Though not unusual in the field at the time or even today, the speed at which Walt was cranking this stuff out amazes me. It's not the sort of career for the complacent.
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| Slot: |
Thor 346 |
| Item: |
Thor 346 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1997070011
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 346: “The Wild Hunt!”
Publication date: August 10, 1984
Census: As of 6/20/23, 45 copies in 9.8 (up by 6), of which 3 are signed (no change). There are no Canadian 9.8s.
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Favorite line and some thoughts:
"Take him, hounds! And carry him with us to our ancient realm in the Cotswolds of England. There we shall entertain him with endless nights of delight and pain."
-Malekith the Accursed, who if you haven't already guessed is something of a deviant.
Svartalfheim is one of the nine realms of Norse mythology that are connected by the World Tree, and the home of the Dark Elves. I'd have to do another careful reading of issues 344–348 but I don't believe it is mentioned by name there. Instead, we find the Dark Elves at home in the Cotswolds, in England, in their underground fastness of Faerie. The relationship between Svartalfheim and Faerie is somewhat clarified much later in the run, in issue no. 377.
So why do the Dark Elves live in the Cotswolds? Well, to begin with, Walt has decided to make Malekith the lord of the Wild Hunt, a motif found across multiple European traditions that probably has its origins in Celtic belief. It involves a spectral huntsman driving a pack of ghostly hounds through the landscape or the skies. Usually the huntsman is Odin or another figure from myth or legend, such as Arthur. Along these lines, in Thor 367, a rather pedantic Malekith explains to Lorelei that "the elves and faeries of Britain were closely associated with the legendary figures of King Arthur and his Round Table." Indeed, the Wild Hunt motif is found throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, as well as Ireland, and always associated with fairies and the underworld. The Cotswolds, in particular, enjoy a strong association with fairies. In any event, this is the direction Walt took us rather than Scandinavia or even Svartalfheim itself. Rather than Odin or Arthur it is Malekith who is the huntsman, and because this is the Marvel Universe he unleashes the hunt in New York.
The demonic hounds, like Malekith and the Dark Elves, are of course harmed by iron. At one point Thor hurls a part of an I-beam at Malekith, which is good policy if you can yank one off the Queensboro bridge (though perhaps not very good for the bridge itself).
In Hawaii there is a tradition similar to the Wild Hunt, the Nightmarchers. Look them up. Back in 2018 over one too many glasses of wine a local revealed to me that he sees the Nightmarchers from time to time. Scared the crap out of me.
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| Slot: |
Thor 347 |
| Item: |
Thor 347 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3720437007
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 347: “Into the Realm of Faerie!”
Publication date: September 10, 1984
Census: As of 6/20/23, 42 copies in 9.8 (up by 3), with 3 signed (up by 1). No Canadian 9.8s yet.
Writer, penciler, inker: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: Scheele
Favorite line(s) and some thoughts: "At last! The Casket of Ancient Winters is mine once more!"
-Malekith the Accursed, victorious.
"The Flesh, the Flesh!"
-Malekith's water demons, hungry for Thor, "Melodi," and probably anything else with a pulse.
This is a fantastic cover. The foregrounding of Malekith and "Melodi" with the desperate Thor in the distance is wonderful. The whole has an appropriate claustrophobic feel to it. Fun fact: Walt based Lorelei on Debbie Harry. Once you know that, you can't unsee it.
Though the recoloring of Walt's run met with some criticism this is an issue that benefits tremendously (at least in this author's humble opinion).
We learn at the end of the issue why Malekith is so desperate to reclaim the casket: he has conspired with his master, Surtur, to use the casket's powers to break down the barrier between Midgard and Muspelheim. The casket is the macguffin in Kenneth Branagh's Thor (2011), where it is a weapon of the Frost Giants.
This issue is more or less a brawl in the underworld of Faerie. Here Thor encounters Algrim the Strong for the first time, whom Malekith is all too ready to sacrifice if it means ridding himself of the Son of Odin. A bad play on Malekith's part, as we learn much later in Walt's run. In 9.8 this issue now tends to command at least $200, which is a bit more than some of the other issues in the run. This could be due to the fantastic cover but the first appearance of the character who will become Kurse is surely also a factor.
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| Slot: |
Thor 348 |
| Item: |
Thor 348 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0966810011
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 348: “The Dark and the Light!”
Publication date: October 10, 1984
Census: As of 6/20/23, 39 copies in 9.8 (up by 3), of which 3 are signed (up by 1). There is 1 Canadian 9.8
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Inker: Bob Wiacek
Colorist: Scheele
Favorite line(s) and some thoughts:
"Uh, Thor, I don't think he can hear you anymore."
-Roger Willis, in response to the epic, well-deserved beatdown received by Malekith.
"For I am bound within the great weave, and everything that I do or do not do echoes throughout the fabric around me."
-Balder the Brave, upon whom the Norns have granted a new self awareness as well as foreknowledge of the horrors that await Asgard.
"And into the world of men steps destruction incarnate..."
-Walt's narrative voice, describing the long-portended arrival of Surtur on Earth.
Another issue where the recoloring really pays off, especially in terms of Walt's inks, which are far darker and legible here than in the original publication. In this issue Balder's arc finally comes into focus; his struggles culminate with a visit to the Norns, who spiritually reorient him and reveal to him the great danger that awaits. The conceit of the tapestry and its imagery is wonderful and sufficient to make one believe and care about Balder's revelation.
In Asgard, the Warriors Three marshal the Einherjar (the warrior denizens of Valhalla selected by the Valkyries) on the plain of Vigrid, the enormous battlefield that, according to Norse mythology, will be the site of Ragnarok. And with the help of his servant Malekith, Surtur finally breaks the barrier between the Burning Galaxy and leads the Sons of Muspel into the world of men...the final splash of Surtur striding forward with the sword Twilight in hand is utterly stunning. It was the much-earned payoff of a year's worth of continuity.
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| Slot: |
Thor 349 |
| Item: |
Thor 349 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0346246018
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 349: “Debts of Honor!”
Publication date: November 10, 1984
Signed with remarque by Walt Simonson on 8/25/2021.
Census: As of 6/20/23, 20 copies in 9.8 (no change), of which only 1 is currently signed. There is 1 9.9. No Canadian 9.8 representation yet.
Writer, penciler, inker: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: Scheele
Favorite line and some thoughts:
"Young they were and reckless, for had they not recently slain the father of all frost giants, the terrible Ymir? Had they not made the world of his body and the sky of his skull and the clouds of his brains? Were they not the sons of Bor, the grandsons of Buri, the first of all immortal Gods?"
-Odin, at the outset of his account of his first encounter with Surtur.
This issue is among my favorites in the run. Walt's Odin, like Kirby's, cuts a massive, imposing figure, but he always struck me as more mysterious, more given to introspection and less to anger. That said there is a hilarious moment in this issue when Odin spies Thor in love with "ANOTHER MORTAL WOMAN?" but quickly recollects himself upon recognizing Lorelei. The All-Father decides to leave off in the interests of his son's privacy.
Odin is really only around for the first third of Walt's run, but his appearances are all meaningful. In this issue we learn aspects of his history never before revealed: how shortly after the creation of the world, with his brothers Vili and Ve, he ventured into Muspelheim and confronted Surtur. Vili and Ve are shadowy figures in Norse mythology. With Odin, they seem originally to have formed something like a holy trinity, but Odin eventually supplanted them in prominence. Why this was so is uncertain. Walt seems to have addressed this through the brothers' ability to combine into one colossal warrior to do battle with the enormous Surtur. Afterward, as the brothers flee Muspelheim, Vili and Ve give their lives so that Odin can escape with the Eternal Flame, at which moment all of their power enters Odin. This, then, is a satisfying explanation both for the general absence of Vili and Ve from the mythological record and the origin of the "Odin Power" in Marvel's Thor. Odin tells his tale right before Surtur pierces the veil of Midgard, further upping the ante of the epic battle about to unfold in New York and Asgard.
It was an obvious choice to ask Walt for an Odin remarque, and I couldn't be happier with this little gem. How Walt was able to create these diminutive portraits with only a few strokes of a marker is beyond me. The cover to this issue is one of the best in the run. Odin's spear, Gungnir, serves to divide the composition into past and present.
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| Slot: |
Thor 350 |
| Item: |
Thor 350 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0781916010
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 350: “Ragnarok and Roll!”
Publication date: December 10, 1984
Census: As of 6/20/23, 108 copies in 9.8 (up by 16), of which 14 are signed (up by 3). No Canadian 9.8 representation yet.
Writer, penciler, inker: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: Scheele
Favorite line(s) and some thoughts:
This issue and the next three are so jam-packed with drama and action it is difficult to choose a single most representative line. The stakes of the battle about to unfold are perhaps best illustrated by the unexpected arrival of Skurge, the Enchantress, and the Executioner (along with Hermod, the messenger god of Norse mythology who first appeared only in Thor no. 275) in answer to Odin's summons. So:
"We have come, Lord Odin."
-Skurge
"Though in the past we have clung to the shadows, the coming darkness threatens to destroy us all."
-Amora the Enchantress
"We stand with Asgard."
-Tyr, the Norse god of war
But this is the 1980s, so I can't let this little gem slide:
"What's going on? Have the Russians finally made it across the Atlantic?"
-a Manhattan pedestrian witnesses the terrifying arrival of the Sons of Muspellheim.
An important element of the success of this issue (and those that immediately follow) is the emotional exchanges between the Aesir. They are well written and believable. Bill, who is in love with Sif, suggests that she remain in Asgard to protect Odin (this elicits a knowing laugh from Thor); Thor is secretly relieved that the aged Odin will remain in Asgard rather than join the battle on Earth; Odin, perceiving Thor's thoughts, grieves that he cannot reveal to his son the terrible events that await and regrets the absence of his greatest failure, Loki; the lord of Asgard parts with his wife, Frigga, in a tender moment the likes of which we have never seen before. The latter is due in large part to Walt's reworking of Frigga such that she appears as the elderly, white-haired matron of the gods rather than the raven-haired babe of previous continuity, a decision more in keeping with the spirit of the medieval source material. Subsequent runs ignored this change in ways that I find rather confusing and unnecessary. Frigga will leave Asgard with the children of the gods under her protection. Here for the first time we meet the feisty Hildy (Gunnhild), who was perhaps inspired by a daughter or niece of Walt's (?).
In any event, emotions run high as the hosts of Asgard ride forth over the Rainbow Bridge for Midgard as mighty Heimdall looks on. The half-page panel below, where Thor and Bill lead the mounted host across the bridge, Asgard behind in the distance, has been reworked by Walt several time for charity auctions and the odd commission (see here, for example: https://comicart.tips/walt-simonson-original-art-and-commissions/). It is magnificent. I would give my left eye to own one of Walt's recreations of this scene.
In Avengers no. 249, we witness Thor's arrival at Avengers mansion where he alerts the Scarlett Witch, Captain Marvel, Star Fox, Vision, and the Wasp of the danger at hand. Vision stays behind to summon what help he can and eventually manages to get Reed Richards on the line, while Hercules, his island vacation interrupted, is flown to New York by the US Navy! The rest of Earth's mightiest heroes join the fray with the Thunder God. There was clearly some careful collaboration here between Walt and the Avengers stewards of the day, Roger Stern and Al Milgrom, as we have panel for panel parallels between Thor 350 and Avengers 249 that feature the same action and dialogue. Avengers 249 saw publication one month before Thor 350, so attentive readers knew what was up on their first read of the latter. The Avengers are soon joined by Bill, Sif, the Warriors Three, and the full might of the Asgardian army. With these forces are the Enchantress, Skurge, and Tyr. It is not enough: Surtur tricks Thor into revealing the Rainbow Bridge and gains passage to the Realm Eternal.
Generally speaking, if one were to point to source material for the "Battle of New York" that featured in The Avengers (2012) film, a very strong case could be made for the epic confrontation that takes place in the frozen streets of Manhattan in this issue and those that immediately follow. More on that with Thor 351.
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| Slot: |
Thor 351 |
| Item: |
Thor 351 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1000643007
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Owner Comments
Thor no. 351: “Ragnarok and Roll, Too!”
Publication date: January 10, 1985
Signed by Walt Simonson on 8/29/10.
Census: As of 6/20/23, 20 copies in 9.8 (up by 1), of which 4 are signed (no change). There are 5 Canadian 9.8s, none signed.
Writer, penciler, inker: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: Scheele
Favorite line and some thoughts:
"And follow me into Hel"
-Sif, astride her flying horse, leads the Einherjar of Valhalla into the skies around the World Trade Center, with the frozen Statue of Liberty in the distance. There are so many great lines in this issue but this one takes the proverbial cake.
The slugfest in Manhattan continues, with the hosts of Asgard and the Avengers (including the Vision) now joined by the Fantastic Four (whom Walt will turn to after his run on X-Factor) and the 82nd Airborne! It is clear from this and other hints in his work that Walt knows and appreciates his U.S. military history: Thor's ally Roger Willis, who also shows up to lend a hand, is a Korean war vet (we learned this in issue 346, I think). The Colonel in charge of the 82nd is hesitant to take orders from Bill, as is Harokin, who has been a pain in the butt ever since he first appeared way back in Thor no. 129. Their concerns are allayed by Vision and Eilif Dragonslayer (the last Viking, newly promoted to Valhalla!!!) respectively.
Here's more evidence of the debt the Avengers film (2012) owes to Walt's work: Mr. Fantastic spies the flame demons building "some king of prefabricated device" on top of the Empire State Building. Turns out this evil gadget creates "an undirectional distortion in the space-time flux!" In other words, it opens a portal allowing more demons to spill into Midgard. Sounds familiar, right? Hilarious detail: in the panel where Vision reassures the Colonel, Volstagg, in the background, flicks a demon off his shoulder like an insect. Take note, Mr. Waititi: you did my boy wrong.
Surtur's approach to Asgard is devastating. Thor arrives just in time to witness the lord of Muspelheim shatter the Bifrost, preventing the Asgardians' return (it is this, when she detects the shards of the Rainbow Bridge falling from the skies of Midgard, that drives Sif to the warrior madness, as Thor, Odin, and her brother Heimdall are now beyond her reach). Faithful Heimdall falls to the flame demon before Thor can help him. Then, in one of the most awesome images of Walt's entire run, Thor whirls Mjolnir with such speed that it "burn[s] with the might of a thousand suns, energy enough to destroy even the demon of the flame." I wish there was a way I could post this image, too, for here is Walt's Thor in his glory, with a healthy dose of Kirby Krackle to boot. Here I must say that I prefer the original color scheme to that used for the 2011 Omnibus. If I recall correctly, Scheele's whirlwind had some lovely, pre-digital coloring that is missing here (btw, and apropos of female colorists like Scheele, have a look here: https://neotextreview.com/culture/color-me-impressed-the-unsung-woman-colorists-of-1980s-comics/).
In any event, all of this is for naught. Surtur swats Mjolnir aside like a fly and easily knocks Thor unconscious. Now all that stands between him and the Eternal Flame is his ancient enemy, the All-Father.
This might be the second of the signed books that I was able to purchase. Very pleased with the silver ink Walt used. One of my favorite covers from the run, too. The God of Thunder is very, very unhappy. Walt tells a great story about how editorial wanted him to change Thor's expression and how he (to put it lightly) refused.
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