American comic book illustrator Walter Simonson has been active in the medium since the early 1970s and has contributed illustrations to titles as popular as X-Factor, The Fantastic Four, Detective Comics and others. However, Simonson is best known for his four year run on Marvel’s The Mighty Thor which still stands as a high point of that comic’s development.
To be frank, we probably wouldn’t have artists like Todd MacFarlane or Arthur Adams drawing the way they do, if Simonson had not chosen to forsake a career as a geologist (his specialization at Amherst College in Massachusetts, from which he graduated) for a life in comics. Fun fact: Simonson’s lifelong passion is dinosaurs. If you ever meet him at a comic convention, and get him to sign your favorite Thor issue, note that his signature resembles a brontosaurus.
Simonson was born in 1946 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Growing up in Maryland led to his discovery of comics and, influenced by artists like Jack Kirby, he developed a love of drawing that led him after his graduation from college, to attend the Rhode Island School of Design.
By 1973, Simonson had published his very first comic art when illustrations for a Len Wein story titled "Cyrano's Army" were published in the DC war anthology Weird War Tales issue #10.
Thor #337 (October 1983) - First appearance of Beta Ray Bill
It was Marvel's Thor, however, that put Walt Simonson on the artistic map. Simonson was contracted to take over Thor starting with issue #337. This issue also introduces one of his most famous characters, the noble horse faced warrior Beta Ray Bill. Based on the convincing rumor that we will see a big screen appearance of Bill, perhaps in the next Guardians film, this comic is currently one of the most actively sold back issues around. If you had picked it up a few years ago it was quite affordable. Today, there are a total of 2,935 on the CGC census and, in 9.8 grade, it has a FMV of $525.00. Long term returns are positive in all grades and short term values (over the last three months) show only 7.0 grades with a negative return after 2 sales [the last for $82.04 on 05/21/2019]. Best all round returns are currently on 8.5 grades, with a positive + 183.5% performance after 5 sales [last sale for $125.00 on 05/19/2019].
Make no doubt about it, if Beta Ray Bill appears in the MCU, this comic will go ‘Bada Boom!’
Thor #362 (November 1985) – Skurge’s Sacrifice
Throughout his Thor run, Simonson’s art is extraordinary. The attention to detail and the kinetic quality of the fight scenes make the stories so compelling it’s impossible to put them down. You will feel the power when Thor swings Mjolnir. Simonson’s entire run, in fact, is filled with great action panels. However, after the Beta Ray Bill artwork and fight scenes, the depiction of Skurge, the Executioner at Gjallerbru is the real highlight.
Skurge’ s sacrifice is brought to life by Simonson’s artwork. It truly is a masterclass. Unlike Thor #337, this issue can still be found on the cheap. The highest recorded sale, of a 9.8 on 05/08/2018, sold for $88.89 cents on eBay. You can find a raw copy for under ten dollars. Check it out to see a master artist recreate and remake an entire world.
Fantastic Four #352 (May 1991) – Simonson’s Best Fantastic Four Work
The Fantastic Four has not been an exciting comic for a long time. The current series is adequate at best, but if we exclude Stan and Jack’s original run and the John Byrne years, a highlight in FF history is Simonson’s brief stint between issues 334 when he took over script duties and 337 to 354. During his tenure as creative head of the FF he continued the cosmic adventures getting into time travel in the FF’s battle with Doom in issues 351-353. Issue 352 features some of Simonson’s most iconic artwork. The panels with Richards and Doom fighting beyond time are astonishingly good.
Once again, these issues can be found on the cheap. You can probably scoop up a lot of Simonson FF comics from eBay for just a few dollars. Do it if you want to see what great comic book art looks like.
