As someone who grew up reading comics in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, the writing and artwork of Walt Simonson holds a special place in my heart. With his use of sharp, jagged lines, Simonson's frenetic and angular artwork is instantly recognizable. Even the way he signs his name is uniquely branded:
His signature is artwork in itself since it's designed to look like a brontosaurus! (Simonson aspired to be a paleontologist while he was in college; and credit to my fellow collector Chris for pointing that out to me a few weeks ago).
In no particular order, here are some of my personal favorite covers by the great Walt Simonson:
The Mighty Thor #337: 1st Beta Ray Bill
Walt is, of course, most famous for his run as a writer and artist on The Mighty Thor which began with Mighty Thor #337. He kicked off that run with a bang with his creation, Beta Ray Bill, violently smashing the title of the comic with Mjölnir. The cover is shocking because, prior to this issue, no other character had wielded Mjolnir besides Thor (Steve Rogers doesn't do so until Mighty Thor #390). And to top it off, Beta Ray Bill was no handsome warrior, but a beast-like alien.
For these reasons, Simonson created one of the most famous covers of the Copper Age. This book will always be in high demand. According to GoCollect, the FMV of a CGC 9.6, which is the most common grade on the CGC Census, is $160. The one below sold on February 16th for $158 on eBay:
Mighty Thor #366: Throg
While I also like the cover of Mighty Thor #364 because we can see Thor actually transform into a frog, I think this one is the best Throg-related covers since it also displays Simonson's great sense of humor as a writer. Only Simonson would turn the mighty Thor into a frog and have a fun time doing it. I also like this cover since it has Simonson's version of the "Kirby crackle" in it. You can purchase a 9.8 like the one below for around $60:
X-Factor #24: 1st Full Archangel
Louise and Walt Simonson sure did a number on Warren Worthington III during their run on X-Factor together. In X-Factor #10 (also the first time Walt pencils for X-Factor), the Marauders break the bones in Angel's wings and then basically crucify him when he they pin him to a wall using harpoons. In X-Factor #15, his wings are amputated.
Walt provides haunting artwork for X-Factor #24 when we see the first full appearance of Archangel (he appears in a few panels in X-Factor #23). We now see Warren with blue skin and metallic wings soaring above his former friends who stare at him in shock and awe. Simonson's depiction of a fallen Angel is haunting; he is now twisted and evil. Many fans, including myself, love this cover. According to GoCollect, the FMV of the most common grade on the CGC Census, a 9.8, is $150. The most recent 9.8 sold for $134 on Heritage Auctions on February 28th:
Star Wars: Darth Maul Red, White & Black #4
This comic isn't a key issue, but simply has an amazing cover by Simonson (another shout out to Chris for pointing out this book to me). Published in 2024, this cover exemplifies how Simonson's art has evolved over the decades. While Simonson's art here has retained its signature sharp and angular lines, it has become even more geometrical as though Simonson cares less about verisimilitude. Darth Maul looks as though he's made up of black triangular shards of glass.
Because this issue isn't a key, 9.8s are very affordable; the one below sold for just $57 last month:
