The Mighty Thor by Walter Simonson, Vol. 1

Thor by Walter Simonson

by Walter Simonson

Few people have ever left their mark on one character quite the way Walter Simonson has. His work on the Mighty Thor swept the Norse God of Thunder to heights never before seen and rarely achieved in his wake. Spanning epic tales of heroism and treachery, love and war, Simonson's work is often considered the definitive Thor. From the majesty and mystery of fabled Asgard to the gritty streets of New York City, Thor was never the same. That is the mark of a true visionary. This first volume begins the collection of Simonson's epic run. COLLECTING: Thor 337-345

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Fantasy, Superheroes, Fiction, Mythology

232 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2013

About the author

Walt Simonson is an American comic book writer and artist, best known for a run on Marvel Comics' Thor from 1983 to 1987, during which he created the character Beta Ray Bill. He is also known for the creator-owned work Star Slammers, which he inaugurated in 1972 as a Rhode Island School of Design thesis. He has also worked on other Marvel titles such as X-Factor and Fantastic Four, on DC Comics books including Detective Comics, Manhunter, Metal Men and Orion, and on licensed properties such as Star Wars, Alien, Battlestar Galactica and Robocop vs. Terminator.

He is married to comics writer Louise Simonson, with whom he collaborated as penciller on X-Factor from 1988 to 1989, and with whom he made a cameo appearance in the 2011 Thor feature film.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is the monster called Beta Ray Bill and why has he come to earth? What is the mysterious dragon rising from the waters of the Atlantic? And who is forging a sword in the heart of an alien sun? That's up to Thor to find out...

Thor has never been my favorite Marvel character but I've read a couple dozen issues of his comic, mostly from the Ron Frenz-Tom DeFalco run, and a handful of Walter Simonson issues. I stumbled upon this at the 2016 Planet City Comicon in Kansas City and couldn't resist. That's not true, I managed to resist reading it for a couple years...

There was a short period during the 1980s that Walter Simonson could do no wrong. It was during this period that he was tapped to write and draw Thor and he wasted no time shaking things up. The word epic is overused/misused a lot these days but Simonson gave Thor an epic feel immediately.

In the first issue, Thor gets his hammer taken from him by the bionic alien Beta Ray Bill. Soon after, Bill and Thor go on a mission to save Bill's race from demons. It goes well but soon Thor finds himself free of the Donald Blake identity, for better or worse. Meanwhile, in the background, someone's making a sword that's going to smite everything, the act of creation alone sending shockwaves through the universe. Yeah, this is some serious shit.

Simonson's art holds up fairly well, probably because the guy knew his shit. The Jack Kirby influence is evident but the style is more detailed than the Marvel House Style, which was almost a thing of the past at this point. He's able to convey a majestic scope without relying on splash pages. The nine issues of this volume were balls to the wall, no filler. The only real gripe I had was where the volume ended.

There's a lot to like in this volume, even in between the cosmic battles. Thor struggles to live as Sigurd Jarlson, a construction worker. He wears glasses as a disguise and even bumps into Clark Kent in a funny cameo. Nick Fury is classic Nick Fury.

There's no wonder Walter Simonson's run on Thor is so revered. It's largely become the Thor measuring stick due to how revolutionary it was at the time. I need to read the rest of this run posthaste! Four out of five Mjolnirs.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"I am Thor, God of Thunder, son of noble Odin, and heir to the throne of Asgard! If I am to journey today to the halls of death, then let it be in the fighting fury of my warrior's wrath!" -- Thor, ready to kick ass and take names, on page 138

Thus begins writer / artist Walter Simonson's celebrated four-year run (1983 - 1987) at the helm of Marvel's The Mighty Thor title. The introductory volume collects his first batch of issues in the series, and also features the debut of Simonson's creation Beta Ray Bill, who at first appears to be an alien antagonist of sorts for our title character . . . but is soon revealed to be 'worthy' when he is able to handily wield Mjolnir. Elsewhere, Thor teams with an elderly Viking who is yearning for one final battle that will send him to the promised land of Valhalla with some dignity. Thor is quickly able to oblige when he requires assistance battling a dragon called Fafnir - derived from actual Germanic folklore - who is causing destruction in the South Bronx. (As Peter Venkman would say, "Nobody steps on a church in MY town!") There were some good old-fashioned adventure narratives here, and I especially liked the code of ethics or honor espoused and displayed by Thor and his companions.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

And a mighty "meh" was heard throughout the land.

So apparently this is a famous run of Thor by Walter Simonson, considered iconic and etc. etc.

It . . . seemed fine. The '80's fashions sported in the Midgard scenes were pretty great. I was super distracted by the first storyline, though, which should have been the most dynamic. Another warrior, from a distant galaxy, defeats Thor (by some weird loophole that shouldn't actually work), and lifts Mjolnir. GASP! And what is thy name, O warrior? Beta Ray Bill.

No, seriously.

A being from another galaxy is named Beta Ray Bill, which sounds like the name of that animatronic musician in the old restaurant in Tomorrowland. Apparently Simonson wanted it to both be a common, everyman name, but also sound very sci fi. Um, okay. I guess that's what he achieved, but he also managed to prevent me from taking the guy seriously.

So, not my favorite, really. Loved the final story run, which of course ends in a cliffhanger so you'll pick up the next one. Sigh.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was (mostly) great.

The first arc is the strongest. Introducing us to Beta Ray Bill and his epic fight with Thor, all great stuff and has the essence of Thor down to a tee. I really dug this arc a lot. We then move on to Thor trying to figure out what to do with his life and deals with Fafnir, a gigantic dragon like creature who looks like Godzilla in a lot of ways. On the side we have Loki plotting, as he always does, and a lot of political sides to it with Odin and Loki and so on.

The art is gorgeous. Now it is recolored but I really liked the look and style. Also the fights are epic and huge, which Thor should be. I loved Thor in here, a kind, but also determined warriors. Beta Ray was great. Sif was perfect. Odin still a dick. All good stuff. The fight with Fafnir went on a bit long but still was fun. And the Loki stuff is interesting but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little bored with that plotline.

But overall a very fun first volume. Excited to read volume 2 down the line.

[Geppis Baltimore · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the early eighties, Walter Simonson delivered one of the finest Thor runs in the character's history. With all the action, drama, and dynamic visuals of the Jack Kirby & Stan Lee stories, The Mighty Thor is a great way to introduce (or reintroduce) yourself to the Asgardian God of Thunder and Heir to the Throne of Asgard!!!

The trade collects issues #337-345 (1983). We start with Thor in his mortal shell of Doctor Donald Blake, being asked by Nick Fury to investigate a star ship of unknown origin. Thor finds himself face to face with Beta Ray Bill, the sole alien awake on board. The two battle until Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, is knocked from Thor's hand. During this period if the hammer is away from Thor for 60 seconds, it turns back to Dr. Blake's walking stick. Beta Ray Bill picks it up (HE IS WORTHY!!!) and is transported to Asgard by Odin with the power of Thor himself!

This is just the first issue.

In this trade Thor battles and gains a battle brother, loses an weakness and gains a new secret identity, fends off Fafnir the Dragon in the Bronx, and bumps into a industry rival character! Thor's supporting cast is given ample time to shine. Balder the Brave, who appears to be less than the hero he normally is, is given a task by Odin and serves notice why he is considered one of Asgard's greatest heroes. Sif has her mettle tested and shows she is equal, if not the better, of any male. God, alien, or otherwise. Loki is as scheming as ever and the is a new threat on the rise by the hands of Surtur.

Mr. Simonson crafts a story that is a visually is a tour de force. There is no wasted space or wasted panels. The Mighty Thor is as close to the power of Jack "The King" Kirby's art as you will get. Every strike, every blow, you will feel. This volume shows why Walter Simonson is always on the list for "Greatest Thor Artist." The drawings would mean little if the writing wasn't as good, Mr. Simonson gives a story that hits on every beat. Not only does the main stories play out, we are given a couple of secondary stories that will set the scene for the remainder of the run. When you are done with this volume, you find yourself flying to your local store and be willing to battle all sorts of giants and aliens for the next book!

-Kofi

[Nick LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was a really cool collection. I had no idea it was from 1966, that's wildly early for some of this storytelling. Sure, there's some cheesiness in there, but the art is great and the approach to pseudo-fantasy is strong. I will certainly work my way through the rest of Simonson's run. Very strong and entertaining stuff, if a bit wordy at times.

[francesco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the most epic comic run I’ve read so far. Something about older comics and their use of more word bubbles and texts really elevates the work in my opinion and makes you savour each issue more.

[Alex Sarll]

Because when a great storm approaches, it is only sensible to seek audience with its lord.

[C]

BILL MY BOY BILL ❤️

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having kicked off my Classic-Thor-Comics project with a somewhat disappointing Lee/Kirby volume, I turned next to Walt Simonson. Even as something of a classic-Marvel novice, I knew Simonson's name and knew him to be considered one of the top classic Marvel creators, as well as having done something of a definitive Thor comics run.

And this collection turned out to be exactly what I was hoping to find. Simonson's stories are the weird, wild, random-threaded epic tales that fit the feel of both a comic book and an anthology of myths. His stories are delightfully *weird*, with alien heroes and awakening dragons and lost cities popping onto the pages with a sudden randomness that put me in mind of a Davies-era episode of "Doctor Who." (This is a compliment.) Simonson bounces wildly from one storyline to the next from one page to another -- only for a small aside suddenly taking center stage after the previous storyline's completed. It feels not disjointed but rather delightfully scattered; I laughed out loud several times simply because I was having so much *fun*.

And when things come together, they generally do with an unexpected dollop of pathos and heart. (I got a bit misty-eyed at least twice.) Simonson is telling the weirdest of tales, but he does it whole-heartedly, without the sly wink of "just kidding, y'all; don't take this too seriously." He takes it seriously, and so does the reader -- at least most of the time, and certainly when it counts.

We get a big cast here: no Jane Foster, alas, but plenty of Odin, Volstagg, Sif, Lorelei, Balder, and Loki (there could admittedly be more Loki -- there can always be more Loki -- but I'm pretty sure my wish will be granted in future volumes, so I can wait it out). New characters are also delightfully fun (and, often, surprisingly heartfelt), with special mention to Beta Ray Bill and the Last Viking; at last, at last, I understand the fuss about Beta Ray Bill.

Simonson not only plots and scripts the story; he's also the artist. And, man. MAN. The artwork is phenomenal, often showcasing rolling scenery in the smallest of panels. You really get a sense of worlds and galaxies here -- assisted to quite a large degree by the all-new coloring, which is outstanding; huge kudos to the artist.

Also, the bit where Loki gets his head chopped off, only to promptly search around the room to find where it bounced away to, pick it up, and put it right back on -- is kind of my favorite. Obvs.

So: should be an easy four stars. But, alas: the female characters. OH, the female characters. With the singular exception of one female police officer (who is actually someone else entirely in disguise) -- every single female character is motivated solely by her attempts to win over a man (usually Thor, occasionally someone else). Women do not speak in this comic -- women do not *think* in this comic -- in regards to anything other than the man they are pining after. And for all the otherwise awesome artwork, I'm not at all crazy about how the women are drawn, with the focus on chests and butts. I have admittedly seen far worse, but it was just bad enough that there were half a dozen occasions where a particularly objectified panel threw me right out of the story. There was one quite awful set of panels in the final volume, showing a female character tied up, that was a rotten note to end the volume on.

So that -- in combination with the honest fact that the book did start off a bit slow for me (it's rough to kick off with an entirely new character [Beta Ray Bill] we don't yet care about), I think we're left at three stars. But, overall, flaws aside: it was a weird, wild ride, and I'm looking forward to picking up the next volume in the series. (Loki's right on the cover of the next one. It should be a good time. :D)

[Penny Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I’ve read plenty of Avengers comics and am familiar with Thor through those, I haven’t really spent much time on Thor’s solo stories. When I saw that my library had a bunch of his stories from the late sixties, I decided to pick up the first volume to see if I would like it.

Comic books that were written in the 50s to late 70s tend to be a little cheesy, which is not a bad thing. Sometimes I like cheesy. This collection, which comprises The Mighty Thor #337-345 does not skimp on that cheesiness. For example, we’re introduced to a new character named Beta Ray Bill.

Beta Ray Bill is an alien on a mission to find a new planet for his people, who are being killed by a mysterious group of space demons. During this mission, he ventured close to Earth, where S.H.I.E.L.D. spotted his ship and became concerned. Nick Fury sent Thor to investigate, and they ended up fighting one another. During the fight, Thor transforms back into his human form, Donald Blake, just for a moment, but that moment is enough for Beta Ray Bill to defeat Thor and take Mjolnir, Thor’s magical hammer.

I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but volume one of this series focuses on Beta Ray Bill and Thor trying to figure out where these space demons came from and how to fight them.

As you can probably gather from the two stars I rated this book, I wasn’t a huge fan. Generally, Thor isn’t one of my favorite Marvel characters in the comic books. He’s fine, but I’ve never read a series or story just because he was in it. I’ve also never been a fan of Thor during the phase when he had a human form, who was named Donald Blake.

If you’re not familiar with Donald Blake, in Marvel’s early days of writing the character and backstory of Thor, Odin turned Thor into Donald Blake to teach him humility. Mjolnir, his hammer, was turned into a cane while he was Donald Blake, and if he needed to transform into Thor, he would just forcefully tap his cane. Thankfully, for the most part, Marvel has done away with this backstory, which is fine by me. I always found it silly. One of the aspects of this collection I did like was that it’s essentially the end of Donald Blake.

I’m not sure I’ve read anything by Walter Simonson before this collection, and I was definitely not familiar with the name. Simonson did both the art and the writing for this series, and his art is colorful and detailed. His art actually holds up quite well when compared to Marvel’s current aesthetics.

The story was fine, the art was good, but it took me almost four days to finish reading this collection, which is absurd. I was bored for the majority of it. Usually, with a collection this small, I can finish it in an hour. I was disappointed because I feel like I should have loved it. After all, I love Norse mythology (even though Marvel’s Thor is a very, very loose representation of those myths), there’s a dragon, and lots of magical, flying fights. And there’s spaceships and stuff! All of the components for a really exciting story is there, but none of it really connected for me, and I couldn’t get over how silly I found Beta Ray Bill to be.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've rarely read any Thor comics, but when the "definitive" run of Thor went on sale like this, I nabbed a couple of volumes to read. And man, they are really really fun. The art is fantastic, made more palatable to the modern sensibilities by having the coloring entirely redone. Some might call this disrespectful, but given the age of some of these comics, I think I personally would find the original more distracting and would detract from the art. These are some classic stories and adventures too, with Beta Ray Bill being introduced here and the lead up to the comic version of Ragnarok. It feels more innocent, like when comics were about beating up bad guys and saving people instead of more realistic fare. When a monster attacks New York City, Thor and the other heroes don't angst over the people they couldn't save, they aren't called out for the destruction the monster causes, and there's no direct link or commentary to modern society. It's just a big fun fight. It's treated seriously in the universe, but it's not something that's focused on to the detriment to the story or characters.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This bad boy was a very different reading experience for someone who is mostly used to modern comics. It's much wordier, far more focused on characters talking about motivation or thinking about everything that was going on. That being said, it was still engaging, well paced, and occasionally very funny, it was great!

There are two things that set this first vol of Simonson's Thor apart from others. The first is that he's trying to do a "modern day Norse Myth," in the sense that it is a sprawling story of intrigue, betrayal, and mainly focusing on the Asguardian characters in a modern context. Many modern stories lean on the fish out of water angle or feel closer to modern fantasy D&D adventures. While Simonsons' work has elements of this, he's focused more on Loki, Odin, Baldur, the warriors three, and Thor, as opposed to, say, the Broxton saga or Jason Aaron's (fantastic) D&D stories.

The second thing is that Simonson loves playing with science fiction elements in his myth making, especially with the introduction of Beta Ray Bill. You can tell that Simonson loves the work of King Kirby and is doing homages to his great at every turn.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do comics get any better than this? This book completely delivered on the hype of Simonson’s Thor run reputation. Every issue is filled with action, humor, and teases for upcoming stories. I couldn’t wait to read the next issue to see where the story would go next. Starting off with the amazing introduction to Beta Ray Bill is certainly a spectacular start to a series. Then to go to “The Last Viking” while having the Balder the Brave redemption storyline, Lorelei’s plot, and Surtur’s rise in power all going on in the background made this book feel packed. Also Simonson’s art is some of the best comic book art in comic book history. Very much in the vain of King Kirby as every action scene is crackling with power. My only complaint about this book is that it seems they tried to “update” the colors or inking to make it look more modern I guess? I want to see the books like they were when they were first printed. That’s part of the charm of reading historic runs. However the rest was so good that I’ll still give it five stars. A must read for any superhero comic book fan.

[Benjamin Kimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you ever hear the Ballad of Beta Ray Bill? I thought not. It’s not a story the Kevin Feige would tell you. It’s a comic legend. Beta Ray Bill was a Korbinite Warrior, so powerful and so worthy he could wield Mjolnr… He had such strength that he could even defeat Thor in single combat. The power of Thor is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. He became so powerful… the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Luckily, Odin was a merciful god, and granted him his own hammer, Stormbreaker.

Yea this book is amazing. It’s really reads like an epic and I loved it. Beta Ray Bill is such a powerful hero with a compelling backstory and I’m shocked we haven’t seen him in the MCU yet. Simonson was able to craft a story so good, that even the issue centered on a side character, Balder, was incredibly enthralling. Big fights and strong characters like this are exactly what I want from Thor books. The next four volumes are definitely something I need to pick up soon.

[Tobin Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been wanting to dive into the Simonson run of Thor for a long damn time.

And man, it was worth the wait. Simonson basically gathered up all the tired plots that had been run, and re-run, and then run again, and swept them off the table, and built this book from the ground up. The changes were obvious.

The stories were dynamic and had a life in them that had been missing for quite some time from this series. And Simonson was very obviously setting up future stories, and you could catch two, three, maybe even four subplots in each issue, all coming up in different issues later on. He'd obviously been watching Claremont on X-Men, and learned well.

The art is also just gorgeous. Simonson had previously done a short art run on the book and Marvel, for some reason, decided to bury most of his style under another inker's heavy hand. Not here. It's all Simonson, and his colorist and letterer also all rose to the challenge.

This beginning of his acclaimed run is something to behold.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walter Simonson had a dramatic effect on the character of Thor. He was able to lean into the more fantastical parts of Thor's lore while still telling stories that were grounded in clear characterizations and a Marvel universe that had seemed increasingly at odds with a book based around Norse mythology.

Thor's former alter ego is gone. Beta Ray Bill is introduced. Thor is beset by scheming villains as well as demon hordes, and a number of Asgardian personalities feature prominently.

For readers specifically interested in Thor as a character, this book may deserve an even higher rating. Simonson really did set the bar for Thor, and it's arguable that no other author would approach that mark prior to Jason Aaron's run 30 years later.

Even so, this isn't necessarily an epic tale that can't be missed. It's just a fun take on Thor, whether considered artistically, thematically, or for its narrative.

[Lucas Lima · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book of 2021. And it was a nice reading.

Thor is my favorite Marvel character and this is his most famous run, so i had to read this. And it was great... but, still, difficult to end. I mean, for me, titles from the 70's or the 80's are hard tp get through it. A lot ballons, explanations about everything that is happening on the pages, anyway, everything everyone knows about it. But still, we see some good stories over here. We see the origin of Bill, Fafnir being back and a fire figure (that everyone knows who is it) lurking on the shadows, crafting a new, bad, in flames sword.

The drawing was great, and i have to give credit to Simonson for his understading of the Norse mythology. It's so much information that, over here, we see the difference about a author, when he takes care of his job.

But please, in the next volume, i will jump through Balder's stories... god, what a bomb...

[Douglas Beagley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thor allows comic books to explore old school, mythological story-telling in a way that no other superhero could. The run of Thor by Simonson purportedly changed all the rules, but that key idea is what makes the comic shine, no matter who the writer is.

What's astonishing about this volume is how well it holds up-- the art and story are good, the character moments are vital and satisfying, and it was written and drawn in 1983. Are there campy moments back in the "real" world? Yup. Big 80s hair? Sure. But art is astonishingly good, and the humor and gravity of what the characters undertake is worth the ride.

As with all comic books, what you bring to the table, and how slowly and carefully you invest in imagining the world, are vital to the achievement. As you read, you are partnering with Simonson in your suspension of disbelief.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much packed in one volume. The origin of Beta Ray Bill and his confrontation with Thor and the revival of the Dragon Fafnir are just a couple of the many threads that Simonsen weaves here.

What was really cool to see is that this isn’t just about Thor, it’s about Asgard and all the gods and villains that realm inhabits. It really feels like this sweeping epic, a grand myth being passed down from Simonsen directly to the reader. As a result you can expect some dense reading with almost Shakespearean like dialogue but man is it cool if you are at all interested in mythology or the classic tales of brave knights and warriors fighting for the greater good. The art just accentuates everything, it still holds up very well.

Took me a while to finish since dense reading isn’t always an easy thing after a long day at work but it’s good reading for sure.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Beta Ray Bill arc is a great one. I had never heard of him before, and his story is fairly unique among Marvel characters. As we learn who he is and what the heck is going on, I rooted for him, more than for Thor, really.

Thor's other stories in this Volume are just ok. The Norse gods playing with powers between themselves is soap opera stuff, the Dragon is interesting, but why does he limit himself to low rent Bronx? I never understood his motivations. Thor's alter ego stuff is all kind of silly too - and probably explains why I had never heard of it before. Surtur is cool and the sword a good hook, but for what? How long is this and the Dark Elf going to be drawn out? I guess I won't be finding out.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to finally get my hands on Walt Simonson's Thor run, often considered the definitive Thor run. The iconic cover of Beta Ray Bill bringing down Mjolnir and smashing the corner cover box and title to smithereens is one of the greatest covers of all time!

Unfortunately, the edition I found at the library fell away to the dreadful practice of "remastered coloring." In the place of the bold flat colors are 'naturalistic' gradients that suck all the life out of these iconic images. The original cover art is included as an appendix and comparing those dynamic images to the muddy interiors is tragic. Who is this for? Why change perfection?

[Avril · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve heard a lot about Simonson’s run on Thor, Miles of the podcast Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is a particularly vocal fan, and these first nine issues don’t disappoint. Secondary characters Beta Ray Bill and Balder the Brave are particularly fabulous. But why on earth does this collection include nine issues, two complete stories of four issues each and then number 345 which begins a whole new story? The collection ends with ‘Confused? Bewildered? Afraid to eat a McBurger again?’ Yes! And volume 2 is out of print. Bother!

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection includes the introduction of fan favorite Beta Ray Bill. (It's the silliest name I've ever heard but people simply eat him up.) The story gets rid of Thor's alter ego, Dr. Don Blake, and instead gives the god of thunder a pair of glasses to disguise himself. In fact there's a blink and you miss it Marvel/DC crossover featuring another super hero who wears a pair of glasses as a disguise. There are several different storylines going on here. Maybe too many as I have to admit I had trouble keeping straight who was where and doing what.

Not enough Loki.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ridiculous and hilarious. I'm ambivalent about the Sif characterization - at times it's a thing of glory and at others it's grating - but Beta Ray Bill is still the best.

Choice quotes:

"I knew those shoulders were gonna be trouble." - Nick Fury on Thor

"Gee, that looked like...could that have been...I could have sworn...naaah." - Clark Kent on Thor

"Perhaps he is really a Mets fan." - Thor on Thor

"Ah, my brother, it may have been worth my life just to see you wearing a ponytail!" - Loki on Thor

[Julian]

Been way too long for me to get into a seminal Thor run (or maybe THE seminal non-Kirby Thor run) by a master. Many years later, these are still great issues, Walt's art is great and his love for the character and the mythos (both the comics and the Norse gods) drips off the page. I'm sorry I didn't read it then, because it would have blown my mind while now I just appreciate it as great Marvel stuff of its era. But still well worth the read and considering tracking down the next installment.

[Omar Gómez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thor by Walter Simonson Vol. 1 (2013).

Calificación 3.5/5 estrellas.

The Mighty Thor #337 (3/5), #338 (3.5/5), #339 (3/5), #340 (3/5), #341 (3/5), #342 (3/5), #343 (3.5/5), #344 (3.5/5), #344 (3/5).

Destacan Odin, Syf, Balder brillan más que Thor en su propio comic. Buen arte de Walter Simonson dibujando females como Syf, Lorelei, Karnilla .Tal vez más acción en Asgard qué en N. Y de los 80s y menos naves espaciales. .

Beta Ray Bill le patea el trasero a ricitos de oro.
Donald Blake se fue al carajo. Fafnir como un kaiju en N. Y. Los villanos Loki, Surtur, Malekith.

[Tom Malinowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1983, Walt Simonson took over the writing and art chores of Thor. I remember my brother collecting these issues and noticing the art looked 'different' and 'edgier.' This collects Thor #337-345. What a run. We see someone else who is worthy to wield Thor's hammer and thus a contest to see who has the right to wield it. New heroes, epic battles, and Thor gets a new secret identity that just makes sense. Good stuff.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first time reading this and I now understand why Simonson's run on Thor has the legendary status that it does. This is exemplary work that embraces the whole mythos of Asgard and doesn't focus solely on the Odinson himself.

Simonson's love for the characters shines through in each gorgeously rendered panel. These stories are almost 40 years old and yet they feel vibrant and vital: stories that demand, and deserve, to be read.

[Colin Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

About the point when Thor, Beta Ray Bill, and Sif are riding through space on a carriage driven by two racing goats over a makeshift road made of the bodies of a hoard of mutant aliens…I thought, yes, this is a Thor story!

I read mostly for the Beta Ray Bill origin story, but I’m intrigued to read the rest of Simonson’s run on the book. Simonson nails the tone and tenor, mixing in mythology, high fantasy, superheroics, and a good bit of humor to tell some truly epic adventures.