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Best of Marvel Essentials: Thor #6
Thor: Balder The Brave
War in Hel. Odin the All-Father is gone, and death goddess Hela is stockpiling souls for the fight to take his place. The mighty Thor leads Asgard's finest to rescue the dead from a fate WORSE than death, while Thor's brother-in-arms Balder battles giants to rescue his beloved Queen Karnilla. The God of Thunder and the God of Light - which one will lead Asgard into the face of coming dooms? Plus: a longtime Marvel villain makes the ultimate sacrifice, but for whom? Collects Balder the Brave #1-4 and Thor #360-362.
167 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 1985
101 people want to read
About the author
Walter Simonson
1,264 books174 followersWalt 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 22, 2024
This premiere hardcover collection represent the first time that the Balder the Brave miniseries done by Walter Simonson and Sal Buscema is properly folded into Simonson’s Thor run. It collects the miniseries and the Thor issues that concurrently ran with it. It places into proper reading order a grand tale of Balder, who with Thor travels to Hel on a quest to save mortal souls improperly claimed by Hela, the goddess of death and on another journey with his companion Ragnar that takes him to the Norn realm and Jotunheim to save his lover Karnilla.
When the monthly issues were initially published, the miniseries gave Simonson effectively a biweekly title and enough canvas to script his epic. By keeping it off the pages of Thor, it allowed the main title a breather from its last major super-arc that brought Ragnarok to Asgard. It also gave Balder a chance to shine and grow in to a major character. Simonson has done much to add depth to the character. Balder has become much more interesting since his pacifist nature often conflicts with his supreme sword skill and readiness to help Thor with this sword arm. He was also torn between his love for his Norn Queen Karnilla and his loyalty to Asgard.
Simonson didn’t neglect Thor’s development as well. This collection essentially has two leads, Thor and Balder and the two titles gave ample exposure for both. Thor was then in the aftermath of a great tragedy, he lost his father to Surtur in Ragnarok and he struck Sif while under the influence of a spell. He then sought solace in a quest to Hel where he may find battle and perhaps nothingness in Hela’s embrace. Too often, Thor was portrayed, especially by writers as of late, a being of overwhelming power, but neglected he was both a child of Asgard and Midgard.
It was fortunate then that Sal Buscema provided the art for the miniseries. Though the styles of both Simonson and Buscema were both distinctively different, it blended seamlessly. It helped that Buscema is a master storyteller himself.
This collection also has one of the best individual issues of Simonson’s Thor run, issue number 362, the last chapter of the Hel storyline. One of their party made the ultimate sacrifice in order the rest may escape, that final splash page and caption can really evoke still a reaction from despite the many rereading. It was a well played scene and a worthy death.
I still have plans to get the omnibus hardcover which contains all these issues and the rest of Simonson’s run, but this will do in a pinch.
When the monthly issues were initially published, the miniseries gave Simonson effectively a biweekly title and enough canvas to script his epic. By keeping it off the pages of Thor, it allowed the main title a breather from its last major super-arc that brought Ragnarok to Asgard. It also gave Balder a chance to shine and grow in to a major character. Simonson has done much to add depth to the character. Balder has become much more interesting since his pacifist nature often conflicts with his supreme sword skill and readiness to help Thor with this sword arm. He was also torn between his love for his Norn Queen Karnilla and his loyalty to Asgard.
Simonson didn’t neglect Thor’s development as well. This collection essentially has two leads, Thor and Balder and the two titles gave ample exposure for both. Thor was then in the aftermath of a great tragedy, he lost his father to Surtur in Ragnarok and he struck Sif while under the influence of a spell. He then sought solace in a quest to Hel where he may find battle and perhaps nothingness in Hela’s embrace. Too often, Thor was portrayed, especially by writers as of late, a being of overwhelming power, but neglected he was both a child of Asgard and Midgard.
It was fortunate then that Sal Buscema provided the art for the miniseries. Though the styles of both Simonson and Buscema were both distinctively different, it blended seamlessly. It helped that Buscema is a master storyteller himself.
This collection also has one of the best individual issues of Simonson’s Thor run, issue number 362, the last chapter of the Hel storyline. One of their party made the ultimate sacrifice in order the rest may escape, that final splash page and caption can really evoke still a reaction from despite the many rereading. It was a well played scene and a worthy death.
I still have plans to get the omnibus hardcover which contains all these issues and the rest of Simonson’s run, but this will do in a pinch.
August 8, 2010
This was thoroughly enjoyable. This edition collects the Balder the Brave miniseries and Thor 360-362, which is set after the first issue of the Balder miniseries. Thor has to travel to Hel and since Balder is the only one who's ever been there and returned, he asks him to accompany him. Balder, who's staying with his girlfriend, Karnilla, Queen of the Norns, doesn't hesitate to help him, but as soon as he's left Karnilla's kingdom, frost giants attack! When he finds the kingdom empty on his return, he immediately sets out to free Karnilla.
I admit I only got the mini because of my immense love for Balder, and I expected it to be okay at best. But this was so much fun, and truly epic, and there was a warmth to Balder (yup, pun intended) that I didn't expect. I can't wait to read more of Simonson's run now, and I think I get why it's praised so highly.
I admit I only got the mini because of my immense love for Balder, and I expected it to be okay at best. But this was so much fun, and truly epic, and there was a warmth to Balder (yup, pun intended) that I didn't expect. I can't wait to read more of Simonson's run now, and I think I get why it's praised so highly.
June 1, 2025
A solid 3.5 stars.
Back in the mid-1980’s I was very much enjoying Walt Simonson’s incredible run on Thor. It still stands up today as one of the best runs ever.
During that run Marvel announced a spin-off limited series, Balder the Brave, to give some supporting characters a little love and attention. I eagerly picked the 4 issue series up, and was a little underwhelmed. Although Walt Simonson did the excellent covers, he only wrote the limited series, with Sal Buscema pencilling and inking the interiors. It was all….ok. I read it, filed it away and didn’t look at it again.
Flash forward over three decades later and I spot the Thor: Balder the Brave Premiere Edition, which not only reprinted the original Limited Series, but also intercut the issues of Thor that directly tied in to that story. This, I found, I enjoyed a whole lot more. The Thor issues fleshed out the Balder ones, and the whole was much more enjoyable to these older eyes. I understood far better the character development Walt tried to do with Balder and Karnilla, and the positioning of the Frost Giants for the next big Thor arc. I also appreciated Sal Buscema’s art a lot more this time round.
A great reminder of a time when Marvel and Thor were at their peak.
Back in the mid-1980’s I was very much enjoying Walt Simonson’s incredible run on Thor. It still stands up today as one of the best runs ever.
During that run Marvel announced a spin-off limited series, Balder the Brave, to give some supporting characters a little love and attention. I eagerly picked the 4 issue series up, and was a little underwhelmed. Although Walt Simonson did the excellent covers, he only wrote the limited series, with Sal Buscema pencilling and inking the interiors. It was all….ok. I read it, filed it away and didn’t look at it again.
Flash forward over three decades later and I spot the Thor: Balder the Brave Premiere Edition, which not only reprinted the original Limited Series, but also intercut the issues of Thor that directly tied in to that story. This, I found, I enjoyed a whole lot more. The Thor issues fleshed out the Balder ones, and the whole was much more enjoyable to these older eyes. I understood far better the character development Walt tried to do with Balder and Karnilla, and the positioning of the Frost Giants for the next big Thor arc. I also appreciated Sal Buscema’s art a lot more this time round.
A great reminder of a time when Marvel and Thor were at their peak.
December 9, 2025
How can I properly rate this book? For a while I was tempted to give it 2 stars, when in fairness it deserves a half more. But since there are no half measures in this system, I had to make a choice. By the moment I reached the end, I felt at peace with rounding it up to 3 instead. Here’s why.
As a whole, the story feels disjointed. In truth it tells two different stories, with one being told in Thor titles, interrupting the flow of what the first issue sets up, then returns to pick it up in another story in the remaining Balder titles.
Karnilla was a disappointment, her character was completely ravaged, humiliated, and wasted. The hype of the sword was also tossed aside. The powers that appeared out of nowhere for Balder lacked sense and explanation. Overall it was a hollow adventure for the sake of telling a false epic.
Agnar and the father of eagles were the best of the tale.
This collection however gains the extra star for the fact that it contains the original remastered colors and cleaned art, plus the extras at the end such as the article read and the Balder profile from the official handbook of the Marvel universe.
Balder is awesome.
As a whole, the story feels disjointed. In truth it tells two different stories, with one being told in Thor titles, interrupting the flow of what the first issue sets up, then returns to pick it up in another story in the remaining Balder titles.
Karnilla was a disappointment, her character was completely ravaged, humiliated, and wasted. The hype of the sword was also tossed aside. The powers that appeared out of nowhere for Balder lacked sense and explanation. Overall it was a hollow adventure for the sake of telling a false epic.
Agnar and the father of eagles were the best of the tale.
This collection however gains the extra star for the fact that it contains the original remastered colors and cleaned art, plus the extras at the end such as the article read and the Balder profile from the official handbook of the Marvel universe.
Balder is awesome.
November 23, 2018
”Will ye ride with the Mighty Thor into the valley of Death?”
Hell yeah.
I stumbled across this one in a recent visit to NY, which completely rekindled my old, all-time love for comics.
It’s a beautiful hardcover edition that collects a Balder limited series that Walt Simonson wrote in the mid 80s, with a few related issues of the main Thor series, all of them covering events of the aftermath of Surtur’s war.
The limited series is drawn by a Sal Buscema at the top of his form, while the Thor issues shine with Simonson’s art - it’s amazing how these pages still sparkle after more than 30 years...
Excelsior!
Hell yeah.
I stumbled across this one in a recent visit to NY, which completely rekindled my old, all-time love for comics.
It’s a beautiful hardcover edition that collects a Balder limited series that Walt Simonson wrote in the mid 80s, with a few related issues of the main Thor series, all of them covering events of the aftermath of Surtur’s war.
The limited series is drawn by a Sal Buscema at the top of his form, while the Thor issues shine with Simonson’s art - it’s amazing how these pages still sparkle after more than 30 years...
Excelsior!
May 7, 2018
Slighter and lacking the subplots Simonson adds to his Thor run, but a bright and breezy adventure, ably illustrated by Buscema.
July 15, 2012
This book is a great example of comic book story telling. The writer/artist and other artist craft a fun and engaging tale that looks at one of the lessor known Marvel characters. Balder the Brave is also Balder the loyal and Balder the just. This book contained the four part mini series Balder the Brave as well as the issues of Thor that set it up. Every issue collected is great, packed with story, characters, and emotions. Even if you had never heard of any of the players before reading the book you would be hard pressed not to care for them after.
The story finds that great balance between set up, character development, and action. This is a tale about Asgardian warriors who are both gods and men and the great adventures that their duty and honor take them on. The writing is a perfect fit for the book and all the dialogue emphasizes the larger than life quality of the players. I wish that current writers of these characters could grasp that they are supposed to over the top and a bit ridiculous. Trying to write them as cool and hip is to utterly miss what makes them so fun. Comics change with the times to stay relevant to current readers but ultimately good storytelling is timeless. This story captures some of the best story telling that the Thor run had.
The art in the book is great. It is clean expressive and always a joy to look at, with embellishment that never turns to visual clutter. Again a lot of artists now could use to take notes from these masters of comics at work. More lines does not equal better images. It is about how you use them on the page and these guys do it flawlessly. The narrative is always easy to follow thanks to the clean and intuitive layouts that both artists employ. The layouts though do change enough to keep the pages from looking to similar to each other. This book will never look bad.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys great adventure stories.
The story finds that great balance between set up, character development, and action. This is a tale about Asgardian warriors who are both gods and men and the great adventures that their duty and honor take them on. The writing is a perfect fit for the book and all the dialogue emphasizes the larger than life quality of the players. I wish that current writers of these characters could grasp that they are supposed to over the top and a bit ridiculous. Trying to write them as cool and hip is to utterly miss what makes them so fun. Comics change with the times to stay relevant to current readers but ultimately good storytelling is timeless. This story captures some of the best story telling that the Thor run had.
The art in the book is great. It is clean expressive and always a joy to look at, with embellishment that never turns to visual clutter. Again a lot of artists now could use to take notes from these masters of comics at work. More lines does not equal better images. It is about how you use them on the page and these guys do it flawlessly. The narrative is always easy to follow thanks to the clean and intuitive layouts that both artists employ. The layouts though do change enough to keep the pages from looking to similar to each other. This book will never look bad.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys great adventure stories.
July 27, 2014
A bit of a in-series crossover as writer/artist Walt Simonson combines his classic Thor run with a four-part Balder the Brave miniseries.
The Thor issues here are great. The Norse hero recruits his fellow Asgardians for an excursion into Hel, where they hope to rescue some mortal souls that were taken before their time. The hopeless journey may reflect a death wish on Thor's part, a response to some recent tragedies. In fulfilling it, he shows bravery, ingenuity and an admirable sense of sacrifice.
The issues here are a bit "metal"; the Asgardians have discovered assault rifles on Earth, and there's one key scene with a dual-wielding god that could be comfortably silk-screened onto the back of a wolf t-shirt. But even that's moving, as over-the-top as it is, reflecting the overall success of these issues and Simonson's run as a whole.
The Balder the Brave issues aren't quite as good. The art by Sal Buscema is fine, and there's a decent rescue caper going on. But in contrast to Thor, Balder doesn't face much in terms of satisfying obstacles: he basically just magics his way out of any problems that are set before him. It's not bad, but he's a bit too much of a golden boy for it to be particularly interesting, even with Simonson's talents.
Read digital issues
The Thor issues here are great. The Norse hero recruits his fellow Asgardians for an excursion into Hel, where they hope to rescue some mortal souls that were taken before their time. The hopeless journey may reflect a death wish on Thor's part, a response to some recent tragedies. In fulfilling it, he shows bravery, ingenuity and an admirable sense of sacrifice.
The issues here are a bit "metal"; the Asgardians have discovered assault rifles on Earth, and there's one key scene with a dual-wielding god that could be comfortably silk-screened onto the back of a wolf t-shirt. But even that's moving, as over-the-top as it is, reflecting the overall success of these issues and Simonson's run as a whole.
The Balder the Brave issues aren't quite as good. The art by Sal Buscema is fine, and there's a decent rescue caper going on. But in contrast to Thor, Balder doesn't face much in terms of satisfying obstacles: he basically just magics his way out of any problems that are set before him. It's not bad, but he's a bit too much of a golden boy for it to be particularly interesting, even with Simonson's talents.
Read digital issues
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews