Walter “Walt” Simonson is a writer I find in a couple of notable areas. Unlike most comics in today’s media that focus more on the humanities, he’s an adventurer. I know people often read comics for an escape, but Simonson takes it to a new level. The hard part actually comes from making the adventures memorable without having any inherit meaning. How does Simonson do it without falling into pitfalls?
Walt Simonson Learning From The Greats
Simonson describes his life as full of interest, including the stuff that can’t be found in real life. His signature comes from a brontosaurus for example. I guess when you have a dad who’s job requires constant moving, your thoughts are all you have. That and the stories you take with you. Walt and his brother share comics from Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories where he finds his passion. The wacky hijinks from Carl Barks’ work on Ducktales capture their attention for years. Woo-oo!
Before heading to the final curtain with his childhood, the Barks stories give Walt a true sense of story. Between all the wacky adventures are characters who build themselves beyond their quirks. This is just one part of Walt discovering his passions. While in college, he comes across the Thor himself during Stan and Kirby’s run. It helps that Bark’s influence pushes him to go beyond the myths too. After this comics just become his go-to unlike geography and paleontology.
The Epic of Star Slammers
Star Slammers is Walt’s first attempt to create his own epic story. Originally a thesis project where he does all the work, it becomes a portfolio that reaches out to people. My time reading it is not very memorable. It’s essentially a bunch of Schwarzenegger-like mercenaries. However it’s not shooting guns at anything that moves. Beneath the armor and weapons are people who can influence the world around them. It certainly has the effect when it comes to Walt networking. Some people at DC end up really liking the pieces including Howard Chaykin. Despite its aging, the series goes through several different publishers before its complete collection.
Walt Simonson Meets His Pantheon
Beginning as an illustrator for various works including a story by “Len Wein”, Walt’s breakthrough comes in Manhunter. Working alongside Archie Goodwin, the character’s appearance in Detective Comics acts as a debut. It has the energy you find in more modern comics and the panel layouts that scream boundary pushing. It isn’t hard to get more work and coworkers after that. More importantly for Walt is meeting his partner in life Louise. Goodman, Chaykin, and John Workman continue to remain close. He even helps found the Upstart Associates where creators share space. New York is a tough place to find rent.
The Marvel Renaissance
The 80s prove to be Walt’s biggest time for art, including working alongside Chris Claremont. Not to mention Frank Miller, at least until that Daredevil project gets cancelled. The X-Men are also in major focus at this time, with Walt working alongside Louise. He’s actually the creative force who designs the iconic Archangel; why did Ben Hardy have to look so sexy? More importantly though is that Walt gets the chance to recreate his favorite character from childhood. This is actually the first time since Star Slammers where Walt does everything from writing to artwork.
That however soon gives way to Walt showing his devotion to God of Thunder. There is so much to tell, I think the video below does it better.
Walt’s run is so iconic, he and J. Michael Straczynski make movie cameos for their respective parts in shaping Thor. Both writers give the Thunder God a refreshing take with Straczynski emphasizing the Odinson’s humanity; Walt meanwhile shows the mythic portions of Thor while including presenting the epic tales anyone can jump into without much context. It’s a new myth that combines stories not unlike how stories change and adapt.
The Scales of Walt Simonson
After such an iconic run, it’s hard to outdo yourself. Still Walt continues to make smaller waves that mean something to a few people. He’s the first artist to give dinosaur’s feathers after doing research himself. He also does more writing than normal after Thor gives him the blessing. Sure some of them are not very memorable like the Fantastic Four run (until its climax). Others like the Iron Man 2020 one-shot are certainly crazy enough to get some fans attention. Heroes Reborn however only have him making a small jab at Marvel for the dumb idea left-field reboots.
It’s little wonder why he goes to DC afterwards. There he creates a new epic story from Jack Kirby’s era with Orion. Here, the work that goes into Thor channels into a new story worthy of Kirby himself. Unlike Thor, Orion has his own problems that almost never come up. He has a legacy of discovering what kind of man he really is. Being the biological son of the universe’s most terrifying dictator is something that deeply motivates Orion. At this point, Orion is ready to accept his destiny to face his father, Darkseid. But in order to retain his humanity, he has to go through trials that he has to own up to. Which leads to the Greek tragedy of a finale. While Orion is no Mister Miracle, having an arc like this feels like he can make more appearances.
Reliving the Legend
Walt Simonson goes on with his career as an illustrator most of the time doing variant covers. On occasion though he writes and draws a few stories that are good to borderline ridiculous. The Judas Coin is practically a joke on tragic backstories. I mean come on, the coin Two-Face has is that old? I bet DC only lets this publish by having Batman on the cover. Walt still puts his time into more epic fantasies including a graphic novel adaptation of World of Warcraft.
One thing that comes up more than regular though is a desire to return to a Thor storyline. He even provides the artwork for a mini-arc in Indestructible Hulk guest starring Thor. Yet with the Odinson already having such great writers behind him like Jason Aaron, Walt has to take different measures.
At IDW, Walt creates a story for a Thor more closely in relation to the traditional myths. Ragnarok is a rather ironic tale of a Thor who survives the titular event, albeit as a zombie. Unlike Straczynski’s take with the Odinson though, Thor lacks the power to bring his cohorts back. At the same time though, Thor is free from fate and is able to battle the new evils that emerge. Along the way, he makes new friends he gives hope to in their dark hours. The series is so epic that the initial 12 issues can’t contain the story and goes even further.
Walt Simonson: Continuing the Legend
At San Diego Comic Con 2019, fans get their first look into Ragnarok: The Breaking of Helheim. Simonson’s legacy continues to shine through with both fans and the creators he meets. Most comic creators tend to burn out after a while, yet Walt Simonson seems to press on with passion. He even plans on going for a new solo run with Marvel. No one knows what it is but let’s hope fans have as much a great time as he does. Its stories like Walt’s that reach out to the child within and still makes the best of references.
Thanks for coming and as always, remember to look between the panels.