Louise Simonson, multiple award winning writer, co-creator of Cable and Apocalypse, wife of Walt Simonson. That last part is actually how some people today know her. Heck most people associate Cable more with Rob Liefeld than her. With her recent Ringo Award, it’s time for Weezie to have some recognition.
Louise Jones: Building the Connections
Louise’s career in comics begins as a model for a cover of DC’s House of Mystery. Not content with just being a cover girl, Louise became an editor for a magazine. This eventually leads to her meeting Walt and back to comics. With Walt’s imagination, Louise keeps ideas grounded to reality. It’s what drives her towards Warren Publishing to edit their Horror Host line. For five years, Louise builds up both her career and her relationship with Walt.
Louise Simonson: The Web of Life
In 1980, she joins Marvel as an editor where she has a long career with the X-Men. It’s also around this time that Louise marries Walt. After four years in, Louise Simonson makes her debut as a writer. Was it inspiration? Was it a long time wish?
Who knows; if any of Weezie’s work suggests, there might be several meanings behind them. For her debut with Power Pack, it’s a long history of pushing and pulling against expectations. Jim Shooter’s policies as Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief didn’t sit well with Louise, she didn’t wanna take anybody’s job. However, she needed a challenge so she created the Power siblings. Who knows, maybe they’re Louise’s idea hers and Walt’s family.
Marvel’s Second Family
As Marvel’s first prepubescent team without adult supervision, the Power Pack tackle surprisingly mature themes. The best of which comes from how the siblings handle secret identities. While it’s common not to share secrets even with family, doing that as kids means more stress. That in turn leads to in-group arguments and with fans. Why would Louise put this in a comic book when kids are still the primary audience? Might’ve had something to do with The Dark Knight Returns or Watchmen. But for Louise, she knows kids learn about this stuff regardless of the medium. It’s no South Park, but it is a coming-of-age tale.
The X-Factor
Louise gets another chance at a series after Bob Layton quits the original X-Factor from some stressful situations. Weezie actually likes what Layton had going and even had ideas on what to put in. So with Layton leaving, Louise integrates her ideas into a retelling of the first X-Men comic. But rather than just make Magneto a full on villain, Louise brings about Apocalypse. This proves to be a popular move where the villain solidifies a legacy for future X-Men series.
Louise’s ideas are so notable that Chris Claremont uses her idea of the X-Men crossover event Mutant Massacre. She doesn’t just come up with ideas either, she shares and implements other ideas too; that’s where Cable comes in. Bob Harras wanted to try a new idea for a militaristic X-Men leader. Louise liked the idea and along with Liefeld brought Cable into the fray. So it’s not just Claremont who’s the creative force behind 90s X-Men, but a nexus of people around Louise.
Louise Simonson: Collaboration Isn’t Always Great
With Louise cementing her place in Marvel’s history, it was time for her to take a stand in DC. What better way to make a first impression than with Superman? Superman: The Man of Steel is one of most iconic lines of the Man of Tomorrow. Continuing on the success of similar stints like J.M. DeMatteis’ Kraven’s Last Hunt, Louise shares the spotlight with other creators and their titles. That proves to be a blessing and a curse for what comes to define comics in the 90s. “Owen Likes Comics” has a video in dedication to this.
And all of that just to delay a wedding. But at least the wedding proves to be such a lasting effort on DC and Superman as a whole. No one since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby could make it last. Even a continuity reboot can’t keep it down. For that matter without editorials or fans in the way, Lois and Clark have a kid.
Louise Simonson: Embracing Your Inner Child
On the topic of kids, most of Weezie’s recent work is focused on that demographic. Louise serves as writer for a number of Marvel Adventures comics featuring Thor; maybe she wanted to see what Walt sees in him. In any case, the comic allows for kids to get more easily aquatinted with the Thunder God. It’s little wonder she shares a cameo with Walt in the first Thor movie.
Kissing the feet of corporate overlords is one thing; but how many people actually get to make fun of them? Louise Simonson does with a parody of epic crossover events in Cartoon Network: Super Secret Crisis War. While the TV station plays with the idea between all of the shows, Weezie takes it to the next level. Rather than a big cosmic threat, it’s just a bunch of baddies that don’t really work well together. But hey some of the heroes just have a blast getting to know one another. Even the solo one-shots feel like episodes that play to these characters’ strengths. It’s pure nostalgic fun.
Remember Weezie Fondly
Nostalgia’s good and all, it’s what gets Louise on some more comics including Action Comics #1000 and Power Pack: Grow Up. But it’s not just nostalgia that drives Louise Simonson, it’s the power of a choice. For superheroes, it’s not stopping bad guys that make the hero. Sometimes it’s the very human act of making a decision and pondering its worth. Whether it’s feeling bad about present ideas or if your choices matter, it’s important to speak up.
Louise Simonson has a career not just because of the people in her life, but because she took the initiative. So what if she shares her fame with some people? With every connection comes a deeper understanding of oneself. With that understanding comes a greater power of choice.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.