A Scale Not Always Seen

Thor #343 (Marvel, May 1984, 60 cents)
"If I Should Die Before I Wake..." Art and story: Walter Simonson, Lettering: John Workman, Jr., Colors: Christie Scheele, Editing: Mark Gruenwald, Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter.

The dragon Fafnir rampages in the South Bronx calling for Thor while the sorceress Lorelei watches on TV, but Thor is far away, in Antarctica with Eilif the Lost, "last survivor of a Viking community that has been hidden here for centuries." Thor calls on Cloudrider, Valkyrie's proud steed, and his own chariot, drawn by Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, so they can ride into battle. Eilif, questioning his age and strength, wounds the dragon.



Simonson's artwork is grand, representative of his run on the title. There are several highlights: The slightly Kirby-esque splash of Fafnir on page 1, page 5's summoning of the steeds, the dragon's stance on p. 11, the sequence of panels showing Eilif's rising on p. 18, and the ascent to Valhalla on p. 23. There are a couple of narrative touches that will come into play in future issues: Lorelei's interest in Thor, Karnilla's tending to the Loki-ruined Balder, and the forging of the sword called Twilight.

Read Also: Thor #342.


Thor #344 (Marvel, June 1984, 60 cents)
"Whatever Happened to Balder the Brave?" Art and story: Walter Simonson, Lettering: John Workman, Jr., Colors: Christie Scheele, Editing: Mark Gruenwald, Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter.

Geri, one of Odin's wolves, has come to Nornkeep, domain of queen Karnilla, to fetch Balder. Odin dispatches him to take a letter to Loki, responsible for Balder's death and imprisonment in Hell. Astride his horse Silverhoof, Balder outruns the Living Landslide off a cliff before braving the Forbidden Forest and Deadly Desert to follow a trail of dragon heads to Loki's castle.

Accosted by fire demons, Balder is brought to Loki, who is in league with Malekith, the dark elf. Balder, who "foreswore the sword forever," casts aside his pacifism to deliver the message. The art on p. 8 is very fun: the stout Balder on Silverhoof and my new favorite Marvel villain, the Living Landslide. The first three panels on p. 10 are delightfully fantastic, and the composition of the first panel on p. 16 is excellent.

Read Also: Thor #274.



Thor #346 (Marvel, August 1984, 60 cents)
"The Wild Hunt!" Story and pencils: Walter Simonson, Inks: Terry Austin, Lettering: John Workman, Jr., Coloring: Christie Scheele, Editing: Mark Gruenwald, Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter.

Korean War veteran Roger Willis is hiding in Greenwich Village. He is jumped by a group of men—"Get him! This is the one the Master wants!"—and escapes. Malekith is looking for the Casket of Ancient Winters, which Roger finds. Thor learns of the return of Malekith, who blows the hunting horn of the faerie to call the Wild Hunt. Thor and Roger take a stand against the hounds of the hunter and Malekith himself on the 59th Street Bridge.

The parallel plotlines continue: Lorelei's intent to woo Thor, Balder's trek across the desert, and the coming of doom. Simonson's art looms large this issue, capturing a scale not always seen: the coming of the hounds on p. 12, the demons of the flame on p. 17, even the stock of wood on p. 22. From the streets of New York City to "beyond the fields we know," the scope of this comic is wondrous.

Read Also: Thor #345.



Thor #347 (Marvel, September 1984, 60 cents)
"Into the Realm of Faerie" Art and story: Walter Simonson, Lettering: John Workman, Jr., Colors: Christie Scheele, Editing: Mark Gruenwald, Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter.

Roger Willis and Thor travel to the Cotswolds of England to track down Malekith and Lorelei, whom Thor believes to be Melodi. There they meet some dark elves and obtain the oil of vision to see the world of faerie. They descend into ruins, harassed by water elementals before reaching the Great Gates. Malekith threatens Melodi, and Algrim the Strong sucker punches Thor. With the Casket of Ancient Winters in Malekith's possession again, he stands poised to summon doom to the nine worlds.

In the desert, Balder receives some unexpected aid from Agnar of Vanaheim against a great sand devil. Balder rescues a young woman who turns out to have "lived beyond the count of years." Artistic highlights include panel one of p. 5, the gates on p. 10, and the fifth panel of p. 18.

Of special note is the letter column, which includes a note of appreciation from Stan Lee himself. Walt Simonson first read Thor #120-121 when he was 19 years old. He wrote Marvel desperately seeking #122, and Stan sent him a copy. Almost 20 years later, now a comic professional, Walt works on the book himself. I love that story. Just goes to show how a word of encouragement and friendliness can change the direction of someone's life. Thanks, Stan. And thank you, Walt!

Read Also: Thor #346.



Thor #348 (Marvel, October 1984, 60 cents)
"The Dark and the Light" Pencils and story: Walter Simonson, Inks: Bob Wiacek, Lettering: John Workman, Jr., Colors: Christie Scheele, Editing: Mark Gruenwald, Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter.

What a difference an inker makes. Part of the charm of Simonson's art is just how very much Simonson it is. While an inker such as Terry Austin mostly follows the pencils done by Simonson, Wiacek has a heavier inking hand, mostly constraining Simonson's pencils. The end result is still very interesting and true to Simonson's work, but it carries the inker's style as much as the penciler's.

In this issue, Malekith searches for Roger after being wounded. Thor returns in time to protect Roger from the dark elf, effectively rescuing Melodi before Malekith is able to complete his nefarious task. Balder meets the fates and decides not to end his life, instead pulled into a great tapestry, eventually finding himself back on Silverhoof and meeting Agnar. Despite Wiacek's heavier inking hand, the art is still excellent: p. 1 and pp. 5-7 (especially p. 6). The next issue is sure to be a doozy.

Read Also: Thor #338, #344.



Thor #350 (Marvel, December 1984, 60 cents)
"Ragnarok & Roll!" Art and story: Walter Simonson, Lettering: John Workman, Jr., Colors: Christie Scheele, Editing: Mark Gruenwald, Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter.

Odn has "summoned those who can help us most" to prepare to battle Surtur, "enemy of all who cherish living." Surtur hopes to light his great sword in the eternal flame of Asgard and set all nine worlds to the torch. The heroes go to New York City to face Surtur and the sons of Muspell, demons. Thor, the Avengers, and the gathered forces fight their enemies. Odin asks the children to protect Frigga, and Balder goes to Nornheim to seek the aid of Karnilla. Lorelei declines to help the Enchantress, and Surtur tricks Thor into taking the battle to the gates of Asgard.

Art highlights include p. 9 and the last panels on p. 11 and p. 19. Despite the large forces amassed for the battle and Simonson's efforts to represent that scale (p. 3, p. 6), this issue feels overly small. Even its portrayals of Surtur are too close. Simonson approaches an appropriate depth of field on op. 5 and p. 14, but even those are too close. Still well done, but this issue could have used some longer sight lines and more splash panels and pages.

Read Also: Thor #338, #344, and #347-349.

Thor #351 (Marvel, January 1985, 60 cents)
"Ragnarok & Roll, Too!) Art and story: Walter Simonson, Lettering: John Workman, Jr., Colors: Christie Scheele, Editing: Mark Gruenwald, Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter.

Is it as though Walter Simonson read my mind. The scale and scope of this issue is much stronger than the previous issue. The panels and pages are much more widely shot, or drawn, and large objects and characters aren't lost or diminished in too-tight closeups. That results in a lot of visual treats: the Doom Tube on the Empire State Building, the two-panel p. 4 (more two-panel pages, please!), Surtur and the rainbow bridge on p. 11, pp. 12-13, and p. 17. It's a world of difference.

The Human Torch takes Roger Willis to find a way to stop the Casket of Ancient Winters, Frigga and the children meet a troll, and Balder answers Karnilla.  Every single page is a pleasure. Even the smaller panels seem more solid. This issue is a treasure.

Read Also: Thor #345-349.

Thor #352 (Marvel, February 1985, 60 cents)
"Ragnarok and Ruin!" Art and story: Walter Simonson, Lettering: John Workman, Jr., Colors: Christie Scheele, Editing: Mark Gruenwald, Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter.

Oh, geez. This series just keeps on going! There is no rest between last issue and this. No rest at all. Simonson takes the same approach to scale and scope as he did in #351, so we have adequate sight lines and wide angles.

Surtur takes the battle to Odin, or vice versa, and it is hard fought indeed. As Mr. Fantastic plots to turn off the Doom Tube, Roger Willis attempts to piece the casket back together. The battle in New York continues and then shifts to the Sahara Desert.

Such an issue! I feel as though Simonson's art is really crystallizing, even without an inker, and this issue reads very, very well. From character design to facial structure and expressions, to city and landscapes, and futuristic machinery, this issue is very smooth and well detailed.

Whatever will happen next?

Read Also: Thor #345, #349-351.

Availability: Thor #343-344 were reprinted in Thor by Walter Simonson - Volume 1, and #346-348, and #350-352 were reprinted in Thor by Walter Simonson Volume 2. There are also additional volumes in that series.