Walt Simonson
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Walter or, usually, Walt Simonson (born September 2, 1946) is an American comic book writer and artist. After studying geology at school, he transferred to the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 1972. His thesis project there was The Star Slammers, which was published as a black and white promotional comic book for the 1974 World Science Fiction Convention in Washington D.C. (DisCon II). Some years later, he produced another version of the story in graphic novel form for Epic Comics, the Marvel Comics imprint that was a response to creator-owned lines of the early eighties. Simonson continued the adventures of the Star Slammers in a limited series in the mid-1990s as one of the founders of Malibu Comics' short-lived Bravura label.
His first professional comic book work was producing war stories for DC Comics and other publishers. He also did a number of illustrations for the Harry N. Abrams, Inc. edition of The Hobbit, including the title page drawing for Chapter 3, "A Short Rest". The book was largely illustrated using stills from the Rankin-Bass television special adaptation, which featured character designs by his friend Lester Abrams. Gray Morrow also did illustrations for that edition, as did Charles Vess. Simonson's breakthrough illustration job was "Manhunter," a backup feature in DC's Detective Comics written by Archie Goodwin. Simonson was the first artist of the 1970s revival of Metal Men.
He is best known for his work on Marvel Comics titles in the 1980s and 1990s such as The Mighty Thor and X-Factor (the latter being a collaboration with his wife Louise Simonson). Thor in particular is often cited as a classic, as Simonson took nearly complete control of the series and produced epic, operatic stories that rivaled Jack Kirby's best work and displayed an in-depth knowledge of Norse mythology. He also famously transformed Thor into a frog for three issues and introduced the popular supporting character, Beta Ray Bill, a monstrous alien warrior who unexpectedly proved worthy to wield Thor's hammer, Mjolnir.
From 2000 to 2002, he wrote and illustrated Orion for DC. He returned to DC in 2006 to write Hawkgirl, with Howard Chaykin pencilling.
He has received recognition in the comics industry for his work. Simonson's awards include Shazam Awards for Outstanding New Talent in 1973, for Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic) in 1973 for "The Himalayan Incident" in Detective Comics #437 (with Archie Goodwin), and the same award in 1974 for "Cathedral Perilous" in Detective Comics #441 (again with Archie Goodwin). Simonson and Goodwin also won the Shazam Award for Best Individual Story (Dramatic) in 1974 for "Gotterdammerung" in Detective Comics 443. All three winning stories were a part of the Manhunter saga.
His distinctive signature consists of his last name, distorted to resemble a brontosaurus.
[edit] External links
- lambiek.net entry on Walt Simonson
- Interview at ComicBoards.com
- Interview at b-independent.com (1998)
- Interview at Fanzing.com (1999)
- Interview at PopMatters.com
- Interview at FFPlaza.com (2002)
- Interview at DigitalWebbing.com (2004)
- THOR cover gallery & issue summaries (See #337-382 for Simonson work)
- Walter Simonson forum messages (June 1998 - April 2006)
| Preceded by: Alan Zelenetz |
Thor writer 1983–1987 |
Succeeded by: Tom DeFalco |
| Preceded by: Ralph Macchio |
Avengers writer 1988–1989 |
Succeeded by: Ralph Macchio |
| Preceded by: Rob Liefeld & Jeph Loeb |
Avengers writer 1997 |
Succeeded by: Kurt Busiek |
| Preceded by: Steve Englehart (as John Harkness) |
Fantastic Four writer 1989–1991 |
Succeeded by: Tom DeFalco |
| Preceded by: Rich Buckler |
Fantastic Four artist 1990–1991 |
Succeeded by: Paul Ryan |
| Preceded by: Phil Jimenez |
Wonder Woman writer 2003–2003 |
Succeeded by: Greg Rucka |
