The Might Thor #337
November 1983
“DOOM!”
Writer/Artist: Walt Simonson
The purchase of The Mighty Thor #337 back in November 1983
was purely an impulse buy because of its unforgettable cover. I wasn’t the
biggest fan of Thor back then having enjoyed a few issues by Roy Thomas and
Keith Pollard. However, that changed the moment I saw that cover with some kind
of alien version of Thor smashing through the comic book’s logo.
The
Might Thor logo was the only Marvel logo at that time that had never been
changed since the mid-1960s. Simonson actually cut up a copy of the logo from
the previous issue and broke it up on a transparent overlay that sat neatly
overtop of the daunting image of Beta Ray Bill.
With
issue #337, Simonson's relative inexperience certainly didn't show. His first
issue on this title is perhaps the most effective textbook example of how to
tell a great comic book story. Simonson's distinctive art style certainly
caught your attention and charged each page with energy, bringing it to life in
a strong cinematic fashion that sparked your imagination. The action scenes sprawled
beyond the panels, emphasizing its bold, larger-than-life feel. Thor was drawn
physically more impressive and also with a certain nobility.
The
first three pages set up a subplot that will eventually become a major story
line, the Surtur Saga. In this opening sequence, a mysterious figure of cosmic
proportions is forging a foreboding weapon. Simonson captures the tension of
the moment and over the storyline of the next year, he paced this subplot,
moving it ahead slowly, building on this rising tension.
Not
only does this issue thoughtfully introduce establish characters, but it
features the debut of Beta Ray Bill and the Enchantress’ sister Lorelei who
will both be instrumental during Simonson’s run and beyond.
It
featured one jaw-dropping twist after another. Not only was Beta Ray Bill as
powerful as Thor was, not only was Bill somehow worthy enough to wield Mjolnir,
Beta Ray Bill with Thor’s powers was mistakenly summoned to Asgard by Odin. And
that final page, with Donald Blake standing atop the wreckage of Bill’s
spaceship and crying out to his father Odin, was simply spectacular. That image
still sticks with me today whenever I think about an amazing cliffhanger ending.
The
worse part of all of this was that my local convenience store never got a copy
of Thor #338 or Thor #339. It would be a year later before I discovered a comic
book store and found those back issues, finally concluding that story!
I
can’t write about this issue without mentioning letterer, John Workman. This
issue was his first as the new regular letterer and while the change was a bit
more subtle, his style added a distinctive Norse feel to the book. This new
lettering style worked well with Simonson's explosive fonts that broke through
panel borders leaving a clear ring in your imagination. THRAKKT! BARROOOOM!
KRANNG!
