Customer Reviews

Thor by Walter Simonson Omnibus

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Let's get right to the point: This is without any question the finest Omnibus collection Marvel has issued since the program started over a decade ago. It all comes together, the creator ( Walt Simonson),the character (the Mighty Thor), & the reColoring (Steve Oliff and Olyoptics). It really is a challenge to describe how gorgeous this book is...I'll try.

The storyline itself maybe the best run featuring the Mighty Thor ever, only the classic Lee & Kirby run of the 60's compares in quality and length. Simonson pulls out all the stops bringing in old favorites ( Loki, the Executioner, and Surter) while simultaneously creating new ones ( Kurse, Malekith, and Beta Ray Bill). Simonson truly understood the epic scope and grandeur that a Thor comic deserves. His Thor runs reputation is truly deserved and easily stands the test of time for new readers. I could go on and on mentioning specific moments and characters but I think it would only diminish the surprises for the new reader and interfere with the rediscovery of the old time fans.

The Omnibus' presentation is superb to put it mildly. Logging in at almost 1200 pages the book is enormous in size and content. The bonus pages include approximately 50 pages of bonus artwork and pin-ups (this could be why this Omnibus does NOT include the letters pages but that is a minor loss). The original covers are all present but have the sales indicia and logos removed, while some might gripe about this I GREATLY enjoyed a look at the amazing covers without all the unneeded verbiage. The book lays flat and there is very, very minor if any gutter loss when viewing; nice work on the sewn binding!

Now for the most controversial aspect of the book: the recoloring/ remastering process. Please keep in mind that this opinion is coming from someone that owns all the original issues as released and purchased from the newsstand. I have reread these books numerous times and consider myself intimately familiar with the material. With all of that in mind I am happy to say that these books have NEVER looked this good!! It's like upgrading from VHS to Blu Ray and watching it on a 60 inch HD screen. It's that good. The colors burst off the page and the line work remains sharp! What more could you ask??

The only regret I have for this Omnibus is that Amazon will not let me give it 6 stars instead of 5. Job well done Marvel!

So, I've known for awhile that they make these enormous leather-bound books full of comics that are really goddamn expensive and heavy. What I didn't know is that I would ever want to buy one.

I just got into The Mighty Thor recently. I've always been a huge Norse mythology buff, which actually kind of kept me away from the comics -- the purist in me was offended by the fact that Thor was clean-shaven and blond and that Loki was Odin's stepson instead of his blood brother. I am not remotely embarrassed to admit that it's the upcoming Thor film that changed my mind. I've always wanted to see Norse mythology on the big screen, and I decided this was about as close as it was ever going to get to that, so I decided to read the most recent run of the comics, by the ubiquitous J. Michael Straczynski.

Needless to say, they're really good. But they're not quite like the comics in this book.

Ever since I got into Thor, I've been hearing a name murmured with awe amongst the fandom: Walt Simonson. Walt Simonson is to Thor what Frank Miller is to Daredevil. He may not have created the character, but he refined him and created some of his most epic, iconic stories. I knew I couldn't call myself a fan of The Mighty Avenger without reading his work.

I saw this book and decided, what the hell? I know I'll like it.

I was wrong. I love it. Immensely.

First of all, the art -- Walt Simonson is a damn fine artist in addition to his writing credentials, and the way he draws Thor is inimitable. His pencils hit the exact right balance between classic superheroics and classic mythology that make Thor comics so darn fun in the first place. For this Omnibus, they've also gotten a fresh coat of paint courtesy of Steve Oliff and Olyoptics's recoloring job. If you've seen the original colors, they were perfectly serviceable -- the problem is that back in the day, palettes were limited and schedules were tight and they had to make due with what they had, and nowadays they look somewhat dated. The fresh colors bring new life to the art -- the scenes of the cosmos are especially vibrant and vivid. They also highlight exactly how damn fine the original pencils and inks were to begin with.

The stories are, of course, classic. I love the way Walt handles Asgardian dialog -- much of it is hammy and anachronistically Shakespearian, but it's in a loveable, earnest way. The remarkable thing is that Walt never loses touch with who the characters are and they never feel any less real in spite of all the thee's and thou's -- no matter how many exclamation points appear in Balder's speech bubbles, you never stop sympathizing with his predicament. One scene of Balder's in particular (I won't spoil it, honest) nearly had me in tears.

Another thing I really enjoy about this book is how all the editor's notes and hooks for next month have been preserved. I know, that sounds kind of goofy, but I've been reading comics a long time and I miss the days before "writing for the trade" became the status quo. I've been reading it an issue at a time when I can, and sometimes it makes me feel like a kid again, eagerly awaiting when the next issue would be dropped into my mailbox.

At the end of the day, that's the real reason I'm so glad I dropped $70 on this book. It makes me remember why I started to love comic books so much in the first place. Every panel is a joy.

Thor is a god, but he's also a superhero. And, thanks to Mr. Simonson, he's found a place in my heart.

Tearing up a little here.

Alright, that's all for my nostalgia-tinted rant. Bottom line: if you love Thor, you'll be glad you bought this.

Walt Simonson's legendary run on The Mighty Thor was the best of all worlds. It combined the grand stature and wonder of the Lee/Kirby era (bringing back many characters from that memorable work) with Walt's own sense of epic storytelling combined deftly with bits of humor. The first three pages start the wheels turning on a story that has little to do with the first story arc ("The Saga of Beta Ray Bill") and won't be resolved until deep into Walt's run on the title. This sense of timing is something that modern comics greatly lack.

Additionally, Simonson is a large fan of the old Norse epic tales, and he goes to great lengths to incorporate actual Norse mythology into these stories to help maintain the epic feel of what's happening around Thor. And if you want epic, this tale has it all. "The Saga of Beta Ray Bill" starts it all off, and Thor will come into conflict with the death goddess Hela, Surtur (a being bent on destroying the entirety of the Nine Worlds), the machinations of Loki (who turns Thor into a frog at one point), and it all leads up to a final battle at the dawn of Ragnarok (the Norse myth for the end of the world) with the World Serpent, Jurmungand, who is destined to kill and be killed by Thor in one final, deadly blow that will begin the end of the world.

And it's not just about Thor. Simonson's attention to the minor characters of Asgard is also highlighted in these stories. This is a rich sense of storytelling long lost by the current creative staff at Marvel Comics. Simonson's 4-issue miniseries "Balder the Brave" is also included in these pages.

So, what about the book itself? It includes all of the stories that Simonson wrote and drew (Sal Buscema capably took over the art chores late in the run, with Walt returning for the battle with Jurmungand), all of the covers (without the titles, bar codes, corner art, etc.) and a 50-ish page sketchbook that includes work Walt completed for the house ads, the pages of The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe for the Thor entries, and many other pieces. In short, this is every piece of artwork Walt completed that was commissioned by Marvel Comics. This also means that the book weighs in with nearly 1200 pages of material. The binding appears to be suitably strong for such a large book, and the paper, while not as good as that used for the DC Absolute Editions, is still of enough quality to make the artwork and colors leap off the page, which is a huge improvement on the near-newsprint quality paper comic books used during the 80s.

Please note that these pages have all been recolored by Steve Oliffe and separated at Olyoptics. While some might scoff that the artwork should not have been changed, Oliffe has made sure that the original feel of these stories is preserved while improving upon the print process. Simonson's thick line work (and John Workman's larger-than-life sound effect lettering) has never looked this beautiful.

Is this book worth the hefty price tag? Epically, yes. This is possibly the greatest run any creator has had on any title in the history of comics, all under one attractive cover. What's not to like?

I have to say that I am a huge Marvel Comics fan and in particular many of the stories of the 60s, 70s and 80s. This is by far the best interpretation of Thor I have ever read. The book is a well put together collection remastered and pretty darn cool. Its an expensive book but its worth the price. I am not someone who buys every graphic novel hardcover that comes out. It has to be something I really want and as a Thor fan I really wanted this. The battle with the Midgard serpent is the best. I highly recommend this book. It won't be too long before its sold out. Amazing body of work. The best run on this book hands down. Some very classic moments. The recoloring they did is pretty cool. Very Cool.

I've read the Beta Ray Bill saga a number of times and really enjoyed it. I've also always enjoyed Walt Simonson's skills at the keyboard but even more at the drawing board so this book was a 'no-brainer' for me. The Marvel omnibus line is a high quality project. Not only are the pages and subsequently the art larger but they have also been recolored. The art and color is absolutely gorgeous in this volume. The stories are pure Simonson. Containing as much 'color' as the art: cosmic down to the silly. (Frog of Thunder anyone?)

Be aware that the omnibus line for the most part are monolithic in size this being one of the larger of the line. So keep in mind (and on hand) a block and tackle to pick this baby up. Worth every penny of it's cost.

I almost always hate vehemently re-coloring of old classics. There seems to be an idea that when the originals had to use a restricted palette, the new staff try to use every damn color in every damn panel! Usually blotting/blocking the original line art.

Well, this is not the case here, I'm happy to say! And the colors are, with very few exceptions, proper and mostly faithfull to original feel. Highly recommended!

My copy arrived today (At last! It's here!) and it's freakin' gorgeous. Walt Simonson's art looks spectacular, as does Sal Buscema's. Even just flipping through it makes me want to sit down and plow through the whole thing in one sitting.

Frankly, this fantastic presentation of an '80s classic makes me hold out hope (however slim) of a comparable collection of the Mantlo/Buscema/Ditko Spaceknight saga -- a ROMnibus!

My first taste of Simonson's Thor was the Balder the Brave premier hardcover. Being very impressed with that book I determined to read the rest of Simonson's Thor run. I was naturally attracted to the various Thor Visionaries trade paperbacks but when I heard that this omnibus was in the works I waited for it.

It was a wait well worthwhile. This is one of those rare cases where a later creator surpasses the efforts of a well loved and admired creative team, in this case Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Indeed, Simonson was writer, penciller, and inker for much of this volume so his achievement is all that much more impressive.

The stories are great. The art works well although neither Simonson or Sal Buscema are personal favorites. But for me the attraction are the compelling characters, particularly the supporting cast. Balder the Brave's story as developed here is almost as compelling as Thor's own. Heimdall has hitherto been an ornament but here he comes alive as intelligent and interesting. And the Executioner? It's amazing how compelling and believable Simonson depicts his redemption. Volstagg is at his Falstaffian best. Loki just oozes villainy but is as complex and fascinating as he ever was. And Simonson's own creations (Beta Ray Bill, etc) really shine.

Is there any downside to this volume? Yes, but neither is of Simonson's making. When these books first appeared that bane of modern comics, the crossover, was just shifting into high gear. Fortunately, Thor managed to avoid the worst of two of them, Mutant Massacre and Secret Wars II. The seams are hard to avoid with another crossover with the Mephisto miniseries. It's intrusion into a great storyline is unfortunate.

The very size of the book is another complaint. This really should have been done in two volumes. It is very difficult to read in any position except lying flat on table or desk. If you like to read while reclining (like me) this book will be a challenge. The book has so many pages I fear for its longevity.

Considering the size of the book it is amazing how many extras they worked in. Introductions and artwork from previous collections, character sketches, original artwork, and more. Another interesting touch is presenting the covers without their original trade dress.

Someone once said that Thor and the Norse myths as re-imagined by Lee and Kirby are probably familiar to far more people than were ever acquainted with the Norse originals. Simonson elevated Thor and company to new heights. This collection cannot be recommended highly enough.

I can't say enough about this book! Since most of the other reviewers have already given the highlights of the content and production value contained in this mighty book, I'll just give my quick 2 cent review.

Let me preface this review by saying that I am NOT a huge Thor fan. Never have been. I'm more of a Spider-Man, Hulk, Batman fan. Sure I read a few Thor comics as a kid, and I recently saw the new Marvel movie, but I'd never really gotten into far fetched nature of the book with all the Asgardian back-story including Odin, Loki, the rainbow bridge, frost giants, Surtur, Raganok, etc.

But that's the great thing about this Omnibus: You don't have to be a giant Thor fan to enjoy this book! Simonson makes each chapter relatively new reader friendly, and I had no problems getting right into the story. And WHAT A STORY IT IS!!! A new Thor (Beta Ray Bill)! The Raganok war! Thor as a Frog!?? Seriously!

Simonson gives each character in the story ample time to develop and gives each new character their own voice. I'd never heard of Balder the Brave. But by the end of the book, I felt I knew him as well as Thor. And Beta Ray Bill! What a great addition to the Thor mythos. Looking back at when these issues were originally published (mid 80s) you can really see what watershed tales they were at the time.

A well done effort all around from the original creative team, I give it a 10 out of 10 for story content, and an big "attaboy & WELL DONE" to the colorists who digitally recolored this tome.

THIS IS A MUST OWN FOR ANY COMICS FAN!

You won't believe how incredibly huge this volume is. The pictures on this site don't do it justice. You have no idea, you can't imagine, you are simply unprepared for how incredibly enormous, gargantuan, just plain large and seriously heavy this thing is... And fittingly so. This omnibus contains comics gold, and is printed high quality white paper, with proper hardcovers, etc. But what's more amazing than the size and heft and printing quality, is just how well these stories hold up more than 20 years since they were printed. The stories by Walt Simonson here are incredible fantasy tales that have the grandeur and majesty of the best fantasy stories, whether it's Lord of the Rings or any good fantasy read. There's a vitality to each of Simonson's tales that's unmatched in most modern comics and the stories have a timelessness about them that means they don't seem dated. Although obviously not as 'decompressed' as modern comics, Simonson's frequent use of large panels to accentuate the fantastic cosmic action, gives the series an incredible scope that's very modern in some ways. Of course, the art by Simonson himself is truly exceptional, and Marvel's decision to recolor the series is a stroke of genius. The color work by the team here elevate this collection to a true and important collectible. Although there are already several good reviews about this volume, I wrote this one specially to convince any doubters of two things: first, please don't be worried that you'll be bored with the somewhat dated storytelling techniques common to these types of collections. Simply put, the stories here are timeless and fantastic fun. Second, this is truly a great way to enjoy Marvel's Thor. Trust me, if you like Thor, you will enjoy this!