The Mighty Thor #337 - Classic Comic of the Week
The Mighty Thor #337 was first released on Nov. 10, 1983.
By d. emerson eddy — When a new creative team takes over a long running property, there are a number of ways they can approach it. Sometimes it's a seamless transition, carrying on some of the plot threads and characters of previous teams, other times it's a complete overhaul of what's come before. Of these latter, some of them live on in memory as near complete reinterpretations of the characters, new ways to think of them, that are absolutely mind-blowing. Among the most long-lived and beloved reinterpretations, we've got Saga of the Swamp Thing #21, Doom Patrol #19, Swamp Thing #140, and Daredevil #227. As well as another of my favorites, The Mighty Thor #337, from Walter Simonson, George Roussos, and John Workman.
I came to The Mighty Thor a bit later than this, having only sporadic access to Marvel titles when I was a kid, only able to pick up Thor and Hulk when my parents took me in to town when we did grocery shopping (our general store only carried DC Comics, some of the Marvel titles that were tied to cartoons like Transformers and GI Joe, and horror comics). I loved monsters and myths & legends as a kid and one of my early memories from these comics was of Thor and Beta Ray Bill fighting against Surtur. The larger than life battles of the Norse Gods against the armies of the dark elves and fire demons were enough to capture my imagination and hook me for life.
When we moved into the city, with access to a real comic shop and back issues, I started to fill in the blanks of my Mighty Thor collection (among a few others) and I was further amazed by the work of Walt Simonson. Even today, reading any of his work, there's such a sheer joy to his storytelling that's infectious and engaging. You get the impression that he's having fun telling these stories and it's all the more captivating.
In The Mighty Thor #337, Simonson starts the story like a myth. Showing someone forging something, giving the hint that this so far unnamed creature is forging DOOM! There are pieces picked up from previous storylines, especially in regards to Sif and Baldur, but Simonson takes his time introducing and re-introducing the cast of characters to benefit both new and old readers, setting the stage for the broader story. He sets up a new threat coming towards Earth in an intriguing way, utilizing Nick Fury and SHIELD to deliver a run down to remind us of the broader Marvel universe, and then slowly turns Thor's world upside down with the introduction of Beta Ray Bill. And the fact that Bill can lift Thor's hammer.
And then there's the artwork. There's such flawless union of craft between Simonson, Roussos (and later Oliff, presenting slightly brighter colors, but otherwise staying faithful to the originals), and Workman that you'd almost swear that it was one person doing it all. The interplay of Simonson's panels and Workman's balloons and sound effects are some of the very best in comics. There's a sense of purpose and design to how they interact that thoroughly elevates the storytelling to a next level.
It's sheer magic that we see on the page in The Mighty Thor #337. And it's timeless. Still as incredible today as it was almost forty years ago.
The Mighty Thor #337
Writer & Artist: Walter Simonson
Colorists: George Roussos (original), Steve Oliff & Olyoptics (remaster)
Letterer: John Workman, Jr.
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: November 10, 1983
Price: $1.99 on Comixology
Nick Fury asks Thor's aid in investigating an alien ship heading for Earth. Thor arrives and triggers the awakening of an alien protector, Beta Ray Bill. But when Bill bests Thor and takes up his hammer, he is summoned to Asgard by Odin!
The Mighty Thor is also available to read via comiXology Unlimited!
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d. emerson eddy is a student and writer of things. He fell in love with comics during Moore, Bissette, & Totleben's run on Swamp Thing and it has been a torrid affair ever since. His madness typically manifests itself on Twitter @93418.