Created by Stan and Jack, Thor has spent as much time in The Avengers as he has on his own. In making a Top 10 list, it wasn't so much about defining runs on the main title, there are a couple stand-out runs, to be sure, but, really, it was about finding art that captured that primal energy of Thor.
I quickly realized I was creating a real who's who of super hero artists with this list. Part of that is nostalgia, sure, but part of that is modern comics being a little more static than their predecessors. With Thor, bigger is better and the artists on this list got that.
Without further rambling from me ...
10. SAL BUSCEMA:
Sal Buscema may not have the notoriety of his brother but his Thor blends that Buscema gristle with Walt Simonson's splash. He also drew the terrific Balder the Brave mini-series in the 80's, adding to his street cred on the Rainbow Bridge.
Hall drew Thor's main book and also The Avengers. It always felt like his Thor was willing to get his hands dirty along the way. I wouldn't mess with a Bob Hall Thor.
George drew a sleek and handsome Thor. His Thor was an Avenger through and through - truly iconic.
There isn't much John Byrne can't do with super heroes. His Thor is typically on point - what I like about Byrne's characters is they look like they're thinking. No matter how bad ass his Thor is - and it is bad ass - he's always a character solving issues, even if it's just with his hammer.
Epting's the newest artist on the list (although he's been drawing comics for 30 years now.) His Thor is a splash of John Buscema and a bigger splash of Steve Epting. He looks ready to fight, as Thor should.
Frenz took Kirby's and Sal Buscema's Thor and blended them together into something that was both nostalgic and modern. This is classic super hero imagery.
Romita Jr. did the first relaunch of Thor. His Thor was thick - MIGHTY for sure. Romita's Thor felt like a god among men.
The King, baby.
Walk redefined Thor after the character hit a bit of a lull over the years. His Thor wasn't quite as beefy as others make him but there was power and energy coming off him at all times. He really felt like the God of THUNDER under Simonson's ink. Plus Walt wrote some simply amazing Thor stories too.
If Romita Jr.'s Thor is a god among men, Buscema's is a man among boys. There's so much presence in his Thor, he fills the room every time he appears.
The Ultimates may not be the exact God of Thunder we all know, but, man, Hitch's version is much more a force of nature than some other versions, fitting to the Ultimates over the top style.
Great choices, including Hitch! While so many of these I consider classic choices, Frenz, Simonson, Epting, I've always enjoyed Byrne's Thor. More of a Super Hero take but still impressive!
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