COMIC DETAILS
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Comic Description:
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Thor 342 Signature
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Grade:
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9.8
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Page Quality:
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WHITE
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Certification #:
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2549417023
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Owner:
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Thorseface
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SET DETAILS
Owner's Description
Thor no. 342: “The Last Viking”
Publication date: April 10, 1984
Signed by Walt Simonson and John Workman on 10/19/19.
Census: As of 6/20/23 76 copies of this book in 9.8 (up by 2), of which 4 are signed (no change). There is a single, unsigned Canadian in 9.8.
CGC assigns more points for this book than most of the other members of this run. Not sure why.
Writer, penciler: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Favorite line and some thoughts:
“It was after the defeat of King Harald Hardrada in the year 1066 by Christian reckoning.”– Eilif the Lost
Most historians will tell you that, had Harold Godwinson not had to march north to face King Harald Hardrada of Norway immediately prior to his battlefield encounter with Duke William of Normandy, the famous Battle of Hastings (1066) would have turned out very differently. By the time the Anglo-Saxon army met the Normans they were diminished from the earlier battle. Per the Bayeux Tapestry, 'ol Harold got an arrow in the eye ("Harold rex interfectus est,"). I hope never to get interfectused myself.
Eilif and his fictional ancestors, for their part, managed to escape and make it to Antarctica, where Walt settled them in an environment somewhat reminiscent of the Savage Land. Note that Thor can hear Eilif calling / praying to him like the Vikings of old did. The obstacle course that Eilif and his people created to trap a god reminds me a bit of Raiders of the Lost Ark, which was still pretty fresh in the public's imagination (and Walt's, too, perhaps).
John Workman's signature is a must for a true Simonson fan. His lettering has an almost runic quality to it. He is also responsible for many of the explosive sound effects. Workman's contributions fit seamlessly with Walt's style. It's no wonder they've continued to collaborate throughout the years.
I believe this is the first issue that Christie "Max" Scheele colored. The image shown here is from the Omnibus recoloring, however. I think I say so elsewhere in this commentary, but if not, I often prefer Scheele's original work to the recoloring, especially in the finale issues of the Surtwar. Today Scheele is a well known and much respected landscape painter. I'd love to get her signature on one of my books at some point but not quite sure how to do that. You can hear a recent interview with her here:
https://anchor.fm/kaatscast/episodes/Catskills-Artist-Christie-Scheele-eef98n
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