Review: Walter Simonson's Ragnarok #1

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Review: Walter Simonson's Ragnarok #1
By Andy Frisk
August 7, 2014 - 23:32

IDW Publishing
Writer(s): Walter Simonson
Penciller(s): Walter Simonson
Inker(s): Walter Simonson
Colourist(s): Laura Martin
Letterer(s): John Workman
Cover Artist(s): Walter Simonson

Bold, brassy, and to the point, Walter Simonson's Ragnarok #1 is an icy blast of fresh air across a comic book landscape that is full of dark and shadowy titles. Mainstream comic books these days thrive on conspiracy theories (Soule's Letter 44), massive world shattering interdimensional conflicts (Hickman's Avengers), and grimy horror/street level action (Ellis' excellent run on Moon Knight). At one time though, as evidenced by Simonson's long and storied run on The Mighty Thor in the 1980s, there were comic books that told stories that were much more straightforward and direct. Ragnarok, aptly from Simonson, does much to capture the feel of the old comics, and not just through the artwork.

Simonson has always told a good story, even if it was a direct and rather un-hip one (remember this is the guy that turned Thor into a toad for a while), but they never failed to pop with energy and life (and not just because of his penchant for un-hip but totally Viking metal-like sound effects: BRAKKATHOOUM!!). His run on Thor took place throughout the nine realms and focused on threats to the greater Marvel Universe as well as Thor's mythological home. His Midgard and Asgard often glowed with an unparallelled brightness of character and setting. Now though, albeit a very different universe from the Marvel one, Simonson is tackling familiar territory, but with a new twist. Ragnarok takes place after the twilight of the gods and the slaying of the Midgard Serpent. It is a dark and dimly lit world that black elf, and hardened assassin, Brynja rides out into in search of immortality for her husband and child. This immortality is only attainable through what would seem an impossible task: kill a dead god. The dead god in question being Ragnarok's Thor...

The true merit of Ragnarok, for seasoned sequential art readers, is not the uniqueness of Simonson's new Norse myth chapter, it's the simple strength of and wonderful nostalgia for his earlier works that Ragnarok stirs, at least for this long time Simonson fan. Simonson's decades old work on Thor holds a special place in my heart, and seeing him really cut loose with the type of two page wide spreads he used to use in the old Thor series just gives me chills. Ragnarok isn't just a nostalgia trip though. Readers new to Simonson's work will find much to enjoy here as well. Ragnarok is a great place for new readers to discover one of the truly great artists still working in the medium. It would be amiss to compare Simonson with Kirby directly, but at this point in Simonson's career his work is at least as recognizable to long term comic book fanatics as Kirby's is, and just as compelling.

A treat for Simonson fans old and new, Ragnarok looks to be a highlight chapter in the illustrious sequential artist/writer's career.

Rating: 9/10

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