A big announcement from Marvel’s Next Big Thing Press Event today: The legendary Walt Simonson will join Brian Michael Bendis on The Avengers! Simonson’s The Mighty Thor run alone is the stuff of legends. Here are some highlights:
Avengers #25 will feature art from Walt Simonson. This issue will be part of an Avengers Versus X-Men tie-in arc. That cover sure looks like Cap is deflecting a blast from Cyclops!
“This is truly one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me at Marvel. When I was a young, strapping lad trying to break into comics, I’m talking years and years ago, I met Walt at a convention. I showed him my childish sketches and he treated me like a peer. He was so generous an empowering and set me on a course to be where I am now. He would keep sending me letter of encouragement and critique. That was the moment I knew I wanted to do this. He is one of the most important people in my creative life. I always made it very clear if he was ever back at Marvel I would love to work with him. I’m so happy he decided to come join us and when I asked what he wanted to do, Avengers was a big pile of everything he wanted to do.” Bendis said.
“I’m in comics myself because of the work that Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Don Heck and those guys did back in the 60’s. I was devouring everything Marvel had to offer. It was a treat for me to get into comics, to work at Marvel and to do Thor. I really enjoyed the Marvel Universe and had a lot of fun.” Simonson said.
“I got to write Avengers back in the late 80’s with John Buscema and Tom Palmer. I didn’t really get to draw the book though. I’ve never really gotten to draw the Avengers. I’m excited to draw them. But really, I wanted to work with Brian. We’ve always said it would be fun to work together, but I’ve been at DC. Now I’m back on the freelance trail and called Brian up. I did not expect to be handed a whole story arc. And when Brian said ‘There are a lot of characters’ I didn’t really realize how many characters.” Simonson continued.
“When we were building AvX, I kept referencing Walt’s X-Men/Teen Titans crossover for bombast and excitement.” Bendis said of the classic cross-over in which the two young teams faced a Darkseid/Dark Phoenix alliance.
“I’m really interested in drawing cool looking stuff. Quake looks really cool to me. The Jim Cheung AvX poster that Brian sent me looks great. I’m pretty excited to draw Wolverine again. I enjoy referencing and researching. It will come out looking like my stuff. I’m interested in the challenge. And drawing the guys from A.I.M.” Simonson said of the new characters and new looks for old favorites. Quake is a Bendis creation from Secret Warriors.
“I get to draw Thor. His new threads might be old by now, but they’re new to me.” Simonson added.
“There are elements to this story that are so powerful on their own as far as who the Avengers are and why they can do things nobody else can do that they really stand out from the main event. This storyline is from the Avengers point of view, dealing with where they’ve been and where they’re going as a team” Bendis said of this 6 issue arc.
“I was a giant Gene Colan Iron Man fan back from Tales of Suspense. Iron Man has always been one of my favorite three or four Marvel characters. I’m delighted to have a chance to draw that guy.” Simonson said of the Iron Avenger.
For a great retrospective on Simonson’s classic Thor run click this Marvel.com link to see the interview and images.