Mjonlir Returns!

While growing up in the 80's many of my favorite comic book artists where the likes of John Romita Sr. and Jr., John Bryne and Ron Frenz.  They all had a simpler style to their work.  Had it not been for a high school friend I would have never been exposed to the work of the great Walter Simonson.  My friend "Young", suggested for me to read "The Mighty Thor".  I knew about Thor, just like the other heroes but I never felt like reading the book.  So I asked him, "What about the art?  It doesn't appear that I will like it."  My friend reassured me that I would love it.  So I gave it a try and I bought Thor.  I came back the next month and then the next. I was hooked.  Simonson's work was different from the other artists I was used to.  But it still maintained the raw energy and dynamic style superheroes are accustomed of having.  I never missed an issue of Thor after that.  On top of his art, Walt was a great storyteller!

Mjolnir Returns!

In 8th grade I read about Greek and Norse mythology.  So seeing Thor in epic battles with trolls and frost giants was very familiar to me.  And who could forget Loki! He was just as dastardly.  And then to culminate his epic run, Walt did the biggest battle prophesied by the ancient Norse legends. Thor went to battle with the Midgard serpent!!  That particular story will go down as one of the greatest stories ever told in the annals of comic book history.  If you have never read that story, it is a MUST!! In this story Thor battles the serpent to the death.  I also loved it because the allusions of the battle were very biblical.  To me Thor was Jesus Christ, battling the Dragon foretold in the book of the Apocalypse.

My seven year son old lent me a helping hand with the finishes.  Incidentally his middle name is "Mjolnir".

And that is why, I felt very adventurous and inked as a tribute to Walt, one of his drawings of Thor in his armor.  I call it "Mjolnir Returns!" Walt Simonson is one of the best artists there is.  I believe his legacy is at the level of Jack Kirby himself. I hope you like it and by all means please feel free to share.

When a Superman Cries

I recently came across a sketch from the great comic book artist Ron Frenz featuring Superman. In his sketch you see Superman crying. I felt that it is a very powerful drawing. I then started thinking, What would make a Superman cry? I don't think there are many things that would. But some of those things would have to be: 

 #1. The constant random attacks perpetrated by madmen who go to churches, schools or dance clubs to shoot innocent men, women and children. That is what would make Superman cry. Just last week a 59 year old gunman killed five journalists of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis. 

 #2. The social discord affecting the entire country where two extreme political forces are accusing each other of wrong doing. There is a lack of love. Too many people are easily offended. And in turn this causes violence that ends up hurting so many people.

#3. The lack of love in families, and friends. Where strangers' love waxes cold, it should not be like that in families. 

The last time I saw Superman crying was in a comic book commemorating 911. 

Growing up the great Ron Frenz was one of my favorite comic book artists. In the 1980s he replaced the Romitas when they finished their run in Amazing Spider-Man. Ron Frenz brought a uniqueness to the Spider-Man comic book. And his stories are very memorable. Such as when he drew "the Kid Who Collected Spider-Man". Reading this comic book as a 13 year old made me cry!! I also remember how he drew Spider-Man defeating Firelord. A cosmic villain who was a herald of Galactus!! Ron was also there during the introduction of the black costume. 

I can't say enough how much I respect and admire his work. He blazed his own path in comic book history. That is why inking his crying Superman was extremely fun!  So hear is that awesome splash page, with credits to its original artist Ron Frenz!! I hope you like it and feel free to share this article!