Walt Simonson - Thor : Ragnarok

2015.07.25 Garden State Comic Con, Mennen Arena, Morristown, NJ

Leif Erikson FDC - Icelandic explorer, the first Norse explorer, descendent of the Vikings, to reach North America c.1000, landing on the northern tip of Newfoundland, Canada...

Walt Simonson is best known as the writer and artist for Marvel Comics Thor (1983-1987), during which time he created Beta Ray Bill.  Thor is based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name, the Asgardian god of thunder. Thor debuted as a Marvel character in Journey Into Mystery #83, the creation of Stan Lee, Larry Leiber and Jack Kirby. In 2011 Thor placed 14th on IGN's list of Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time..

Walt Simonson is the creator-owner of the Star Slammers title, and has worked on X-Factor, Fantastic Four, DC Comics' Detective Comics, Manhunter, Metal Men and Orion. He has also worked on licensed properties including Star Wars, Alien, Battlestar Galactica and Robocop vs Terminator, among many other titles...

July 2014, Simonson released through IDW Publishing, his creator owned series Raganrok, a version of Thor 300-years after the destruction of the nine worlds... unrelated to the Marvel character. A signed copy of Ragnarok #1, with Simonson's distinctive Brontosaurus signature

Simonson arrived at the show to sign books around 1:00. He arrival was promoted at 11:00. When he did arrive there was no line at this unmarked table (his name plate was under the table cloth).. He put down his bag and said he would be right back and proceeded to visit with Greg Hildebrandt. He then wandered over to a couple of other artists

He signed my two books (the other being the Judas Coin) and took the envelope in hand, stopped and announced he was willing to provided sketches free of charge, but would do so at 4:00 to allow himself time to sign as many books as possible.

I arrived at his table at 3:45, and the table was deserted. I waited as the line grew.. At 4:15 he arrived.. He looked over the line and announced he would first sign any books and then provide 10 free sketches, more to follow if time allowed. In order to know who was in line for sketches he stated he would number our thumbs, so no one would be missed. I held out my hand and received my number 1 on my thumbnail. He proceeded to number thumbs down the line...

Considering he was not selling anything and only brought pencils and pens (fans had to provide the books and paper for sketches), he had the right to make the rules...

When my chance had come, we discussed the sketch.. I had been trying to decided between the Marvel Thor and the Ragnarok Thor currently seen in the IDW comic. I settled on the current Simonson version.. When he completed the sketch he paused and stated "I believe this is the first time I have drawn this version of Thor. I have not done many shows since I started the new book."

I will take this as the first Ragnarok Thor by Walt Simonson outside of the IDW release!!!

This was a test of patience and the willingness to have a grown man write on my thumb!!!