Walter 'Walt' Simonson is a renowned American comic book writer and artist, born on September 2, 1946. His professional career in the comic book industry began with the creation of war stories for prominent publishers such as DC Comics. Furthermore, he produced illustrations for the esteemed Harry N. Abrams, Inc. edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel, The Hobbit.
Simonson is most notably recognized for his extensive work on Marvel Comics titles during the 1980s and 1990s, particularly his nine-year stint on The Mighty Thor. During this period, he made a lasting impact on the character by transforming Thor into a frog for three consecutive issues. Additionally, he introduced the beloved supporting character, Beta Ray Bill, between 1983 and 1987. His expertise also extended to other Marvel titles, such as Fantastic Four, and DC Comics books, including Detective Comics, Manhunter, Metal Men, and Orion, which he worked on from 2000 to 2002.
Apart from his notable work on Marvel and DC Comics, Simonson has also made significant contributions to creator-owned projects. He launched Ragnarök and Star-Slammers in 1972 as a thesis project during his time at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Simonson is married to fellow comic book writer Louise Simonson, with whom he collaborated on X-Factor from 1988 to 1989. The couple made a memorable cameo appearance in the 2011 film adaptation of Thor.
