List items
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His artwork on Thor: God of Thunder defined the character for the modern age. Not only was his portrayal of the character spot on, he added an epic scale to the Norse god - the likes of which I had never seen before.
Esad Ribic was my introduction to the character in the comics, but his exceptional work captivated me immediately. Esad's work can be enjoyed by seasoned comic fans and newbs alike. His rendition of Thor has become how I most often picture the character.
Props to the Mighty Esad Ribic!
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Walt's run on Thor was exceptional. I'm still working my way through it, bit by bit, and there's one thing I've come to know: Walt's artwork on the god of thunder is highly underrated.
Reading Walt's remastered volumes, with modern coloring only deserving of his original art, we get to see all the splendor of what Simonson had to offer. His was a more cartoony Thor. Quite nearly Kirbian in its magical essence, yet entirely original in that canvas that seems to exist beyond the page. Walt nailed the fantasy aspect of Thor like no other.
Walter Simonson put a stamp on the character that's reserved its place in Thor lore forever.
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Samnee's work on Thor: The Mighty Avenger helped contribute to the film legacy of Thor as well as the comics.
Beyond that, I personally love his interpretation of a young Thor. It's a simplistic, wholly original, cartoony style that Samnee employs to brilliant effect. Right now he's being lauded for his brilliance on Dare Devil, but he was doing long before on Thor: The Mighty Avenger.
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I'm ashamed to say I haven't read any of the Buscema issues yet but, of the work I've seen, I can tell Buscema nailed the character.
With a constant battle cry on his face, Buscema made Thor a force to be reckoned with. He also drew the most elaborate, on-the-brink-of-gaudy-yet-still-brilliant, version of Thor's winged helmet. I love the way he presents Thor in his movements and action poses, likely more than any other artist.
Buscema's Thor is immortal - enough so that I get the sense that his Thor actually "lives" within the pages.
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Olivier's take on Thor did something that no other version I'd seen before his do: It made Thor actually look Nordic. Aside from Simonson before him, Thor tended to look pretty standard as far as meat-head muscley characters go. But Coipel gave Thor the proper mass, only fitting for the son of Asgard.
With a neck like a tree trunk and an uncomely protruding brow, Thor finally looked like the enormous brute that a god should be. I never thought of it before that, but ever since seeing Coipel's rendition in the pages of J. Michael Stracyznski's run, I haven't gotten over how much this clicks with the character. He's a bit oafish looking. Not even entirely attractive anymore. Coipel made Thor a huge slab of meat akin to the Nordic people who brought the myth to life.
What a unique interpretation of the character! My only gripe is that Thor should be sleeveless!
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What can be said about Kirby that hasn't already been said a million times over? I'll make it short and sweet then: His Thor is iconic. He obviously deserves mention on this list.
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