Walt Simonson
Introduction

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**Walter Simonson** (born September 2, 1946\) is an American [comic book](/wiki/Comic_book "Comic book") writer and artist, best known for a run on [Marvel Comics](/wiki/Marvel_Comics "Marvel Comics")' *[Thor](/wiki/Thor_%28Marvel_Comics%29 "Thor (Marvel Comics)")* from 1983 to 1987, during which he created the character [Beta Ray Bill](/wiki/Beta_Ray_Bill "Beta Ray Bill"). He is also known for the creator\-owned work *[Star Slammers](/wiki/Star_Slammers "Star Slammers")*, which he inaugurated in 1972 as a [Rhode Island School of Design](/wiki/Rhode_Island_School_of_Design "Rhode Island School of Design") thesis. He has also worked on other Marvel titles such as *[X\-Factor](/wiki/X-Factor_%28comics%29 "X-Factor (comics)")* and *[Fantastic Four](/wiki/Fantastic_Four_%28comic_book%29 "Fantastic Four (comic book)")*, on [DC Comics](/wiki/DC_Comics "DC Comics") books including *[Detective Comics](/wiki/Detective_Comics "Detective Comics")*, *[Manhunter](/wiki/Manhunter_%28comics%29%23Paul_Kirk "Manhunter (comics)#Paul Kirk")*, *[Metal Men](/wiki/Metal_Men "Metal Men")* and *[Orion](/wiki/Orion_%28comics%29 "Orion (comics)")*, and on licensed properties such as *[Star Wars](/wiki/Star_Wars_%281977_comic_book%29 "Star Wars (1977 comic book)")*, *[Alien](/wiki/Alien_%28film%29 "Alien (film)")*, *[Battlestar Galactica](/wiki/Battlestar_Galactica "Battlestar Galactica")* and *[Robocop vs. Terminator](/wiki/Robocop_vs._Terminator "Robocop vs. Terminator")*.

Simonson has won numerous awards for his work and has influenced artists such as [Arthur Adams](/wiki/Arthur_Adams_%28comics%29 "Arthur Adams (comics)") and [Todd McFarlane](/wiki/Todd_McFarlane "Todd McFarlane").

He is married to comics writer [Louise Simonson](/wiki/Louise_Simonson "Louise Simonson"), with whom he collaborated as penciller on *X\-Factor* from 1986 to 1989\.


What are some key themes or motifs in Walter Simonson's creator-owned work, Star Slammers?