XIII wrote:

I was lucky enough to see the first post of this thread before it vanished, so I'm more stoked than ever about this. The truth is I haven't read this run, but I'm a huge Simonson fan from reading most of his other stuff, and I have resisted the temptation to buy the Visionaries books knowing that a beautiful definitive omnibus edition would arrive sooner or later.

Anyway, I've been researching the possible contents of the Omnibus, and I submit the results to your consideration. Any correction, addition, improvement or comment is welcome.

The THOR BY WALT SIMONSON OMNIBUS will be one single book (and not two, I hope) reprinting the same material than the 5 Visionaries books:

The Mighty Thor #337-355, 357-369, 371-382
(356 and 370 excluded for being fill-ins from other creators)
Balder the Brave #1-4

That is, 44 issues of Thor:
999 pages + 44 covers

and 4 issues of Balder (but this time, unlike in the tpbs, in their proper chronological place):
92 pages + 4 covers + a 2 page pin-up poster.

Total: 1091 comic pages + 48 covers = 1139 pages

That's really massive but "Punisher by Ennis", with 1192 pages, was even bigger. However, that leaves us with little precious space for... 

EXTRAS:

The aforementioned 2 page pin-up/poster from Balder the Brave #4, (which I don't know if it's reprinted in the visionaries or in the Balder MCP hardcover).
2 pages

Wraparound original cover for
The Mighty Thor: The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill TPB.
2 pages

Original cover for "Thor Visionaries: Walter Simonson (2001)"
http://www.comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/101/54737_20060730090844_large.jpg
and also from the same volume:
3 pages of "Sketches and final work of Walter Simonson's Thor run".
4 pages

Thor pin-up by Simonson, from Marvel Age #10.
1 page

Thor pin-up by Simonson, from Marvel Fanfare #45.
1 page

Then, there's a thing called:
Marvel: Portraits of a Universe #3 (May 1995)
http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/munivers.htm#S3592N3FT
"Each 'portrait' is 2 pages with commentary by Walter Simonson, depicting a modern painting of a scene from a classic comic"
One of them is:
Thor vs. Beta Ray Bill (Thor (I) #337) Walter Simonson - Art by Dennis Calero.
2 pages

That makes 12 pages of extras to add. Total: 1151 pages so far.

Then there's this little curiosity from Thor #341:
http://www.comics.org/issue/38463/
"SECRET WARS #1-12 takes place between pages 2 and 3; Three blank panels depict the event and the "paste in" panels are provided on the letters page next issue."
I don't know if those 3 panels have been included in the visionaries, and if so, how: separately or pasted over the original 3 blank panels, but they will certainly must be on the Omnibus.

There was a thread on the board long ago suggesting a Thor Omnibus "Companion", fashioned after the Miller DD Companion that featured DD works by Miller outside his main run.
http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.com/topic/7109/t/Simonson-Thor-Omnibus-Companion.html

I'm sorry but I think the idea is totally unfeasible but some of the stuff proposed in that thread could easily be included as extras in the Omnibus:

In fact, there are 2 short stories that really should be included (specially the first one):

Avengers #300
7-page story "The coming of the accursed Avengers!" (or Avengers #1 from Loki's perspective), co-written by Ralph Macchio and Simonson, with art by Simonson.

Marvel Super-Heroes (1990) #15 "Volstagg's mostly greatest adventure" Written by Simonson - Pencils-Joe Barney (and cover)http://www.comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/102/55072_20060731080625_large.jpg
17 pages + 1 pin-up + cover

That would make another 26 extra pages to add. Total: 1177 pages so far. Still smaller than Punisher-Ennis.

Finally, 3 Thor-related covers by Simonson:

Captain Marvel v4 #7 cover
http://www.comics.org/issue/126762/cover/4/

Thor Annual #7 and #13 covers
http://www.comics.org/issue/39525/cover/4/
http://www.comics.org/issue/31795/cover/4/
(In fact, Thor Annual #13 happens around Thor #354, in the midst of Simonson's run, but he only does the cover).

And, as suggested in that thread:
X-Factor #17 splash page (a big pic of armoured Thor by Walt S).

 Total: 1182 pages. 10 less pages than Ennis' Punisher, but I'm sure they'll still surprise us with more unearthed sketches or other material to fill a few more pages.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thor-Walter-Simonson-Omnibus-Simpson/dp/0785146334

  
  • Hardcover: 1192 pages
  • Publisher: MARVEL (16 Mar 2011)
  • Pretty much nailed it on the page count. Only off by 10.

    We'll see about the extras.