DRAWBAK: The Work and the Life of Thor Badendyck

Thor was an illustrator for over 25 years, contributing work to Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, WarCraft, Sideshow and many others. Learn about Thor’s story and experience the world through his eyes.

See the show: June 20-July 13

Artist Biography:

Thor Badendyck was an illustrator for well over 25 years:  T-shirts, posters, book covers, trading cards, newspapers, documentary film, advertising, personal art and, of course, comics.

In January of 2000, at the age of 26, he was injured in an automobile accident that left him completely paralyzed from the armpits down.  He would never again have use of his hands.

But retraining himself to produce professional level work by holding brush, pencil, pen or stylus in his mouth, he completed a ten-page story for TELLOS: MAIDEN VOYAGE less than a year after his injury, and thereafter contributed work to Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, WarCraft, Sideshow, and other major companies, often working with art directors who had no idea how gravely disabled he was.   When the collateral effects of his injury made it impossible for him to commit to deadlines for story work, he turned to covers.   And when even that became too painful, he taught himself digital sculpture.  He continued to work creatively until his death in October of 2024 at the age of 51.

Medical care helps people stay alive.  Art helps people want to.  The creative imagination is the greatest power we have.