10 Best Thor Comics in Marvel History, Ranked

Thor has earned his place among being one of the Marvel Universe’s most prominent heroes on its roster. Whether he’s running solo or with the rest of the Avengers, Thor has withstood the test of time and doesn’t look out of place as a character in 2024.

As a result, he’s still at the forefront of Marvel’s biggest storylines now as much as he was in the 60s and 70s. As important that Thor is to major event-wide Marvel storylines, Thor himself stars in some of Marvel’s best storylines, centered around Asgard and his journey as a whole. This list comprises some of the best Thor storylines for both new fans and diehards who are dying for more.

10 The Immortal Thor: All Weather Turns to Storm

Immortal Thor #1-5 by Al Ewing and Martin Coccolo

The most recent entry on the list marks the first volume of Al Ewing’s The Immortal Thor. Much like how Ewing’s previous Immortal Hulk went a long way to modernize the mean, green giant for the modern era, The Immortal Thor is doing the same for Hulk’s Avengers compatriot. Ewing’s writing continues to blow readers away, but it is his first arc that sucked audiences in from the start.

Volume 1 presented the Mighty one with his greatest challenge yet: the God of the Super-Storm, Utgard-Thor. The threat proved so great that it forced Thor to regroup the Thor Corps. That in itself made for a great moment, as did the third issue’s gripping exploration of Loki and Thor’s relationship. It was also great to see Storm solidify herself as the next Thor, all while the blond hero tried to convince her to help his efforts.

9 Thor: Vikings

by Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry

Garth Ennis is best known for his contributions to The Boys, Preacher, Hellblazer, Hitman, and Punisher MAX, but these five-issues of Thor he conceived is criminally underrated. The forgotten limited series pits Thor against a team of undead Vikings in the middle of New York City. He’s practically powerless against such metal villains, and the battlefield is just as brutal, violent, and crushing as one would expect Ennis to deliver.

Thor: Vikings comes from Marvel’s more adult-oriented imprint. The series takes advantage of the more adult-driven landscape not by utilizing more gore (though, it’s there) and not by over-sexualizing the story, but instead by presenting a mature story that’s grounded in character in a way that can’t always be done within Marvel’s actual canon.

8 Tales of Asgard

by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Not only is Tales of Asgard ranking among some of Thor’s best stories, it ranks as one of Thor’s first stories. Thor’s first adventures were originally contained in the confines of Journey into Mystery (with his debut coming in Journey into Mystery #83), but Tales of Asgard is a reprinted compilation of Thor’s origin story compiled between Journey into Mystery #98-106.

Sometimes, the best stories that a character can offer starts at square one, their origin story. For Thor, his origin story still holds up as the best place to start to follow his journey (no pun intended). Not only does it perfectly encapsulate his path to prominence, but opens a perfect insight into Thor’s character as he was originally formulated. It’s interesting to re-read it now understanding how he’s evolved as a character in the time since its original release.

7 The Devourer King

Thor (2020) #1-6 by Donny Cates and Nic Klein

In one of the more fascinating status quo changes for Thor, the new King of Asgard finds himself appointed as the Herald of Galactus when the Devourer of Worlds needs help ridding the world of his new master. Galactus becomes the Herald of Black Winter, a cosmic villain even more powerful than Galactus in that Black Winter can actually devourer entire universes, creating a problem that’s both literally and figuratively bigger than Galactus himself.

Becoming the Power Cosmic presents interesting new obstacles for Thor, who as Asgard’s new king theoretically should be at his most powerful position, but Galactus and Black Winter are there to prove that there will also be a monster more powerful than even a god – but it’s still a god’s duty to protect his people.

6 Beta Ray Bill

by Daniel Warren Johnson

Not every Thor on the list is going to be the son of Odin. Another God of Thunder who had some of the best Thor stories was Beta Ray Bill, and one of the best was in Daniel Warren Johnson’s five-issue series of the same name. In fact, this entire story is about how the title character is tired of living in Thor’s shadow and storms out with his Stormbreaker to carve out a path of his own.

What follows is a gripping, and oddly relatable story about someone who only wants to prove himself for who he is, but finds that increasingly difficult based on who came before him. It’s a refreshingly self-aware take regarding Beta Ray Bill’s history, all while carrying Johnson’s signature gritty style, that makes this one of the best 2021 comic series.

5 War of the Realms

by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman

The “War of the Realms” event did not waste an ounce of time to get the ball rolling by immediately killing off Odin and Loki, thus instantly raising the stakes of what arguably ended up being Marvel’s biggest war. When Malekith and his forces create a Dark Bifrost that allows them to transport at will to any of the 10 realms, the Marvel heroes must unite to put a stop to it.

Ultimately, it’s up to Thor in one of his toughest challenges. Thor and co. have literally never looked better, as the artwork is something of the most stunning ever seen in a story starring the God of Thunder. With Jason Aaron at the helm, one of Thor’s best writers, his pen remains as sharp as ever, made all the more impressive as the universe-wide stakes makes it feel even bigger than just another Thor story.

4 The God Butcher

Thor: God of Thunder #1-5 by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribić

Speaking of Jason Aaron, his introduction to the world of Thor remains a benchmark in how to kickstart a new era for the character. There’s a reason why the Marvel Cinematic Universe opted to adapt the “God Butcher” storyline for Thor: Love and Thunder. It’s because “The God Butcher” gave audiences a new villain and a new challenge so great that it demanded three versions of Thor to conquer.

The five-part storyline introduces the title character, Gorr, a bonafide god killer who, from era to era, ranges as a challenge who Thor fears unlike any other to carrying a vengeful hatred for unlike any other. Few enemies in Thor’s rogues gallery have been so eerie in appearance and all the more menacing in execution. Gorr still leaves an impression almost 12 years following his on-panel debut.

3 The Death of the Mighty Thor

The Mighty Thor #700-706 by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman

One of the best new introductions into the canon of Thor’s lore is turning former love interest Jane Foster into the Goddess of Thunder. Readers were instantly sold into the idea of Thor becoming a Goddess, and even more sold on Jane being the new Thor, so when it came time for her run (and, seemingly, her life) to come to an end, the news instantly became a must-see event.

For her final battle, she must combat Mangog, and as if she hadn’t sacrificed enough as Thor, she sacrifices the godly hammer that’s keeping her alive in order to save the day, sacrificing her life in the process. Thankfully, this proved not to be the complete end of Jane Foster, as she’d take on a new life as Valkyrie, then briefly regains the hammer to join the Thor Corps. Still, that doesn’t stop the end of her initial Thor run from being worth mourning.

2 Thor: The Goddess of Thunder

Thor (2014) #1-8 + The Mighty Thor by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman

The end of Jane Foster’s run as Thor would not have left such an emotional impact if the start of that run didn’t make for such an impressive beginning. The story starts with the original Thor no longer being deemed worthy to lift Mjolnir as the hammer rests on the moon – until a mysterious woman is allowed to lift it.

The mystery persists until the eighth issue which reveals Jane Foster as the new Mighty Thor, leading straight into her own Mighty Thor series. As her cancer inflicts her, it’s the power of the hammer that gives her new life – but only temporarily, as her cancer cells weaken every time she summons the powers of Thor. Every time she steps into the battlefield, she’s sacrificing her life, making her story all the more captivating. It’s the most captivating new iteration of Thor since Beta Ray Bill in the 80s.

Thor #337-340 by Walt Simonson

If Jason Aaron is considered to be Thor’s best modern writer, then Walt Simonson should be considered the godfather of Thor stories. Simonson’s run is nothing less than iconic and his influence can be seen even in today’s best Thor stories, including Jason Aaron’s. Truthfully, anyone who calls themselves a fan of Thor needs to read and study Simonson’s entire run as writer/artist on the character throughout the 80s. The Simonson Omnibus is highly recommended.

However, for the curious reader that wants a small taste of what Walt Simonson has to offer, the best starting point would be the arc that introduces Beta Ray Bill to the Marvel Universe. Much of what Walt Simonson did for the Thor character changed his lore forever, and among those universe-changing influences was turning a monster into a hero.