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Thor Reading Order

 

Based on the Norse mythological god of the same name, Thor Odinson (or simply Thor) is a Marvel Superhero created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby that was introduced in Journey into Mystery #83 (August 1962), possibly as an unofficial equivalent to DC’s Superman.

To make the Asgardian God of Thunder (whose enchanted hammer, Mjolnir, called the ‘Uru Hammer’ at first, enables him to fly and manipulate weather) relatable for the average American reader, Stan Lee imagined a secret identity (à la Clark Kent). Partially disabled human medical student Donald Blake only had to strike his walking stick to transform into the thunder god.

As Donald Blake, the hero, cared for his patient in his private practice, he worked with nurse Jane Foster. As Thor, he defended humanity from his numerous Evil enemies, and notably his adoptive brother Loki, but also the Absorbing Man, the Destroyer, the Wrecker, Zarrko, the Radioactive Man, the Lava Man, the Cobra, Mister Hyde, the Enchantress, the Executioner, and more.

Thor joined the Avengers, fell in love with Jane Foster, opposed his father’s will, and went on epic adventures, alone or with allies from Earth and Asgard. As the years went by, we learned more about Thor and Asgard’s real origins, the Gods, and their enemies. Also, Thor was freed from Donald Blake. Like a lot of Marvel heroes, Thor died (Loki and Odin, too), but came back to life. Asgard was destroyed and rebuilt. Even Mjolnir disappeared at one point.

Let’s go on the trip with Thor on the Bifrost to explore all of the realms, from Asgard to Midgard and beyond, by following our complete Thor Reading Order!

Thor Comics Reading Order

Notes on collections: We used to heavily feature the Marvel Masterworks collection (hardcover reprints of classic stories in chronological order) because that was the best way to go for completists, but Marvel stopped the collection, and the Epic Collection took over, as it is well-developed now. The Epic line is a numbered collection of sequential issues of one title (large, full-color trade paperback), sometimes including crossovers from related titles, starting from the beginning of a character, not released sequentially.

Where to start with Thor?

The first Thor story was published in 1962. Of course, you don’t have to read everything from the start. In fact, there are multiple perfect entry points in the saga. You just have to follow the menu:

The Mighty Thor Omnibus Collection

But before going further and looking at a more detailed collection, we are going to list all of the Thor Omnibuses available:

  • The Mighty Thor Omnibus Volume 1
    Collects Journey Into Mystery #83–120, Annual #1.
  • The Mighty Thor Omnibus Volume 2
    Collects Journey Into Mystery #121–125, Thor (1966) #126–152, Annual #2, Not Brand Echh 3.
  • The Mighty Thor Omnibus Volume 3
    Collects Thor (1966) #153–194.
  • The Mighty Thor Omnibus Volume 4
    Collects Thor (1966) #195-228 and material from Marvel Treasury Edition #3.
  • The Mighty Thor Omnibus Vol. 5 [2025]
    Collects Thor (1966) #229-266 and Annual (1966) #5-6; Marvel Spotlight (1971) #30; and Marvel Premiere #26
  • Thor By Walter Simonson Omnibus
    Collects Thor #337-355, #357-369 & #371-382 and Balder The Brave #1-4.
  • Thor: Heroes Return Omnibus, Vol. 1
    Collects Thor (1998) #1-35, Rough Cut; Silver Surfer/Thor Annual 1998; Thor Annual 1999-2000; Peter Parker: Spider-Man (1999) #2 & 11; Iron Man (1998) #21 (B-Story) & 22; and Juggernaut: The Eighth Day.
  • Thor: Heroes Return Omnibus, Vol. 2
    Collects Thor (1998) #36-85 & Annual 2001; Iron Man (1998) #64; Avengers (1998) #63; and material from Marvel Double-Shot #1.
  • Thor By Straczynski & Gillen Omnibus
    Collects Fantastic Four (2003) #536-537; Thor (2007) #1-12, 600-614; Thor Giant-Size Finale (2010); Siege: Loki (2010) #1, New Mutants (2009) #11.
  • Thor by Matt Fraction Omnibus
    Collects Thor: Ages of Thunder One-Shot (2008); Thor: Reign of Blood One-Shot (2008); Thor: Man of War One-Shot (2008); Secret Invasion: Thor (2008) #1-3; Thor God-Size Special (2008) #1; Free Comic Book Day 2010 (Iron Man/Thor); Thor (2007) #615-621, 620.1; The Mighty Thor (2011) #1-22, 12.1; Fear Itself (2011) #1-7; Fear Itself #7.2: Thor (2011); Journey Into Mystery (2011) #642-644; The Mighty Thor Annual (2012) #1.
  • Thor by Jason Aaron Omnibus Vol. 1 [2026 edition]
    Collects Thor: God of Thunder (2012) #1-25, Thor (2014) #1-8, Thor Annual (2015) #1, Thors (2015) #1-4, Mighty Thor (2015) #1-12.
  • Thor by Jason Aaron Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects Mighty Thor (2015) #13-23, 700-706, Unworthy Thor (2016) #1-5, Generations: The Unworthy Thor & the Mighty Thor (2017) #1, Mighty Thor: At the Gates of Valhalla (2018) #1, Thor (2018) #1-16, War of the Realms (2019) #1-6, King Thor (2019) #1-4.
  • Thor By Cates and Klein Omnibus
    Collects Thor (2020) #1-35, Hulk Vs. Thor: Banner Of War Alpha, Hulk (2021) #7-8, Thanos: Death Notes, And Material From Thor Annual (2021) #1 And Thor Annual (2023) #1.

Thor, the Silver and Bronze Age: Where the story began

This reading order focuses on Thor’s solo series and other adventures, not on the Avengers, except when necessary. Thor is a founding member of the superhero team and, as such, was present in The Avengers #1. He also appeared in every subsequent volume of the series. For more about the Avengers, go to the dedicated reading order.

The thunderous legacy of the God of Thunder began in 1962 within the pages of Journey into Mystery #83, where the legendary creative duo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby reimagined Norse mythology through the lens of Midgardian superheroics. This era, later continued by Gerry Conway and Len Wein, established the dual identity of the frail Dr. Donald Blake and his hammer-wielding alter ego, and the core pillars of the Thor mythos: the majestic spires of Asgard, the eternal wisdom (and occasional frustration) of Odin, and the relentless mischief of his brother, Loki. We also have the first appearance of the Enchantress to the epic introduction of the planet-devouring Galactus, and more!

After Kirby left the title, Neal Adams penciled issues #180–181, then John Buscema became the regular artist for almost a hundred issues. Also, Lee quickly left after Kirby and was replaced by other legendary writers: Gerry Conway, Len Wein, and Roy Thomas. 

Thor Masterworks Collection

With Marvel Comics putting the Masterworks Collection on indefinite hiatus, no new volumes or reprints will come anytime soon, or ever. This used to be the most complete collection of Thor stories from the Silver and Bronze Age, but it’s now a collectible product that will become harder to find. We still list them for now, but we have redesigned the Thor Reading Order around the Epic line instead.

Thor By Walt Simonson 

Walt Simonson took over both writing and art duties from #337 to #382, delivering an epic saga that many consider the definitive take on the character. This run introduced the noble alien Beta Ray Bill, who proved worthy enough to wield Mjolnir, and gave us the slow-burning Surtur Saga. By leaning heavily into Thor’s Norse roots, Simonson balanced cosmic stakes with heavy mythological drama, featuring key events like Thor being cursed with brittle bones and his eventual transformation into a Frog of Thunder. This run remains a critical and commercial benchmark that redefined the God of Thunder for the modern age. A must-read for Thor fans!

Due to its popularity, this run was collected in one big omnibus: Thor By Walter Simonson Omnibus, but also in other collections like the “Thor Visionaries” and the “Thor by Walter Simonson” line. Maybe because of the multiple collections, Marvel Comics didn’t start reprinting those stories in the Epic Collection before 2026.

Two more volumes will be added to complete this era in the Thor Epic Collection. For now, the complete stories are available in the previous trade paperback collections:

The same issues are available in the even older “Thor Visionaries” collection:

Thor by Tom DeFalco & Ron Frenz

Starting with #383, Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz took over and changed the status quo by introducing Eric Masterson, an architect who eventually merged with Thor, leading to a new secret identity dynamic and the eventual birth of Thunderstrike. This era was also notable for giving us the first appearance of the New Warriors. By balancing retro aesthetics with 1990s world-building, DeFalco and Frenz blended human drama with cosmic adventure.

The DeFalco/Frenz run concluded with Thor #459, then Ron Marz (#460-471) took over before Roy Thomas came back for a short run (#472-489). Warren Ellis (#491-494) and William Messner-Loebs (#495-502) took Thor Volume 1 to its conclusion.

  • Thor Epic Collection: Blood and Thunder (Ron Marz, Jim Starlin, Roy Thomas)
    Collects Thor (1966) #468-475, Thor Annual (1966) #18, Silver Surfer (1987) #86-88, Warlock Chronicles (1993) #6-8, Warlock and the Infinity Watch (1992) #23-25.
  • Thor Epic Collection: Hel on Earth (Roy Thomas)
    Collecting Thor (1966) #476-490 and Annual #19, and material from Avengers Annual #23.
  • Thor Epic Collection: Worldengine (Warren Ellis, William Messner-Loebs, Mark Waid, Terry Kavanagh)
    Collects Thor (1966) #491-502, Captain America #449, Iron Man #326, Avengers #396, Thor: The Legend.

    • #502 is connected to Onslaught, see below.

With the Onslaught Saga (see full reading order for more details), the Marvel Universe was… changed. Following the apparent deaths of the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and Doctor Doom, Marvel asked the Image Comics founder to come back to relaunch their heroes. This led to the Heroes Reborn era.

  • X-Men / Avengers: Onslaught Omnibus
    Collects Wolverine #104-105; Cable #32-36; Uncanny X-Men #333-337; X-Force #55, #57-58; X-Man #15-19; X-Men (vol. 2) #53-57, Annual ’96; X-Men Unlimited #11; Onslaught: X-Men, Marvel Universe, Epilogue; Avengers #401-402; Fantastic Four #415; Incredible Hulk #444-445; X-Factor #125-126; Amazing Spider-Man #415; Green Goblin #12; Spider-Man #72; Iron Man #332; Punisher #11; Thor #502; X-Men: Road to Onslaught #1; material from Excalibur #100, Fantastic Four #416.

Heroes Reborn (optional)

Like the other members of the Avengers, Thor disappeared from the regular Marvel Universe to join the Heroes Reborn line from Image founders. For one year, a re-imagined version of Thor lived on in an alternate universe (more in our article “Heroes Reborn: Marvel Heroes, Image Style, the famous 1996 relaunch“).

During that time, the Thor title reverted to Journey into Mystery with issue #503. The book ran four different, sequential features (“The Lost Gods”; “Master of Kung Fu”; “Black Widow”, and “Hannibal King”). The publication ceased with issue #521.

If you are not familiar with the Heroes Reborn story, here is the official synopsis: Marvel’s greatest heroes, revamped and reborn! Featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, the FF, and more — on a whole new world, boldly reimagined by the hottest creators of the 1990s! Steve Rogers takes on the mantle of the Sentinel of Liberty, gains a brand-new sidekick, and faces down the Red Skull! Cap, Hawkeye, Vision, Swordsman, Hellcat, and more form the Avengers, but can they awaken Thor and defeat the devious Loki? The Fantastic Four face old threats for the first time, from the Mole Man to Doctor Doom! The newly forged Iron Man takes on Hydra and the Incredible Hulk! But can these reborn heroes save the Earth from the hunger of Galactus?

  • Heroes Reborn: The Original Epic Omnibus
    Collects Heroes Reborn (1996) 1/2, Captain America (1996) #1-12, Avengers (1996) #1-12, Fantastic Four (1996) #1-12, Iron Man (1996) #1-12, material from Incredible Hulk (1968) #450. 

    • Heroes Reborn: The Avengers (Only The Avengers relevant material)
       Collects Avengers (1996) #1-12, Fantastic Four (1996) #12, Iron Man (1996) #6 And #12, Captain America (1996) #12 & Material From Fantastic Four (1996) #6 And Captain America (1996) #6.
  • Heroes Reborn: The Return
    Collects Heroes Reborn: The Return #1-4; Heroes Reborn: Doomsday, Ashema, Masters Of Evil, Rebel, Remnants, Young Allies And Doom.

Heroes Return: Thor

The “Heroes Return” era marked a massive revitalization for the Odinson, launching Volume 2 with Dan Jurgens taking the helm for a 79-issue run, initially paired with artist John Romita Jr. This run reintroduced the dual-identity trope through the paramedic Jake Olson. It was also during that era that the “Lord of Asgard” arc took place, Thor ascending to his father’s throne and attempting to rule both Earth and Asgard with complicated, often controversial results.

All the issues from that era have been collected in two big omnibuses Thor: Heroes Return Omnibus, Vol. 1 & Thor: Heroes Return Omnibus, Vol. 2, but you can also find them in regular paperback format:

To close out the volume, Dan Jurgens was replaced by writer Daniel Berman and artist Michael Avon Oeming, who took over to deliver the “Ragnarok” storyline, a grim and final conclusion to the cycle of the Norse gods that left the Marvel Universe without a God of Thunder for three years. It was done in parallel to the Avengers Disassembled event (check out the Avengers Disassembled reading order for more details). It begins with the return of a team member thought dead – and by the time it’s over, everything you know about the Avengers will have changed! It’s also the beginning of Brian Michael Bendis’ run on the Avengers.

Following what happened in Thor Disassembled, the God of Thunder was no more, but Marvel still published a mini-series featuring the character, a prequel series.

  • Thor: Vikings
    Collects Thor: Vikings #1-5. By Garth Ennis in the Max line, out-of-continuity.
  • Thor: Son of Asgard
    Collects Thor: Son of Asgard #1-12. Tales of young Thor.
  • Thor: Blood Oath
    Collects Thor: Blood Oath #1-5. Takes place before Journey Into Mystery #125.
  • Thor: The Trial Of Thor
    Collects Thor: Truth of History One-Shot, Thor: Wolves of the North #1, Thor: The Trial of Thor One Shot, Thor: The Rage of Thor #1, Thor Annual (2009) #1, Thor: Heaven & Earth #1-4, and material from Dark Reign: The Cabal One-Shot. Legendary talents tell tantalizing tales of Asgard!
  • Thor: Gods & Deviants
    Collects Loki (2004) #1-4, Thor: For Asgard #1-6, Astonishing Thor #1-5, Thor: The Deviants Saga #1-5.

Thor Volume 3 by J. Michael Straczynski and Olivier Coipel, Kieron Gillen, Matt Fraction

Almost three years after the conclusion of Volume 2, Thor Volume 3 was launched with J. Michael Straczynski as the main writer and Olivier Coipel as the penciler. Like with the previous volume, legacy numbering quickly came back. 

After Ragnarok, the God of Thunder returned in 2007 with a new creative team, writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Olivier Coipel. This volume moved away from cosmic narrative to a grounded quest, as Thor walks the Earth to rebuild Asgard as a floating city above the small town of Broxton, Oklahoma. Straczynski’s run is a new entry point for readers. It is cut short, though, as the writer left abruptly and Kieron Gillen took over to conclude his story in the fallout of the Siege event and the clever machinations of a resurrected (and younger) Loki. Then, Matt Fraction took the reins, steering the title through the high-octane Fear Itself era and the cosmic “The Galactus Seed” arc.

You can collect the entire era with two omnibuses: Thor by Straczynski & Gillen Omnibus & Thor by Matt Fraction Omnibus. You can also find the Straczynski & Gillen era, as well as the first part of Matt Fraction, in Epic Collection: 

…and now, a more detailed version with the trade paperbacks:

Secret Invasion begins with a brutal battle between the New Avengers and the Hand, one that claims the life of Elektra and reveals that she was a Skrull! At first, Thor is not in the heart of the action, as he defends Broxton, Oklahoma, his new home. But there are developments in the end with Thor’s relationship with Tony Stark. Check out our Secret Invasion Reading Order to know how to navigate the event.

Kieron Gillen took over from Straczynski with artists Billy Tan, Richard Elson, and Dougie Braithwaite. Spanning #604 to #614, Gillen’s run focused on the tension surrounding Norman Osborn’s “Dark Reign” and the impending doom of the Siege event. 

Marvel Siege LogoAnd now, Siege! It’s the end of the Dark Reign Era. Coerced by Loki and on the brink of madness, Osborn, in his final bid to take total control, targets the final obstacle in his mission…Asgard. Check out Siege Reading Order for more.

Matt Fraction’s run (with artists like Pasqual Ferry and Olivier Coipel) began in Thor #615, taking the series through the final issues of the legacy numbering before the launch of Marvel’s “Heroic Age,” which came with the relaunch of The Mighty Thor (2011). Fraction pitted Thor against Galactus and the terrifying return of the Serpent during the Fear Itself event. 

Written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Stuart Immonen, Fear Itself saw the entire planet seized by Fear, and only chaos reigns. The Serpent, Asgard’s most ancient evil, has awakened and is feeding off the fear of Earth’s populace. Don’t be afraid, the Fear Itself Reading Order, a Marvel Event with Thor, Captain America and more is here.

Also, following The World Eaters storyline, Kieron Gillen took over Journey Into Mystery to write stories focusing on Asgard and, more precisely, on Loki. More about that in our Loki Reading Order.

The Avengers and the X-Men go to war in Avengers vs. X-Men! This 2012 crossover event involved the return of the Phoenix Force and the subsequent war between the Avengers and the X-Men. Not a big event for Thor, you can even skip it, but the Phoenix Force will play a part in the following Jason Aaron’s run on Thor. You can find a more comprehensive look at the event in our Avengers Vs. X-Men Reading Order.

Thor by Jason Aaron: From the God Butcher to War of Realms

With around 8 years of comics, Jason Aaron has written the most impactful Thor run in recent history. Starting with Thor: God of Thunder, Aaron and artist Esad Ribic introduced the terrifying Gorr the God Butcher and the concept of “Three Thors” (past, present, and future). Then, during Original Sin, a whispered secret rendered Thor unworthy, leading to Jane Foster picking up Mjolnir to become the Mighty Thor under Russell Dauterman’s pencil! The saga culminated in the massive crossover event War of the Realms, where Malekith the Accursed brought the fires of all Ten Realms to Earth.

That’s a lot of comics, and they are so popular that Marvel Comics published them in multiple formats. We have a dedicated Thor by Jason Aaron Reading Order to help you navigate the different collections and all the stories. Everything can be found in Thor by Jason Aaron Omnibus Vol. 1 and Volume 2. 

Here is the fast track for this Thor by Jason Aaron run:

Thor by Donny Cates

Following the conclusion of the Aaron era, Donny Cates and artist Nic Klein launched the newly crowned King of Asgard in new cosmic adventures. It all starts with “The Devourer King,” where Thor unexpectedly becomes a Herald of Galactus to stop an even greater threat: the Black Winter. Thor also explored The Mjolnir Mystery, had a crossover with the Hulk, and more! But the run was cut short as Cates left due to personal reasons, leaving Torunn Grønbekk to quickly finish the story. Everything is collected in the Thor By Cates and Klein Omnibus.

The Immortal Thor

Writer Al Ewing and artist Jan Bazaldua are taking over the Thor series. Now,  Thor is All-Father and the King of Asgard. But with greater power than ever before, there inevitably also come greater threats than ever before… Thor must face down even the most impossible threats. 

The Immortal Thor is no more, long live the Mortal Thor. Al Ewing and Pasqual Ferry are relaunching the title with a new status quo.

The story continues…

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