Best Thor Comics (Updated: September 2025)

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I’ve always been captivated by the evolution of Thor from the silver screen. Initially, he was portrayed as a comical and somewhat flat character in his mythological beginnings. Yet, over time, Thor, along with his enigmatic realm of Asgard, underwent a transformation that breathed depth and complexity into his persona. He’s now a hero with layers upon layers across numerous fascinating stories, truly cementing himself as one of Marvel’s greatest icons.

Best Thor comics as of 2025

Thor made his debut in Marvel Comics approximately six decades back and has since been featured prominently in numerous comics. It’s impractical to encapsulate the entirety of Thor’s mythology or influence on the Marvel universe within a single article. With this in mind, we’ve selected several engaging story arcs for readers seeking an enticing glimpse into the hero’s exploits. While our list doesn’t encompass every notable adventure, each piece below serves as an excellent starting point to delve deeper into the god of thunder’s adventures.

The Eternals Saga

Between 1979 and 1980, the epic storyline “The Eternals Saga” was released as an 18-issue arc in the Thor comic books. This narrative, penned by Roy Thomas, features artwork primarily by John Buscema, with some contributions from Keith Pollard as well. It’s important to acknowledge their work.

In this tale, Thor encounters three powerful cosmic races: the Celestials, the Deviants, and the Eternals. The Celestials are massive celestial beings who occasionally return to assess planets, and on this occasion, they have arrived on Earth. If Earth is deemed unworthy (and things aren’t looking promising), humanity faces extinction.

If you’re a fan of epic storytelling reminiscent of classics, this book is an engaging choice. Yet, it may leave some readers feeling perplexed due to limited character growth, uneven pacing, and a somewhat disjointed narrative. Despite these points, it remains one of the top Thor comics, offering fans a thrilling battle between Thor and the cosmic realm of Marvel Universe. It’s highly recommended for those eager to witness the God of Thunder clash with the cosmos.

The Surtur Saga (Thor Vol. 1 #340-353)

During the comics series spanning issues #340 to #353, popularly referred to as “The Surtur Saga,” written and illustrated by Walt Simonson, a transformative story about the mighty Thor was crafted. This captivating narrative significantly reshaped the mythology of the God of Thunder. The storyline, published between 1984 and 1985, primarily revolves around Surtur, a powerful fire demon determined to fulfill the prophecy of Ragnarök, the apocalyptic event that could destroy Asgard. Ominously, Odin, who had previously imprisoned Surtur, inexplicably disappeared at this crucial juncture. With the timing seeming suspiciously ideal for Surtur’s assault, Thor, joined by his Avengers companions, the Fantastic Four, and the Warriors Three, prepares to defend Asgard. Loki, known for his duplicity, continues to weave his deceitful web amidst this chaos, testing both sides. This epic storyline was noteworthy not only for its grand scale but also for its unification of Marvel Universe heroes. Furthermore, it served as a key inspiration for the movie Thor: Ragnarök in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Thor vs. Mangog (Thor Vol. 1 #154-157)

The Mangog Saga, penned by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, is a thrilling three-part storyline where brothers Thor and Loki clash at the start. Their father Odin intervenes to halt their squabble, forewarning Thor of an impending danger that grants Loki an escape. Before shouldering this new task, Thor pays a visit to the injured Sif. However, he encounters Hela, a terrifying deity of death (and not exactly Thor’s favorite half-sister), who threatens to carry Sif off to Valhalla. Clearly unwilling to accept this proposition, Thor declines. For those eager to delve deeper into the complex character of Hela, I recommend reading Skurge’s Last Stand in Thor #362.

Simultaneously, hidden deep under Asgard, the rock troll Ulik accidentally breaks open a prison door that was previously sealed with Odin’s power, unleashing Mangog – an entity representing a billion billion beings’ anger and fury. Enraged Mangog is loose now, and every attempt to contain him brings him closer to obtaining Odin’s sword, which would lead to the destruction of the universe. This comics series harks back to the Silver Age and features striking artwork by Kirby, exemplifying Lee’s mythical style. It was essential for us to include this Lee/Kirby Thor tale in our list of top Thor comics.

Thor Disassembled (Thor Vol. 2 #80-85)

Among the standout Thor storylines (one of the reasons it’s on our list of top Thor comics), “Thor: Disassembled” written by Michael Avon Oeming and illustrated by Andrea Di Vito, was released in 2004. Upon his return to Asgard, Thor finds his homeland devastated. Ragnarok, the recurring event of death and renewal for the gods, has commenced, but something feels amiss. As more gods perish, Thor unearths the hidden truth behind this cycle and is compelled to act to shatter it forever.

This compelling, epic storyline featuring Thor, steeped in mythology, offers an engrossing standalone read. Yet, the temporary conclusion of Thor’s journey provides a fulfilling wrap-up before his comeback and reintroduction three years later. Oeming skillfully pays homage to Thor’s rich history and the heavy mythological significance of Ragnarök – a detail that resonates deeply with me as a history enthusiast and avid fan of Marvel’s Thor, whose Norse roots are a primary reason for its lasting appeal. Consequently, this comic series remains one of the most exceptional Thor tales.

Thor Vol. 3 #1-6

Following “Thor: Disassembled”, writer J. Michael Straczynski reintroduced Thor in a post-Civil War Marvel Universe, but this wasn’t merely a relaunch; it was a rebirth. For some time, Thor had been adrift in nothingness, contemplating his exploits, the Asgardians, and his comrades, particularly Sif and the Warriors Three. Ultimately, he senses a summons – a call from none other than Donald Blake, the mortal who previously acted as Thor’s human host. Good old Dr. Don, now treading the Earth due to a loophole in a spell, informs Thor it’s time to rejoin the living world – that the destiny of Midgard hangs in the balance. And so he must. And so he does. But where does he materialize? In Oklahoma, where the wind sweeps across the plains.

This gives rise to some hilarious exchanges between regular humans and their new Viking god neighbors. The result is a witty, fast-paced read that feels like Straczynski has struck gold, easily making it one of the best Thor comics. The comic’s pencils are by Oliver Coipel, with inks by Mark Morales.”)

How we chose the best Thor comics

Choosing the standout Thor comics involves focusing on several essential aspects: the impact these comics have on Thor’s character development, their engaging reading experience, and their significance within the broader Marvel Universe narrative. The creative teams responsible for crafting each comic also significantly influenced their selection in this list.

2025-09-13 05:58