The Best Thor Comics and Graphic Novels
From Simonson's thunder to Jason Aaron's God Butcher — the God of Thunder at his best.
By Web Admin
Thor is Marvel’s myth made superhero — a Norse god who talks like Shakespeare, hits like a freight train, and, in the best stories, actually wrestles with what it means to be worthy of that power. The character can carry cosmic opera, family tragedy, and knockabout adventure, sometimes on the same page. That range is why the great Thor runs feel so different from one another, and why almost anyone can find a version they love.
Here are the Thor comics and graphic novels we genuinely recommend, grouped by mood, with approximate US new-copy prices. Most of these are collected in clean omnibus and trade editions, and they go on sale often, so the numbers below are a ceiling, not a promise.
We looked for two things: runs that are complete or self-contained enough to start cold, and stories that use the mythology rather than just borrowing the costume. Thor is a tricky character to write — lean too far into the Shakespearean cadence and it turns stiff, lean too far into the superhero brawling and you lose what makes him different from every other flying strongman. The runs below all thread that needle. If you want the full chronological path through Thor’s Marvel history, keep our Thor reading order handy while you shop, and treat this as the curated shelf of highlights rather than the complete map.
Best overall: Thor by Walter Simonson (1983-1987)
If you read one Thor run, read this one. Walter Simonson wrote and drew a stretch that reinvented the book from the first page — literally, with the debut of Beta Ray Bill, an alien who proves worthy of Mjolnir. From there it builds to the enormous “Surtur Saga,” turns Thor into a frog for an unexpectedly great arc, and treats Asgard as living myth. It is collected as the Thor by Walter Simonson Omnibus (~US$125) or as several cheaper trade paperbacks (~US$20 each). Bold, operatic, and endlessly influential.
Best modern run: Thor by Jason Aaron (2012-2019)
Jason Aaron wrote Thor for the better part of a decade, and it is arguably the best sustained take since Simonson. It opens with Thor: God of Thunder, drawn by Esad Ribic, and the “God Butcher” arc — Gorr, a villain who hunts and kills gods across time, later adapted for the films. Aaron then handed the hammer to Jane Foster in The Mighty Thor (with Russell Dauterman), a run about a cancer patient becoming a hero, and closed with the huge War of the Realms event. First volumes run about US$18-20. Start with God of Thunder Vol. 1.
Best cosmic tragedy: The God Butcher and Godbomb
Worth calling out on its own: the opening Gorr storyline in Thor: God of Thunder is the single best modern Thor arc and a perfect standalone book. It jumps between young Thor, present-day Thor, and an old King Thor billions of years in the future, all hunting the same god-killer. Ribic’s painted art is stunning. If you like your cosmic Marvel with weight and grief, this pairs beautifully with our best cosmic Marvel comics guide.
Best all-ages pick: Thor: The Mighty Avenger (2010)
Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee’s The Mighty Avenger is a warm, charming, out-of-continuity take that is perfect for newcomers and younger readers. It is a shorter series (~US$25 collected) that focuses on character and wonder rather than continuity. If the omnibuses feel intimidating, start here — it is pure joy.
Best classic foundation: Lee and Kirby (1962-1970)
Thor was co-created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby, and Kirby’s cosmic imagination is where Asgard truly came alive. The original Journey into Mystery and Thor issues are collected in Marvel Masterworks and the cheaper Epic Collection line (~US$40 per fat volume). It is Silver Age storytelling, so the pace is different, but Kirby drawing gods is one of the great sights in comics.
Best recent relaunch: Thor by Donny Cates and Immortal Thor
Donny Cates and Nic Klein relaunched the book in 2020 with Thor newly crowned All-Father, facing the Black Winter and the “God of Hammers” arc. It is propulsive and a little metal, with first volumes around US$16-18. More recently, Al Ewing’s Immortal Thor (with Martin Coccolo) reframes Thor as a figure out of legend and is drawing the same acclaim Ewing earned on Hulk — see our Immortal Hulk review if you want a sense of his approach.
For mature readers: Thor: Vikings (2003)
Content warning: Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry’s Thor: Vikings is a brutal, gory horror story about undead Norse raiders sacking modern New York. It is a MAX-adjacent take, far more violent than anything else here, and absolutely not for kids. If that is your thing, it is a nasty, memorable one-shot (~US$20 collected).
Thor picks at a glance
Short on time? This table narrows the shelf to the essentials.
| Book | Creators | Format | Approx. price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thor by Walter Simonson | Simonson | Omnibus / trades | ~US$125 / ~US$20 | The definitive run |
| God of Thunder Vol. 1 | Aaron / Ribic | Trade | ~US$18 | Best modern start |
| The Mighty Avenger | Langridge / Samnee | Standalone | ~US$25 | All ages, read cold |
| Epic Collection (Lee/Kirby) | Lee / Kirby | Trade | ~US$40 | Silver Age foundation |
| Thor by Donny Cates Vol. 1 | Cates / Klein | Trade | ~US$17 | Recent, propulsive |
| Thor: Vikings | Ennis / Fabry | Standalone | ~US$20 | Mature horror only |
Print or digital?
Pros
- Simonson and Ribic art rewards big print pages
- Omnibuses collect whole runs at a low per-page cost
- Trades are easy to lend and re-read
Cons
- Omnibuses are heavy and expensive upfront
- Marvel digital sales often drop first volumes to a few dollars
- Digital is instant and travels well
Our take: buy the art-forward books (Simonson, God of Thunder) in print, and sample the long modern runs digitally first. Then commit to an omnibus once you know you love it.
AmazonCheck price on AmazonWhere to go next
Once you have a favorite, follow the whole saga with our Thor reading order, or widen out to the medium’s biggest cape stories in best superhero comics. For more House of Ideas classics, our best Marvel graphic novels guide is the next stop, and you can browse everything in our Marvel hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Thor comic to start with?
Walter Simonson’s run is the definitive answer, and Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1 by Jason Aaron is the best modern on-ramp. If you want something gentle and out-of-continuity, Thor: The Mighty Avenger is perfect and reads cold.
Do I need to read Thor comics in order?
Not to start. The Simonson run, God of Thunder, and The Mighty Avenger all work as self-contained starting points. For the full chronology, use our Thor reading order.
Is the Gorr the God Butcher storyline in the comics?
Yes. Gorr debuts in Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic’s Thor: God of Thunder (2012), in the “God Butcher” and “Godbomb” arcs, which later inspired the film. It is one of the best modern Thor stories and reads as a complete book.
Which Thor books are okay for kids?
Thor: The Mighty Avenger is genuinely all-ages. The Simonson and Aaron runs are fine for most teens. Avoid Thor: Vikings for younger readers — it is a gory horror story written for adults.
