Thor Reading Order: The God of Thunder
From Simonson's classic to Aaron's modern epic.
By Web Admin
Thor is the Marvel hero most likely to intimidate a new reader, and it’s easy to see why: sixty years of Norse mythology, Shakespearean dialogue, cosmic gods, and enough continuity to fill Asgard’s vaults. But here’s the secret longtime fans know — you can skip almost all of it. The God of Thunder’s greatness is concentrated in two towering runs, and either one is a perfect place to begin. This is our recommended Thor reading order, from Walt Simonson’s 1980s classic to Jason Aaron’s modern epic, with the collected editions to actually buy.
Thor works differently from a street-level hero like Daredevil. His best stories are sagas — sprawling, operatic, mythic — and they reward being read as complete runs rather than cherry-picked issues. The plan below gives you two clean entry points and a path through the essentials.
The two best places to start
For a modern reader, start with Jason Aaron’s Thor: God of Thunder (2012). It’s accessible, spectacular, and kicks off the single greatest continuous Thor saga ever written. For a taste of the classic era — and the run that defined Thor for a generation — start with Walt Simonson’s Thor (1983). Both are considered all-time greats, and both work with essentially no prior reading. Our top pick for newcomers is Aaron; for readers who love vintage superhero comics, Simonson.
Stage 1: Walt Simonson’s Thor (the classic run)
Walt Simonson wrote and drew Thor from 1983 to 1987, and it remains the gold standard. He brought a bold, mythic energy to the book, introduced the alien Beta Ray Bill (who famously proves worthy of lifting Mjolnir), and delivered the legendary “Ragnarok” and Surtur sagas. Simonson’s booming sound effects, dynamic layouts, and reverence for Norse myth made this the definitive take for decades.
- Thor by Walt Simonson Omnibus — collects the complete run (roughly Thor #337–382 plus related issues). The best single-volume way to own it.
- Also available as the more affordable Thor by Walt Simonson trade paperbacks (five volumes) if you’d rather sample first.
If you want to know why Thor fans revere Simonson, read the Beta Ray Bill arc that opens the run — it’s one of the finest superhero stories of the 1980s and sits comfortably on our best Marvel graphic novels list.
Stage 2: J.M. Straczynski’s Thor (the modern relaunch)
After Thor was written out of continuity for a few years, J. Michael Straczynski relaunched the title in 2007 with artist Olivier Coipel. He brought Thor back to Earth — literally rebuilding Asgard as a floating city above small-town Oklahoma — in a grounded, character-driven run that made the god feel human again. It’s collected in Thor by J. Michael Straczynski (three volumes) or the accompanying omnibus. This run also heavily influenced the tone of the first Thor film.
Stage 3: Jason Aaron’s Thor (the modern epic)
This is the main event. Jason Aaron wrote Thor for seven years (2012–2019), and it’s the most acclaimed sustained run the character has ever had — a single, interconnected saga best read in order. It breaks into three great movements:
- Thor: God of Thunder (with Esad Ribic) — Thor battles Gorr the God Butcher across past, present, and future. The Love and Thunder film drew its villain from here. This is your starting point.
- The Mighty Thor / Thor (Jane Foster era) — when Thor is deemed unworthy, Jane Foster lifts Mjolnir and becomes the Goddess of Thunder. A moving, Eisner-winning arc that also tells Jane’s story as she battles cancer. Read Thor, Vol. 1: The Goddess of Thunder onward.
- The Mighty Thor: The Death of the Mighty Thor and then The War of the Realms — the epic, universe-spanning finale where Malekith’s war engulfs all Ten Realms. It’s the culmination of everything Aaron built.
Read chronologically, Aaron’s run is one of the great modern Marvel epics. If you only read one era of Thor, make it this one.
Stage 4: Donny Cates and beyond (the current era)
Following Aaron, Donny Cates and artist Nic Klein took over in 2020, with Thor now the King of Asgard grappling with the burdens of the throne. Start with Thor by Donny Cates, Vol. 1: The Devourer King. It’s a strong modern jumping-on point if you’d prefer to begin with something current rather than working through the back catalogue.
Reading order at a glance
| Step | Run / Story | Collects | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thor by Walt Simonson | #337–382 | The classic foundation |
| 2 | Thor by J.M. Straczynski | 2007 relaunch | Grounded, human Thor |
| 3 | Thor: God of Thunder | #1–25 (2012) | Best modern start |
| 4 | The Mighty Thor (Jane Foster) | 2015 relaunch | Award-winning arc |
| 5 | War of the Realms | 2019 event | Aaron’s finale |
| 6 | Thor by Donny Cates | 2020 relaunch | Current readers |
A shorter path if you only want the highlights
If sixty years of thunder feels like a lot, here’s the express route to the character’s peaks:
- Thor by Walt Simonson Omnibus (or the first TPB) — the classic, in one purchase.
- Thor: God of Thunder — The God Butcher & Godbomb — the best modern arc.
- Thor: The Goddess of Thunder — the Jane Foster era’s essential opening.
Those three give you the definitive classic and the definitive modern take without wading through everything in between. For more standout epics like these, browse our best Marvel graphic novels guide.
Where Thor fits in the wider Marvel universe
Thor is a founding Avenger, so his solo stories occasionally intersect with the team’s biggest events. You don’t need to read those to enjoy his run, but if you catch the bug, our Avengers reading order shows how the pieces connect, and our Marvel reading order for beginners maps the wider universe. You can also browse everything in one place in the Marvel hub.
AmazonCheck price on AmazonThe verdict
Thor’s reputation for being impenetrable is undeserved. Two runs — Simonson’s mythic 1980s classic and Aaron’s sprawling modern epic — contain nearly everything you need, and either one is a spectacular first read. Start with Aaron if you’re new, Simonson if you love the old-school stuff, and you’ll quickly understand why the God of Thunder inspires such devotion. Both runs earn their place among the best Marvel graphic novels ever published.
Frequently asked questions
Where should a beginner start reading Thor?
With Jason Aaron’s Thor: God of Thunder (2012) for a modern, accessible epic, or Walt Simonson’s run (1983) for the definitive classic. Both require essentially no prior reading.
Do I need to read Simonson before Jason Aaron’s run?
No. Aaron’s run stands entirely on its own. Simonson’s run is a wonderful classic worth reading, but the two are separate eras and can be read in either order.
Is the Jane Foster Thor part of the same story?
Yes. Jane Foster becoming the Goddess of Thunder is a direct continuation of Jason Aaron’s ongoing saga, so it’s best read after his God of Thunder arc rather than as a standalone.
Which Thor comic inspired the movies?
Straczynski’s run shaped the first film’s tone, while Aaron’s God of Thunder (Gorr) and the Jane Foster era directly inspired Thor: Love and Thunder. Reading them enriches the films considerably.
Next, see how Thor connects to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in our Avengers reading order, or explore more in the Marvel hub.
