Thor: The Essential Reading List

By Iann Robinson

Thor: The Dark World is right around the corner. On Friday, November 8th, the next film in Marvel’s second wave lands with an Earth-shattering ka-boom. While all are excited to watch Thor do battle in 3-D, some are confused as to the epic background of the God of Thunder. Thor burst into the scene in comic book form back in 1961, and has been a consistent character since then. 50 years is a lot to comb through, so where do you begin? Fear not, true believers, as I, Iann Robinson, your helping hand in the dark world of comics, am here to assist you. Boldly, and with hammer raised high, I deliver the Ten Essential Thor Readings.

You’re welcome.

 

Thor: The Essential Reading List

  • 10. THOR: FIRST THUNDER

    10. THOR: FIRST THUNDER

    Writer: Bryan J.L. Glass, Art: Tan Eng Huat

    For those who want a rebooted, shined up, and more cohesive idea of who Thor is, I give you Thor: First Thunder. Glass writes a wonderful look at the God of Thunder’s first year, including who Donald Blake is, why Thor is walking the Earth, and how Donald Blake’s secret connects them. There’s also some great action, including Thor’s first encounter with Iron Man and Reed Richards.

  • 9. THOR: FOR ASGARD

    9. THOR: FOR ASGARD

    Writer: Robert Rodi, Art: Simone Bianchi

    An interesting adventure for Thor. Stuck in the middle of an armed revolt, with Odin missing and the world being beaten down by a year-long winter, Thor must try to protect his empire without his hammer, Mjolnir, which has decided to deny him.

  • 8. THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER VOL. 2

    8. THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER VOL. 2

    Writer: Roger Langridge, Art: Chris Samnee

    One of the most entertaining collections of Thor stories, The Mighty Avenger features our hero battling Sub-Mariner, Fin Fang Foom, and stepping up to the side of Iron Man. The art on this run by Samnee is absolutely outstanding.

  • 7. THOR

    7. THOR

    Writer: J. Michael Straczynski, Art: Olivier Coipel, Marko Djurdjevic & David Aja

    Awakening from his years asleep, Thor returns to find Asgard now hovers over a small town in middle America. The fallen warriors of the realm are hidden within earthly beings and it’s up to Thor to free them. This run also marks a return to the connection between Thor and Dr. Donald Blake.

  • 6: THE MIGHTY THOR: THE LOST GODS

    6: THE MIGHTY THOR: THE LOST GODS

    Writer: Tom DeFalco, Art: Mike Deodato, Sal Buscema

    Thor is dead. If that wasn’t bad enough, the gods are walking in the world of mortal men with no memory of who they are. Can they awaken and unite to stand against Seth, God of Death, before he lays waste to the universe?

  • 5: THOR: TALES OF ASGARD

    5: THOR: TALES OF ASGARD

    Writer: Stan Lee, Art: Jack Kirby

    Here, the team of Kirby and Lee take to explaining the story of Asgard. Focused more on the outer realms, Tales of Asgard explains the origins of the Frost and Storm giants, plus a deeper look at Heimdall and even the creation of Asgard. For those more interested in the god-like tales of Thor, this is another Kirby/Lee must own.

  • 4. AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED: THE MIGHTY THOR

    4. AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED: THE MIGHTY THOR

    Writer: Michael Avon Oeming, Art: Andrea Di Vito

    One of my favorite runs of Thor. Though the arc was only a few issues, it had one of the strongest impacts on the character. After the fall of the Avengers, Asgard is left vulnerable. Thor’s devious brother Loki attacks Asgard, forcing an already exhausted Thor, along with the Warriors Three, to fight the most important battle of their lives. At the end, Thor drives Loki back, but at the loss of everything. Thor then slips into Odinsleep and the character is removed from the Marvel continuity for several years.

  • 3. THE MIGHTY THOR OMNIBUS VOL. 1

    3. THE MIGHTY THOR OMNIBUS VOL. 1

    Writer: Stan Lee, Art: Jack Kirby

    While the reboot of Thor is less expansive, nothing comes close to the original stories from Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. These are the tales that allowed Thor to be such an enduring character. Kirby’s art is outstanding, and Lee creates a universe that will astonish you.

  • 2. THOR: THE DEATH OF ODIN

    2. THOR: THE DEATH OF ODIN

    Writer: Dan Jurgens, Art: Walter Taborda, Jim Starlin, Stuart Immonen, Joe Bennett & Tom Grummett

    Considered the second best run of Thor, Jurgens excelled at expanding the identity of the God of Thunder. An ancient evil stalks the planet Earth, one that can only be stopped by Thor and the Gods of Asgard. However, victory comes at a terrible price - one that will cause ripples throughout Asgard for all time.

  • 1. THE MIGHTY THOR BY WALTER SIMONSON

    1. THE MIGHTY THOR BY WALTER SIMONSON

    Writer: Walt Simonson, Art: Walt Simonson, Sal Buscema

    The Walt Simonson run on Thor is easily the greatest in the history of the character. Simonson is allowed full artistic freedom, and he lets the ideas flow. From the bizarre Thor Frog, to the introduction of Beta Ray Bill, Simonson redefined Thor, and created a legendary run that is untouchable.

Iann Robinson
Iann Robinson

Iann Robinson started his career early writing for Sound Views magazine and spreading all the way to Japan Warp. In 1996 he created the wildly popular cable access show Monkey Butt Sex. In the four years it was on Robinson interviewed dozens of bands ranging from Sick Of It All to The Melvins as well as cementing his name in the underground music world. From Monkey Butt Sex, Robinson began MBS Productions, directing small budget videos for Hedpe, H20, Napalm Death, Sick Of It All, Warzone, and others. This led to the next big phase of Robinson’s career, MTV. In 2000 Iann Robinson became an on air news reporter and quickly attracted both bands and fans with his honest and often brutal opinions. After MTV Robinson began writing for Crave Online as well as starting his own small press comic shop Isolation Disorder Comics. Robinson also produced and starred in the on-line pop culture show Dude, That’s Awesome.

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