The Ultimate Thor Reading Order for New Fans

The Ultimate Thor Reading Order for New Fans

1. Start with Norse myth basics (context)

• Prose Edda — Snorri Sturluson (select translations)
• Poetic Edda — key poems featuring Thor (e.g., Hymir, Hymiskvida)

2. Golden & Silver Age Marvel (classic context)

• Journey into Mystery #83–125 (first Thor stories)
• Thor #126–179 (continued Silver Age numbering)

3. Bronze Age to Modern classics (build the foundation)

• Thor: The Mighty Avenger (for a modern reimagining)
• Thor: God of Thunder — Volume 1: The God Butcher (Jason Aaron)
• Thor: God of Thunder — Volume 2: Godbomb (Jason Aaron)

4. Key runs to follow next (essential modern arcs)

• The Mighty Thor (2011) — by Matt Fraction & Kieron Gillen (start with Journey Into Mystery #622–637 and Thor #1–12)
• Thor: God of Thunder (2012–2014) — Jason Aaron (full run, introduces Gorr)
• The Mighty Thor (2015–2018) — by Jason Aaron (introduces Jane Foster as Thor)
  • Collected as “The Mighty Thor by Jason Aaron” volumes

5. Important tie-ins and crossovers (optional but recommended)

• Original Sin (important for Thor moments)
• Thor vs. Loki: The Tenth Realm (mini-series)
• War of the Realms (event affecting Thor and the Nine Realms)

6. Recent and ongoing stories (to stay current)

• King Thor (epilogue/continuation in Jason Aaron’s work)
• Any new Thor relaunches—check latest collected editions for 2024–2026 releases

7. Reading order (concise, suggested roadmap)

1. Prose/Poetic Edda selections
2. Journey into Mystery #83–125; Thor #126–179
3. Thor: The Mighty Avenger (trade paperback)
4. Thor: God of Thunder — Vol. 1–3 (Jason Aaron)
5. The Mighty Thor (2011) & Journey Into Mystery issues listed above
6. The Mighty Thor (2015) — Jane Foster storyline
7. War of the Realms event
8. King Thor and recent one-shots

Buying and edition tips

• Prefer trade paperback omnibuses for collected runs (Jason Aaron omnibus editions).
• Use reading-order guides from comic shops or apps (Marvel Unlimited, Comixology).

Quick notes

• If you prefer myth-first: read the Eddas before comics.
• If you prefer MCU-first: start with modern Jason Aaron and The Mighty Thor (2015) to follow themes used in films.