Don't take my word for it. Head to the Marvel Unlimited app or get yourself one of the many 'Thor by Walter Simonson' collections (see the Collected Editions section) and have some fun! All you need are those Simonson issues and Balder the Brave's mini-series and you've got some of the greatest comics ever made!
As always, I'd like to thank the guys over at the Marvel Chronology Project which I've used as a basis and then worked out my own version of the Marvel Universe continuity.
MCG Notes:
- Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Thor stories from this time period, along with any often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
- issue listings in grey: Part of Thor's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
- Chronology: Every Thor appearance from this period is included in chronological order - mapping out his timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
- Spoilers: The are some spoilers in the story overviews, though I've tried to keep them to a minimum - just be warned!
- WANT TO KEEP IT SIMPLE? Scroll down to THE CORE LIST to see a version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less important appearances - just a list of the essentials.
- 1980-1983: Runequest (1980-1983)
First appearance of Beta Ray Bill, Lorelei, Skuttlebutt, Agnar, Nidhogg, Korbinites, Stormbreaker and Skartheim; Thor encounters an alien being who proves himself worthy of holding Mjolnir; Beta Ray Bill is awarded his very own hammer, Stormbreaker, by Odin; Thor, Beta Ray Bill and Sif (who is drawn to Bill) confront the demon hordes that threaten his people, the Korbinites; Lorelei begins her plot to make Thor hers, with help from Loki.
Avengers #240 (1984)
Thor cameo; Thor battles the demons in space.
Thor #340(pp.6-22)-341(pp.1-2) (1984)
Thor, Sif and Beta Ray Bill save the Korbinites; the enchantment that allows Thor to transform into human form is transferred to Beta Ray Bill, bringing the life of his alter Dr Donald Blake to an end; Thor returns to Earth and heads to Avengers Mansion; Fafnir emerges from the ocean during SECRET WARS.
Avengers #242(pp.19-21) (1984) / Captain America #292 (1984)Thor and Hawkeye rejoin the Avengers; Thor relays his recent changes to Wasp and Captain America and tries to help decide on the team's roster; the Avengers are alerted to a disturbance in Central Park and disappear into a gigantic machine during SECRET WARS.
Secret Wars #1-3 (1984)
First appearance of the Beyonder and Battleworld; the Avengers are among the many heroes transported to Battleworld by the Beyonder to fight a selection of Earth's greatest villains; the Enchantress lures Thor from the battle during SECRET WARS.
Thor #383 (1987)
A lengthy flashback sequence reveals how the Enchantress tries to seduce Thor on Battleworld.
First appearance of Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter), Titania and Volcana; Thor rejoins his allies to defeat the villains; Doctor Doom initially steals much of the Beyonder's power and kills the heroes; the heroes are resurrected by Zsaji and the machines on Battleworld and defeat Doom before being transported back to Earth during SECRET WARS.
Avengers #243(pp.15-16) (1984) / Amazing Spider-Man #252(p.6-7) (1984)
Avengers #243(p.16) (1984) / Iron Man #182(p.16) (1984)
Avengers #243(p.17) (1984)
Code of Honor #3(pp.39) (1997)
The Avengers return to Earth during SECRET WARS.
Avengers #243(pp.18-22) (1984)
The Vision heads up a debriefing, alerting the Avengers to the threat of the Dire Wraiths during TOTAL WAR.
1985 #6 (2008)
Thor, the Avengers and the other heroes retrieve the villains who have escaped into Earth-1219.
Thor #385 (1987)
Thor does more harm than good when he tries to stop the Hulk's latest rampage.
First appearance of Eilif the Dragonslayer; first appearance of Thor as Sigurd Jarlson; first appearance of Surtur's Sword as the Twilight Sword; Nick Fury arranges for a new civilian identity for Thor; Thor battles Fafnir with help from a lost Asgardian warrior; Surtur prepares to launch an assault on Asgard.
Thor #344 (1984)
First appearance of Malekith and Silverhoof; Thor continues to be seduced by Lorelei; Balder the Brave confronts Loki in his quest for revenge; Loki makes a deal with Malekith.
First appearance of the Crossroads; Thor assists Doctor Strange, Spider-Man and the Avengers in ending the Hulk's most violent rampage, yet.
Avengers Annual #13 (1984)
Thor and his fellow Avengers take on Arnim Zola's army of Hulk Duplicates.
Avengers #249(pp.1-10) (1984)
Thor #350(pp.13-14) / Avengers #249(pp.10-12) (1984)
Avengers #249(pp.12-22) (1984)
Thor #350(pp.14-22)-352(pp.1-9) (1984-1985)
First appearance of Algrim, Roger Willis, Wormwood, the Hounds of the Hunter, the Casket of Ancient Winters, the Hunting Horn of Faerie and Svartalfheim; Thor's efforts to stop Malekith from unleashing the power within the Casket of Ancient Winters have disastrous consequences; Surtur sends his demonic army to New York where the heroes rally to Thor's side; Surtur makes his way to Asgard where he faces Odin during THE SURTUR SAGA.
Code of Honor #4(pp.5-8) (1997)
Sif and Beta Ray Bill battle Surtur's demons on the streets of Manhattan.
Thor #352(pp.10-22)-354(pp.1-10) (1985)
Loki joins Thor and Odin in the fight against Surtur; Odin sacrifices himself to end Surtur and save Asgard during THE SURTUR SAGA.
Thor Annual #13 (1985)
Thor enters Mephisto's realm to rescue Ulik the Troll's brother.
Marvel Team-Up #148 (1984)
Spider-Man and Thor confront the true Black Abbott.
Marvel Graphic Novel #17: Revenge of the Living Monolith (1985)
First appearance of the Living Monolith as the Living Planet; first appearance of Apocalypse (unnamed); Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers join forces against the Living Monolith.
X-Men and Alpha Flight #1-2 (1985-1986)
No Thor appearance; first appearance of Those Who Sit Above in Shadow; Loki manipulates the X-Men and Alpha Flight during ASGARDIAN WARS.
Rom #65 (1985)
No Thor appearance; Beta Ray Bill joins the heroes of Earth in repelling the invading Dire Wraiths during WRAITH WAR.
First appearance of the Green Liberation Front; first appearance of Buri as Tiwaz; Thor meets his great-grandfather, Buri.
Thor #357-359 (1985)
Beta Ray Bill and Sif fight the Titanium Man and the Green Liberation Front on Earth; Lorelei agrees to help Loki obtain the empty Asgardian throne; the Enchantress has her revenge on Lorelei.
Power Pack #15 (1985)
No Thor appearance; first appearance of Kofi Whitemane; Sif, Beta Ray Bill and the Warriors Three come to Power Pack's aid when Carmody tries to kidnap them during THE KID WHO FELL TO EARTH.
No Thor appearance; first appearance of Kofi Whitemane; Sif, Beta Ray Bill and the Warriors Three come to Power Pack's aid when Carmody tries to kidnap them during THE KID WHO FELL TO EARTH.
Thor #360(pp.1-14) (1985)
Thor finds a way for the Asgardians trapped on Earth to return home and battles the Angerboda.
Secret Wars II #4 (1985)
A version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less important appearances - just a list of the essentials:
Thor's reading order will continue:
Thor finds a way for the Asgardians trapped on Earth to return home and battles the Angerboda.
Secret Wars II #4 (1985)
No Thor appearance; the Beyonder frees Algrim the Elf and gives him new powers, allowing him to search for Thor and have his revenge during SECRET WARS II.
Secret Wars II #5 (1985)
First appearance of Boom-Boom; the Beyonder monitors Algrim's progress; alongside the Avengers and Fantastic Four, Thor attacks the Beyonder without provocation during SECRET WARS II.
Balder the Brave #1 (1985)
Secret Wars II #5 (1985)
First appearance of Boom-Boom; the Beyonder monitors Algrim's progress; alongside the Avengers and Fantastic Four, Thor attacks the Beyonder without provocation during SECRET WARS II.
No Thor appearance; Karnilla tries to prevent Balder from learning Odin's fate.
Thor #360(pp.15-22) (1985)
Thor, Balder, Skurge the Executioner and the Einherjar depart Asgard for a journey into Hel to free the souls of mortals taken by Hela.
New Mutants Special Edition #1 (1985)
Uncanny X-Men Annual #9 (1985)
No Thor appearance; first appearance of Brightwind, Prince Hrimhari and Princess Kindra; first appearance of Storm as a 'Goddess of Thunder'; Storm is kidnapped by Loki who became obsessed with her after watching her fight Surtur's demon hordes; the New Mutants end up on Asgard where they meet the Warriors Three in their search for Storm; the New Mutants and Storm are rescued by the X-Men, leaving Loki and the Enchantress defeated during ASGARDIAN WARS.
Secret Wars II #6 (1985)
No Thor appearance; first appearance of Algrim the Elf as Kurse; Beta Ray Bill and Kurse cameos; Kurse mistakes Beta Ray Bill for Thor and defeats him during SECRET WARS II.
Power Pack #18 (1986)
No Thor appearance; Power Pack bury the rampaging Kurse under the partially constructed building during SECRET WARS II.
Thor #361-362 (1985)
Thor and friends enter Hel where Thor battles Hela herself; Thor discovers Hela's one weakness but is left horrifically scarred; Thor's newest ally falls in battle.
Thor #363 (1986)
Thor returns to Earth; Thor, Beta Ray Bill and Power Pack join forces to take on Kurse; Loki transforms Thor into a frog during SECRET WARS II.
Power Pack #19 (1986)
No Thor appearance; Beta Ray Bill helps out the Power Pack kids.
Thor #364-365(pp.1-18) (1986)
First appearance of Puddlegulp and Grand Thane; in frog form, Thor travels across New York in search of a way to regain his godly form.
Secret Wars #9 (1986)
No Thor appearance - Thor appears here in error, but it could be explained as Harokin disguised as Thor, having been transported to the gathering of heroes by accident; 'Thor' joins the final battle against the Beyonder during SECRET WARS II.
New Mutants #38 (1986)
In frog form, Thor visits Mirage of the New Mutants.
Thor #365(pp.19-22)-366 (1986)
After making it across New York as a frog, Thor is reunited with Mjolnir, transformed into a 'Frog of Thunder' and returns to Asgard to upset Loki's efforts to take the Asgardian throne; Volstagg locates the Twilight Sword; Kurse finds himself in Hel.
Balder #2-4 (1986)
No Thor appearance; Balder and Agnar go on a mission to rescue Karnilla when she's kidnapped by Utgard-Loki and the Frost Giants; Balder regains his confidence.
Thor, Balder, Skurge the Executioner and the Einherjar depart Asgard for a journey into Hel to free the souls of mortals taken by Hela.
New Mutants Special Edition #1 (1985)
Uncanny X-Men Annual #9 (1985)
No Thor appearance; first appearance of Brightwind, Prince Hrimhari and Princess Kindra; first appearance of Storm as a 'Goddess of Thunder'; Storm is kidnapped by Loki who became obsessed with her after watching her fight Surtur's demon hordes; the New Mutants end up on Asgard where they meet the Warriors Three in their search for Storm; the New Mutants and Storm are rescued by the X-Men, leaving Loki and the Enchantress defeated during ASGARDIAN WARS.
Secret Wars II #6 (1985)
No Thor appearance; first appearance of Algrim the Elf as Kurse; Beta Ray Bill and Kurse cameos; Kurse mistakes Beta Ray Bill for Thor and defeats him during SECRET WARS II.
Power Pack #18 (1986)
No Thor appearance; Power Pack bury the rampaging Kurse under the partially constructed building during SECRET WARS II.
Thor #361-362 (1985)
Thor and friends enter Hel where Thor battles Hela herself; Thor discovers Hela's one weakness but is left horrifically scarred; Thor's newest ally falls in battle.
Thor returns to Earth; Thor, Beta Ray Bill and Power Pack join forces to take on Kurse; Loki transforms Thor into a frog during SECRET WARS II.
Power Pack #19 (1986)
No Thor appearance; Beta Ray Bill helps out the Power Pack kids.
Thor #364-365(pp.1-18) (1986)
First appearance of Puddlegulp and Grand Thane; in frog form, Thor travels across New York in search of a way to regain his godly form.
Secret Wars #9 (1986)
No Thor appearance - Thor appears here in error, but it could be explained as Harokin disguised as Thor, having been transported to the gathering of heroes by accident; 'Thor' joins the final battle against the Beyonder during SECRET WARS II.
New Mutants #38 (1986)
In frog form, Thor visits Mirage of the New Mutants.
After making it across New York as a frog, Thor is reunited with Mjolnir, transformed into a 'Frog of Thunder' and returns to Asgard to upset Loki's efforts to take the Asgardian throne; Volstagg locates the Twilight Sword; Kurse finds himself in Hel.
Balder #2-4 (1986)
No Thor appearance; Balder and Agnar go on a mission to rescue Karnilla when she's kidnapped by Utgard-Loki and the Frost Giants; Balder regains his confidence.
Thor #367-369 (1986)
Balder the Brave and Agnar battle Utgard-Loki and his fellow Frost Giants to rescue the kidnapped Karnilla; Balder regains his abilities and confidence and is selected to become ruler of Asgard; Kurse attacks Balder; Thor attempts to free Balder from Uglitha's temptations.
Marvel Comics Presents #66[4/4] (1990)
No Thor appearance; the Enchantress manipulates Volstagg into stealing a gem from Balder.
Thor #371-373(pp.1-5) (1986)
First appearance of Justice Peace, the Hopsickle and the Time Variance Authority; first appearance of Thug Thatcher as Zaniac; Thug Thatcher and Zaniac return; Thug becomes the new Zaniac; Justice Peace arrives in the present day to protect Jane Foster; Thor returns to Earth.
Eternals #12 (1986)
Thor and his fellow Avengers join the Eternals' fight against the Deviant called Ghaur when he gains the power of a Celestial.
Daredevil #233 (1986)
Thor cameo; Thor puts out the fires caused by Nuke's assault on Hell's Kitchen during BORN AGAIN.
Thor #373(pp.7-23)-374 (1986)
Thor learns of the massacre in the Morlock tunnels from his frog friends; Thor battles the Marauders, returns the wounded Angel to X-Factor and purges the tunnels of the dead; Hela magically makes Thor's bones brittle during MUTANT MASSACRE.
Balder the Brave and Agnar battle Utgard-Loki and his fellow Frost Giants to rescue the kidnapped Karnilla; Balder regains his abilities and confidence and is selected to become ruler of Asgard; Kurse attacks Balder; Thor attempts to free Balder from Uglitha's temptations.
Marvel Comics Presents #66[4/4] (1990)
No Thor appearance; the Enchantress manipulates Volstagg into stealing a gem from Balder.
First appearance of Justice Peace, the Hopsickle and the Time Variance Authority; first appearance of Thug Thatcher as Zaniac; Thug Thatcher and Zaniac return; Thug becomes the new Zaniac; Justice Peace arrives in the present day to protect Jane Foster; Thor returns to Earth.
Eternals #12 (1986)
Thor and his fellow Avengers join the Eternals' fight against the Deviant called Ghaur when he gains the power of a Celestial.
Daredevil #233 (1986)
Thor cameo; Thor puts out the fires caused by Nuke's assault on Hell's Kitchen during BORN AGAIN.
Thor learns of the massacre in the Morlock tunnels from his frog friends; Thor battles the Marauders, returns the wounded Angel to X-Factor and purges the tunnels of the dead; Hela magically makes Thor's bones brittle during MUTANT MASSACRE.
West Coast Avengers Annual #1 (1986)
Thor helps locate the traitor in the Avengers' ranks during WAR OF THE ELDERS OF THE UNIVERSE.
Avengers #276-277 (1987)
Thor returns to the Avengers in time to oust the Masters of Evil from Avengers Mansion during UNDER SIEGE.
Thor #375-379(pp.1-7) (1986)
Thor #379(p.8) / X-Factor #17(pp.1-2) (1986)
First appearance of Thor's Battle Armour; Loki tricks Thor into believing he's facing a mortal magically disguised as the Absorbing Man, rather than the real thing; Loki kidnaps X-Factor's Iceman and increases his powers in order to recreate the Frost Giants; after Thor gains new battle armour to protect his fragile skelton, frees Iceman and ruins Loki's plans during THIS HALLOWED ARMOR.
Avengers #278-279 (1987)
Thor returns to the Avengers as they set up their new headquarters on Hydrobase.
Avengers #281-285 (1987)
Zeus transports the Avengers to Olympia to punish them for the injuries recently suffered by Hercules while serving on their team; Thor leaves the Avengers.
Thor #379(pp.9-22) (1987)
First appearance of Jormungand as 'Fin Fang Foom'; Thor is challenged to a fight by Fin Fang Foom, only for him to 'unmask' as Jormungand during THIS HALLOWED ARMOR.
Thor #380 (1987)
Mephisto Vs #4(pp.1-20) (1987)
Thor #381(pp.1-3) (1987)
Mephisto Vs #4(pp.4-22) (1987)
Thor's victory over the Midgard Serpent leaves him open to Mephisto's plot to obtain his soul; Thor is defended by the Avengers; Thor inhabits the Destroyer during THIS HALLOWED ARMOR / MEPHISTO VS.
Thor #382 (1987)
Thor's war with Hela culminates in an explosive final battle; Thor finally confronts Loki over all of his recent manipulations during THIS HALLOWED ARMOR.
Thor helps locate the traitor in the Avengers' ranks during WAR OF THE ELDERS OF THE UNIVERSE.
Avengers #276-277 (1987)
Thor returns to the Avengers in time to oust the Masters of Evil from Avengers Mansion during UNDER SIEGE.
Thor #379(p.8) / X-Factor #17(pp.1-2) (1986)
First appearance of Thor's Battle Armour; Loki tricks Thor into believing he's facing a mortal magically disguised as the Absorbing Man, rather than the real thing; Loki kidnaps X-Factor's Iceman and increases his powers in order to recreate the Frost Giants; after Thor gains new battle armour to protect his fragile skelton, frees Iceman and ruins Loki's plans during THIS HALLOWED ARMOR.
Avengers #278-279 (1987)
Thor returns to the Avengers as they set up their new headquarters on Hydrobase.
Zeus transports the Avengers to Olympia to punish them for the injuries recently suffered by Hercules while serving on their team; Thor leaves the Avengers.
Thor #379(pp.9-22) (1987)
First appearance of Jormungand as 'Fin Fang Foom'; Thor is challenged to a fight by Fin Fang Foom, only for him to 'unmask' as Jormungand during THIS HALLOWED ARMOR.
Mephisto Vs #4(pp.1-20) (1987)
Thor #381(pp.1-3) (1987)
Mephisto Vs #4(pp.4-22) (1987)
Thor's victory over the Midgard Serpent leaves him open to Mephisto's plot to obtain his soul; Thor is defended by the Avengers; Thor inhabits the Destroyer during THIS HALLOWED ARMOR / MEPHISTO VS.
Thor #382 (1987)
Thor's war with Hela culminates in an explosive final battle; Thor finally confronts Loki over all of his recent manipulations during THIS HALLOWED ARMOR.
- Thor #337-340
- Secret Wars #1-12
- Thor #341-355
- Thor #357-360
- Balder the Brave #1
- Power Pack #18
- Thor #361-366
- Balder the Brave #2-4
- Thor #367-369
- Thor #371-374
- Avengers #276-277
- Thor #375-382
- 1987-1991: War of the Pantheons
- 1991-1993: Eric Masterson
Thor by Walter Simonson vol.1-5
Thor by Walter Simonson Omnibus
Thor Visionaries: Walter Simonson vol.1-5
Thor by Walter Simonson Omnibus
Thor Visionaries: Walter Simonson vol.1-5
Balder the Brave #1-4
Thor #337-355, 357-369, 371-382
Avengers: Absolute Vision vol.2
Includes...
Avengers: Absolute Vision vol.2
Includes...
Avengers #242, 249
Avengers Annual #13
Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars
Secret Wars
Secret Wars #1-12.
Secret Wars: Battleworld Box Set Slipcase
Includes...
Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars
Secret Wars
Secret Wars #1-12.
Secret Wars: Battleworld Box Set Slipcase
Includes...
Avengers #242
Secret Wars #1-12
Secret Wars II #5, 9
Thor #363, 383
Thor Epic Collection vol.16: War of the Pantheons
Thor vs Hulk
Both include...
Thor #385
Hulk vs the Marvel Universe
Incredible Hulk: Regression
Both include...
Incredible Hulk #300
Avengers Epic Collection vol.16: Under Siege
Avengers: The Vibranium Collection
Avengers: Under Siege
All include...
Avengers #376-377
Avengers: Assault on Olympus
Avengers Epic Collection vol.17: Judgement Day
Both include...
Avengers #278-279, 281-285
Mephisto: Speak of the Devil
Mephisto Vs
Both include...
Thor Epic Collection vol.16: War of the Pantheons
Thor vs Hulk
Both include...
Thor #385
Hulk vs the Marvel Universe
Incredible Hulk: Regression
Both include...
Incredible Hulk #300
Avengers Epic Collection vol.16: Under Siege
Avengers: The Vibranium Collection
Avengers: Under Siege
All include...
Avengers #376-377
Avengers: Assault on Olympus
Avengers Epic Collection vol.17: Judgement Day
Both include...
Avengers #278-279, 281-285
Mephisto: Speak of the Devil
Mephisto Vs
Both include...
Mephisto Vs #4
Balder the Brave
Balder the Brave #1-4
Balder the Brave
Balder the Brave #1-4
Thor #360-362
Mighty Thor: The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill
Thor #337-340.
Thor of the Realms
Includes...
Thor #347-349
Power Pack Classic vol.3
Power Pack Omnibus vol.1
Secret Wars II Omnibus
All include...
Mighty Thor: The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill
Thor #337-340.
Thor of the Realms
Includes...
Thor #347-349
Power Pack Classic vol.3
Power Pack Omnibus vol.1
Secret Wars II Omnibus
All include...
Power Pack #18
Thor #363
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