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Thor by Jason Aaron #1-3
Thor by Jason Aaron: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1
A trail of blood consumes Thor's past, present and future! Throughout the ages, gods are vanishing - and Thor must unravel the gruesome mystery of Gorr the God Butcher! In the distant past, Thor discovers a cave that echoes with the cries of tortured gods. In the present, Thor follows the bloody wake of murdered gods across the depths of space. And millennia from now, the last god-king of Asgard makes his final stand. All three time-bending Thors must unite -but will it all be for naught if the massive Godbomb is triggered? Elsewhere, Malekith the Accursed makes his return! As the former lord of the dark elves begins a bloody rampage, Thor must fi nd a new league of allies to aid him! And back on Midgard, what's going on with Dr. Jane Foster?
COLLECTING: THOR: GOD OF THUNDER 1-18
COLLECTING: THOR: GOD OF THUNDER 1-18
432 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2019
99 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,411 books1,665 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
September 11, 2019
Years before I got into comics when I was just a kid who watched a lot of superhero cartoons, I wasn’t that much of a Thor fan. That might be due to the fact that guy never got his own successful Saturday morning cartoon and through his appearance in the television movie The Incredible Hulk Returns, Thor came off as goofy compared to other Marvel characters. My proper introduction to the God of Thunder was watching Chris Hemsworth’s performance in the various films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and suddenly I was converted and pursued some of his adventures in the comics.
Beginning with Kieron Gillen’s run on Journey into Mystery, which is less about Thor than it is about his mischievous adopted brother Loki as a kid, the first eighteen issues of Jason Aaron’s extensive run, now published as a Complete Collection paperback, are a perfect gateway into the Nine Realms. In the first arc that spans across three different time periods, gods are getting brutally murdered by Gorr the God Butcher. From Thor the Norse Warrior, to Thor the Avenger to Thor the last god-king of Asgard, it takes all three to join forces to rid of the butchery.
Considering that most people outside of comics are aware of Thor through the films that are a mix of cosmic adventuring and broad comedy with a touch of Norse mythology, don’t expect that light tone when reading Aaron’s run. That's not to say that Aaron doesn’t embrace the Marvel sensibilities as Thor travels to other planets, not just the other realms, whilst Iron Man make the briefest of appearances. However, what Aaron is interested in is showing the repercussions of being a god, which isn’t as mighty and in showcasing the many murders of multiple gods, no matter what race or size they are, they are just as vulnerable as the people who worship them.
As ridiculous as Thor can be, especially that he speaks in the way of Old English as oppose to his fellow Avengers, it is credited to Aaron that he makes each of the three Thors as distinct as they are interesting. Thor the Avenger is as clean-cut and likeable as you can get, but the young Norse warrior is arguably more fun as he is cocky and shows he is not yet worthy to wield the hammer Mjolnir. As for the future Thor, who is looking more like the all-father Odin, it just shows that many Marvel superheroes have a dark future ahead of them, à la Old Man Logan.
Having drawn for Marvel since the start of the millennium, artist Esad Ribić grabbed everyone’s attention with this book as this is a visually impressive spectacle where see various alien worlds, as well as the three time periods, including the Norse age where there is a great deal of love and attention from both writer and artist. Another difference between the movies and the comics is the level of action that is escalated more in the latter medium, as Ribić’s action sequences, done largely in wide panels, can be more violent than the usual superhero story with a greater deal of cleaving. There is at least one issue that Ribić didn’t draw as #6 drawn by Butch Guice is basically the backstory issue about the main villain whose motivations are understandable from his hatred of every god, and how that hatred is what becomes his downfall.
Following the time-bending narrative of “The God Butcher”, what comes next is a single issue that does for the God of Thunder what All-Star Superman does for the Man of Steel. For a god that is all-mighty and travels from realm to realm, Midgard (AKA Earth) is the planet he goes back to, where he accomplishes such good deeds for the ordinary human being, whilst having an intimate one-to-one with his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who is stricken with cancer. Drawn by Nic Klein, Thor may be seen as this grand figure, but seeing him in moments of simplicity and humanity, it’s even more breathtaking than any action set-piece.
As for the second big arc, Malekith the Accursed is freed from his imprisonment and goes on a killing spree against his own people, the Dark Elves. With Thor wishes to take Malekith down, he must fight alongside a new league of allies as they travel across the Nine Realms to defeat the former Dark Elf leader. Drawn by Ron Garney (with contributions from Ema Lupacchino), Aaron is telling a different story from “The God Butcher”, but it’s just as affecting, from the numerous interactions between the League of Realms that are antagonistic yet witty, whilst the most touching sequence involves Thor drunkenly talking to his hammer about being the man he is today, because of his family. On a side note, if you didn’t like Christopher Eccleston’s performance as Malekith in Thor: The Dark World, the Dark Elf here is as sadistic as the Joker, not least from his grin and it’s just wonderful.
Concluding with a single issue involving a troubled dragon, which is funny and dark, it sums up what is great about this initial run of Jason Aaron’s Thor, which has many layers from its mixture of Norse mythology and cosmic shenanigans, with a touch of humanity thrown into the mix.
Beginning with Kieron Gillen’s run on Journey into Mystery, which is less about Thor than it is about his mischievous adopted brother Loki as a kid, the first eighteen issues of Jason Aaron’s extensive run, now published as a Complete Collection paperback, are a perfect gateway into the Nine Realms. In the first arc that spans across three different time periods, gods are getting brutally murdered by Gorr the God Butcher. From Thor the Norse Warrior, to Thor the Avenger to Thor the last god-king of Asgard, it takes all three to join forces to rid of the butchery.
Considering that most people outside of comics are aware of Thor through the films that are a mix of cosmic adventuring and broad comedy with a touch of Norse mythology, don’t expect that light tone when reading Aaron’s run. That's not to say that Aaron doesn’t embrace the Marvel sensibilities as Thor travels to other planets, not just the other realms, whilst Iron Man make the briefest of appearances. However, what Aaron is interested in is showing the repercussions of being a god, which isn’t as mighty and in showcasing the many murders of multiple gods, no matter what race or size they are, they are just as vulnerable as the people who worship them.
As ridiculous as Thor can be, especially that he speaks in the way of Old English as oppose to his fellow Avengers, it is credited to Aaron that he makes each of the three Thors as distinct as they are interesting. Thor the Avenger is as clean-cut and likeable as you can get, but the young Norse warrior is arguably more fun as he is cocky and shows he is not yet worthy to wield the hammer Mjolnir. As for the future Thor, who is looking more like the all-father Odin, it just shows that many Marvel superheroes have a dark future ahead of them, à la Old Man Logan.
Having drawn for Marvel since the start of the millennium, artist Esad Ribić grabbed everyone’s attention with this book as this is a visually impressive spectacle where see various alien worlds, as well as the three time periods, including the Norse age where there is a great deal of love and attention from both writer and artist. Another difference between the movies and the comics is the level of action that is escalated more in the latter medium, as Ribić’s action sequences, done largely in wide panels, can be more violent than the usual superhero story with a greater deal of cleaving. There is at least one issue that Ribić didn’t draw as #6 drawn by Butch Guice is basically the backstory issue about the main villain whose motivations are understandable from his hatred of every god, and how that hatred is what becomes his downfall.
Following the time-bending narrative of “The God Butcher”, what comes next is a single issue that does for the God of Thunder what All-Star Superman does for the Man of Steel. For a god that is all-mighty and travels from realm to realm, Midgard (AKA Earth) is the planet he goes back to, where he accomplishes such good deeds for the ordinary human being, whilst having an intimate one-to-one with his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who is stricken with cancer. Drawn by Nic Klein, Thor may be seen as this grand figure, but seeing him in moments of simplicity and humanity, it’s even more breathtaking than any action set-piece.
As for the second big arc, Malekith the Accursed is freed from his imprisonment and goes on a killing spree against his own people, the Dark Elves. With Thor wishes to take Malekith down, he must fight alongside a new league of allies as they travel across the Nine Realms to defeat the former Dark Elf leader. Drawn by Ron Garney (with contributions from Ema Lupacchino), Aaron is telling a different story from “The God Butcher”, but it’s just as affecting, from the numerous interactions between the League of Realms that are antagonistic yet witty, whilst the most touching sequence involves Thor drunkenly talking to his hammer about being the man he is today, because of his family. On a side note, if you didn’t like Christopher Eccleston’s performance as Malekith in Thor: The Dark World, the Dark Elf here is as sadistic as the Joker, not least from his grin and it’s just wonderful.
Concluding with a single issue involving a troubled dragon, which is funny and dark, it sums up what is great about this initial run of Jason Aaron’s Thor, which has many layers from its mixture of Norse mythology and cosmic shenanigans, with a touch of humanity thrown into the mix.
November 19, 2019
Volume One of the Thor Complete Collection is excellent. A must read for any Thor fan and a volume that will be appreciated even by non-Thor fans.
The first big story arc is the superb God-Butcher arc. Beautifully illustrated and a great story. Someone is killing gods. As strange as that sounds, it is true. Thor goes on a quest to find this killer of Gods. A great story and well-illustrated. The story of the God Butcher was an interesting one and I did empathize with his position. One of the best Thor stories out there!
The second arc concerns that of Malekith. While the artwork in this arc wasn't nearly as good as the God Butcher arc, it was still decent. The story is excellent though. Malekith is a truly badass opponent and the ending was superb. The companions of the Realms was a funny and interesting group. But Malekith takes the cake. Too bad the artwork wasn't as good as the God Butcher arc.
There is even a rather odd story about Thor fighting a dragon whom he should be friends with.
A good collection of two major story arcs. The artwork starts off brilliant and then becomes merely decent. But both the major stories and the single issue stories all shine. Jason Aaron's Thor was superb and needs to be in the collection of any Thor fan. But, the overall quality of the story and art can cause this volume to be one that appeals to even non-Thor fans. It's just a very good story.
The first big story arc is the superb God-Butcher arc. Beautifully illustrated and a great story. Someone is killing gods. As strange as that sounds, it is true. Thor goes on a quest to find this killer of Gods. A great story and well-illustrated. The story of the God Butcher was an interesting one and I did empathize with his position. One of the best Thor stories out there!
The second arc concerns that of Malekith. While the artwork in this arc wasn't nearly as good as the God Butcher arc, it was still decent. The story is excellent though. Malekith is a truly badass opponent and the ending was superb. The companions of the Realms was a funny and interesting group. But Malekith takes the cake. Too bad the artwork wasn't as good as the God Butcher arc.
There is even a rather odd story about Thor fighting a dragon whom he should be friends with.
A good collection of two major story arcs. The artwork starts off brilliant and then becomes merely decent. But both the major stories and the single issue stories all shine. Jason Aaron's Thor was superb and needs to be in the collection of any Thor fan. But, the overall quality of the story and art can cause this volume to be one that appeals to even non-Thor fans. It's just a very good story.
September 1, 2021
Thor fights the god killer to a draw.
Thor fights the god killer again and loses to become a prisoner.
Thor learns to use his brain more and finally defeats the god killer.
In another tale, Thor deals with an escaped psycho dark elf ruler and sort of saves that realm with some colorful allies.
MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.
Thor fights the god killer again and loses to become a prisoner.
Thor learns to use his brain more and finally defeats the god killer.
In another tale, Thor deals with an escaped psycho dark elf ruler and sort of saves that realm with some colorful allies.
MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.
October 18, 2019
Back when I was cohosting a comic book podcast, I mentioned several times about how dull Thor stories are to me. Through no fault of any writer, as soon as The Avengers crossed The Rainbow Bridge, I would fall asleep. Whether it was in comics, animated shows, or the MCU. I've never been able to stay awake all the way through the original Thor movie or Dark World. I did manage to make it all the way through Ragnarok, but that was for my love of Planet Hulk.
The only Thor stories I've previously enjoyed have been Roger Langridge's The Mighty Avenger, and Aaron's own Jane Foster run of Mighty Thor
As the God Of Thunder run (collected in this volume) was coming out, several people suggested that this would be the one I loved. I picked up a few issues but didn't love it. Now that I've read even more Thor, I appreciate that this is one of the best. The God Butcher / God Bomb storyline is particularly fantastic, and the issue where Thor and Jane Foster go to the moon is pretty sweet. And that's 13/18 issues collected here. But I couldn't do more than skim over the other five.
This is not Aaron's fault. It's probably not a bad story. I just don't care for the Asgardian mythology of the Marvel Universe. That the God Butcher / God Bomb stories transcend Asgardian mythology is what makes it work for me. It's a god dealing with God sized issue against a villain with a sound logical reason to believe what they're doing is The Right Thing. That hook kept me reading even when I found myself slightly annoyed with both the Thoriness of the story, and the wibbly woobly timey wimey aspect.
If you like Thor, you'll probably love this. I would say it's the most Thor for your money, but I've read Aaron's Secret Wars: Thors, and it's better, more concise, and much more densely packed with Thors. Still, this was mostly a fun read, and Esad Ribic's art is just absolutely lush.
The only Thor stories I've previously enjoyed have been Roger Langridge's The Mighty Avenger, and Aaron's own Jane Foster run of Mighty Thor
As the God Of Thunder run (collected in this volume) was coming out, several people suggested that this would be the one I loved. I picked up a few issues but didn't love it. Now that I've read even more Thor, I appreciate that this is one of the best. The God Butcher / God Bomb storyline is particularly fantastic, and the issue where Thor and Jane Foster go to the moon is pretty sweet. And that's 13/18 issues collected here. But I couldn't do more than skim over the other five.
This is not Aaron's fault. It's probably not a bad story. I just don't care for the Asgardian mythology of the Marvel Universe. That the God Butcher / God Bomb stories transcend Asgardian mythology is what makes it work for me. It's a god dealing with God sized issue against a villain with a sound logical reason to believe what they're doing is The Right Thing. That hook kept me reading even when I found myself slightly annoyed with both the Thoriness of the story, and the wibbly woobly timey wimey aspect.
If you like Thor, you'll probably love this. I would say it's the most Thor for your money, but I've read Aaron's Secret Wars: Thors, and it's better, more concise, and much more densely packed with Thors. Still, this was mostly a fun read, and Esad Ribic's art is just absolutely lush.
July 14, 2022
This reminded me of why I love superheroes. I bought it once I found out Christian Bale was playing a character featured in this comic for the new Thor movie. Owned it for about a year and now have finished it and can say this is NOT the Thor from the movies. This Thor has a lot more in common with Leonidas than Hemsworth and the brutality feels like Game of Thrones lite. Which works lest we forget who superheroes are for. They do change artists many times but it surprisingly never bothered me, probably because I kept rationalizing why they did it and you probably will too. So the Gorr storyline is clearly the page turner, since they developed a whole movie on it, but the following story with Malekith (villain from Thor Dark World) was surprisingly awesome! I can't remember a thing from the movie but this comic volume made me think "that movie could have been much cooler." Jason Aaron I'm excited to see where you go next with this character and I totally see why you're one of the premiere comic writers now.
September 13, 2019
This was excellent. I was really impressed with my first foray into the Thor comics and am super excited to dig into Aaron's entire run.
November 14, 2019
My first foray into comics was a success! Now I want to read more!
November 28, 2021
After getting into Thor comics this year with the JMS run and filling the hole it left with Kieron Gillen and Michael Avon Oeming's runs, I took the plunge into the first chunk of Jason Aaron's beloved tenure on the title. I'd heard nothing but great things, especially about the God Butcher storyline. So, did Aaron's Thor live up to the incredible expectations placed upon it?
The short answer: yes. Aaron's Thor run is off to a solid start, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the other collections as soon as I can. Since this book collects the first three volumes of this series, I'll structure my thoughts around them individually.
*The God Butcher: My favorite arc of the collection, and I know I'm not alone. Serial killer stories can make for dark, captivating narratives, and this one is no exception. Gorr is an intimidating threat to Thor's past, present, and future, giving the god of thunder a run for his money in any era. Esad Ribić, Dean White, and Ive Svorcina's art gives the story a unique look, to the point where I wish Ribić had stayed on the title longer. There's much to love between the dark atmosphere, Thor stumbling upon Gorr's crime scenes, the interactions between gods and mortals, the themes it tackles...this story is beloved for a reason. And the cave sequence? *chef's kiss* There were a few instances where I felt Thor had regressed a bit from where he was in the JMS and Gillen runs, but if you think of this as a new take on Thor instead of the same Thor that came before (as you probably should with comic runs on the same character), you'll be fine.
*Godbomb: Because of how good The God Butcher was...I was a little disappointed with this conclusion. Not that it's bad! Think of it like going from a five-star story to a four-star one. Still really great, but not quite to the heights of what came before. There's still plenty to love - copy and paste what I said about the artwork here. Gorr is still an intimidating threat, you get a fantastic fight sequence that lasts an entire issue, the themes are going strong, the Thor interactions are really fun, and the titular godbomb is a sight to behold. The stakes are heightened, and the entire universe hangs in the balance - fitting for a story about the death of gods. My gripe with Godbomb is it's a drastic genre shift from The God Butcher. You go from a moody serial killer story to a biblical epic with cosmic proportions, and since I loved the serial killer stuff, the biblical epic was somewhat jarring. It's like if you started watching Se7en and halfway through it became The Ten Commandments. Both great in their own right, but off-kilter when you switch between them halfway through. That said, issue twelve (the "epilogue," as you might call it) might be my favorite issue of the series thus far. I think I've realized my favorite Thor stories are the ones where he spends time with ordinary people. The respect and love he has for human beings is palpable, and moments where he helps with human problems or just sits down and talks to people have a profound effect on me I can't quite explain.
*The Accursed: Rounding out the collection, The Accursed is a good start to the ongoing side of the book. While The God Butcher technically begins Aaron's run, it's largely an isolated story, whereas The Accursed reintroduces Malekith as an ongoing threat. And boy, is he a threat. While I have a more favorable opinion of The Dark World than most, it's insane to me that this version of Malekith existed at the same time as the movie's. Granted, I haven't read any Thor comics pre-Ragnorok, so I don't have any context of how Malekith was before Aaron got his hands on him. But damn, Malekith is scary here. He's a monster that keeps finding loopholes to get away from Thor's clutches just so he can kill again. While he kills without pity or remorse, he never feels like a retread of Gorr, which I appreciated. Gorr, for all his faults, had a cause you could understand despite not agreeing with his methods. Malekith seems to kill simply because he enjoys it. The League of Realms was a fun idea to explore, and I look forward to seeing those characters again. Ron Garney, Ema Lupacchino, and Lee Loughridge do well with the art (along with the returning Ive Svorcina), though I miss Esad Ribić. The ending was a bit of a head-scratcher, though I suppose it makes sense. Issue eighteen is a nice one-off I wasn't sure I'd like at first, but ended up enjoying.
Is this collection perfect? No. I do have the occasional gripe or two. That said, I totally get what all the hubbub is about. While Aaron has a ways to go before he dethrones JMS as my favorite Thor scribe, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eagerly waiting to acquire the next volume. What else is there to say? Check it out.
The short answer: yes. Aaron's Thor run is off to a solid start, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the other collections as soon as I can. Since this book collects the first three volumes of this series, I'll structure my thoughts around them individually.
*The God Butcher: My favorite arc of the collection, and I know I'm not alone. Serial killer stories can make for dark, captivating narratives, and this one is no exception. Gorr is an intimidating threat to Thor's past, present, and future, giving the god of thunder a run for his money in any era. Esad Ribić, Dean White, and Ive Svorcina's art gives the story a unique look, to the point where I wish Ribić had stayed on the title longer. There's much to love between the dark atmosphere, Thor stumbling upon Gorr's crime scenes, the interactions between gods and mortals, the themes it tackles...this story is beloved for a reason. And the cave sequence? *chef's kiss* There were a few instances where I felt Thor had regressed a bit from where he was in the JMS and Gillen runs, but if you think of this as a new take on Thor instead of the same Thor that came before (as you probably should with comic runs on the same character), you'll be fine.
*Godbomb: Because of how good The God Butcher was...I was a little disappointed with this conclusion. Not that it's bad! Think of it like going from a five-star story to a four-star one. Still really great, but not quite to the heights of what came before. There's still plenty to love - copy and paste what I said about the artwork here. Gorr is still an intimidating threat, you get a fantastic fight sequence that lasts an entire issue, the themes are going strong, the Thor interactions are really fun, and the titular godbomb is a sight to behold. The stakes are heightened, and the entire universe hangs in the balance - fitting for a story about the death of gods. My gripe with Godbomb is it's a drastic genre shift from The God Butcher. You go from a moody serial killer story to a biblical epic with cosmic proportions, and since I loved the serial killer stuff, the biblical epic was somewhat jarring. It's like if you started watching Se7en and halfway through it became The Ten Commandments. Both great in their own right, but off-kilter when you switch between them halfway through. That said, issue twelve (the "epilogue," as you might call it) might be my favorite issue of the series thus far. I think I've realized my favorite Thor stories are the ones where he spends time with ordinary people. The respect and love he has for human beings is palpable, and moments where he helps with human problems or just sits down and talks to people have a profound effect on me I can't quite explain.
*The Accursed: Rounding out the collection, The Accursed is a good start to the ongoing side of the book. While The God Butcher technically begins Aaron's run, it's largely an isolated story, whereas The Accursed reintroduces Malekith as an ongoing threat. And boy, is he a threat. While I have a more favorable opinion of The Dark World than most, it's insane to me that this version of Malekith existed at the same time as the movie's. Granted, I haven't read any Thor comics pre-Ragnorok, so I don't have any context of how Malekith was before Aaron got his hands on him. But damn, Malekith is scary here. He's a monster that keeps finding loopholes to get away from Thor's clutches just so he can kill again. While he kills without pity or remorse, he never feels like a retread of Gorr, which I appreciated. Gorr, for all his faults, had a cause you could understand despite not agreeing with his methods. Malekith seems to kill simply because he enjoys it. The League of Realms was a fun idea to explore, and I look forward to seeing those characters again. Ron Garney, Ema Lupacchino, and Lee Loughridge do well with the art (along with the returning Ive Svorcina), though I miss Esad Ribić. The ending was a bit of a head-scratcher, though I suppose it makes sense. Issue eighteen is a nice one-off I wasn't sure I'd like at first, but ended up enjoying.
Is this collection perfect? No. I do have the occasional gripe or two. That said, I totally get what all the hubbub is about. While Aaron has a ways to go before he dethrones JMS as my favorite Thor scribe, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eagerly waiting to acquire the next volume. What else is there to say? Check it out.
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March 24, 2023Finally getting around to Aaron's Thor (I read bits and pieces when it came out but never the whole thing). This is a solid start, though I'm certainly not in love with it yet. Off the bat, I like that Aaron truly treats Thor as a god, who literally answers prayers in person. The first arc about Gorr the God Butcher is Very Metal and a cool mix of sci-fi and Norse mythology that reminds me of Simonson's run. However, I don't find Gorr as compelling as Aaron wants me to, and the timey wimey bits are slightly convoluted. The second story about Malekith is... less than good. It seems more concerned with setting up later stories (and probably was meant to synergize with the second Thor movie). I guess it's fun getting a tour of the Nine Realms with Thor and his ragtag team, but I wasn't invested. Too often it descends into generic "find the villain and fight him" formulas. The two standalone issues are my favorites in the book. Issue 12 is a day-in-the-life of Thor on Earth, where he helps out various people and visits cancer-stricken Jane Foster (the scene of them on the moon reminded me of Superman and Krypto in All-Star Superman). And issue 18 is a flashback to Viking Age Thor featuring his friendship of sorts with a dragon. Nice.
Not a big fan of the art in this collection. Esad Ribic can draw some great fight scenes and outer space vistas, but the way he draws faces is wildly inconsistent. He's better suited for static covers than rushed deadline interiors. The art for the Malekith story is worse. Thankfully Russell Dauterman is right around the corner.
Not a big fan of the art in this collection. Esad Ribic can draw some great fight scenes and outer space vistas, but the way he draws faces is wildly inconsistent. He's better suited for static covers than rushed deadline interiors. The art for the Malekith story is worse. Thankfully Russell Dauterman is right around the corner.
October 28, 2020
I really enjoyed this, which is surprising as most of it is dumb as a brick. There's a bad guy killing other guys, he's got a bomb, woo time travel, now there are 3 Thors. Very silly but really well put together.
The single issue interstitials were my favourite stories. Thor and Jane go to the moon is a particularly great story.
The single issue interstitials were my favourite stories. Thor and Jane go to the moon is a particularly great story.
May 1, 2022
Ya estoy hypeado para la peli. Gorr es la hostia.
January 17, 2025
Welcome back to my comic book era. After reading some of Thor: Goddess of Thunder, I decided I needed the whole story so here we are.This first volume is visually stunning and also quite gory (the main villain is called "The God Butcher" so . . . . who is surprised honestly), and the action really kept me coming back for more and more and more. It took me a minute to put the non-linear storyline together, but solving that puzzle was part of the fun. Never fear, I'm already tracking down volume 2.
July 11, 2019
Спочатку хотів поставити найвищу оцінку, бо перші арки про вбивцю богів просто, вибачайте за тавтологію, божественна. Аарон створив цікавий епічний сюжет із трьома часовими пластами, які як розкривають еволюцію персонажа, так і задають ритм і динаміку усій історії, тому відірватись неможливо. Попри увесь пафос і епічність, Аарон також не забуває жартувати й іронізувати, що теж важливо коли герої долають мільйони світових років на кораблі чи б’ються у повітрі а-ля персонажі фільмів про кунг-фу. Малюнок теж дуже пасує усьому задуму: акуратні загнуті лінії, м’яка й де потрібно контрастна фарба, а також чудове відчуття людських рухів у просторі.
Натомість вже арка про темного ельфа не викликала такого захоплення. Зміна художника не пішла на користь серіі, тому жорстокі сцени на фоні веселого малюнку сприймаються неоднозначно. Сам концепт історії непоганий, розкривається наприкінці, але мені бракнуло масштабу й інтриги, навіть саспенсу, певної драматургії, чим і вирізнялась арка про Бога-м‘ясника. Тому й виходить, що 5+3=4 у середньому. Що стосується ван-шотів, то вони непогані, навіть цікаві місцями, але не феноменальні. У підсумку, ран Аарона на Торі однозначно варто читати, бо він не тільки освіжає персонажа, але помаленьку розширює лор, що буде дуже добре помітно в наступних арках.
Натомість вже арка про темного ельфа не викликала такого захоплення. Зміна художника не пішла на користь серіі, тому жорстокі сцени на фоні веселого малюнку сприймаються неоднозначно. Сам концепт історії непоганий, розкривається наприкінці, але мені бракнуло масштабу й інтриги, навіть саспенсу, певної драматургії, чим і вирізнялась арка про Бога-м‘ясника. Тому й виходить, що 5+3=4 у середньому. Що стосується ван-шотів, то вони непогані, навіть цікаві місцями, але не феноменальні. У підсумку, ран Аарона на Торі однозначно варто читати, бо він не тільки освіжає персонажа, але помаленьку розширює лор, що буде дуже добре помітно в наступних арках.
April 18, 2025
The god butcher arc was extremely disappointing. The multiple timelines made the story feel really choppy, and didn’t really leave room to have a cohesive character arc. There were a lot of things to explore with the setup but barely does anything with it. The idea of the god butcher being a god is interesting, but they only bring it up twice, and I feel like this book thinks it’s way smarter than it is based on the narration at the end. The second arc was the one where I had the most problems. Jason Aaron does absolutely nothing to establish the powers of the Elf. We know he’s a sorcerer, but him being more powerful than a literal god feels unrealistic because of the lack of background information, and makes it so that we don’t know what his weaknesses are. Additionally, the story just drags on, and when it finally ends it doesn’t feel satisfying. It just feels like an arbitrary ending point. Then, the chemistry between Thor and the other elf was non-existent, and it feels pretty misogynistic to have your one female character arbitrarily be in a relationship with Thor. The most infuriating part by far tho was (again) the final narration trying to assign some sort of meaning to the story. Genuinely don’t understand why people love this run so much. Sad to see such gorgeous art be wasted on such a nothing story.
July 7, 2019
The main storyline here, about the god butcherer, is an excellent throwback to the time before comics were only superheroes. It's a Robert E. Howard story instead. The water paint art (or what looks like water paint to me) complements the story, alternately abstract and startlingly precise, with excellent captures of emotion in both faces and body language. The time travel plot allows for Aaron to fully explore Thor. (Understandably, the rest of the book, IMO, does not hold up to this story.) My only kvetch is that too many of the fight sequences are difficult to follow visually. Otherwise, a great use of comics as a medium to tell a story that is best told in this form.
July 26, 2019
This is indeed one of the best Thor graphic novels ever made. The story is really compelling as Jason Aaron weaved the plot in bringing together the three incarnations of Thor against the god butcher. A page-turner and a fast read despite its 400 plus pages, it is very well written and drawn (especially the issues done by Esad Ribic), while the story of Malekith here marked the start of the now ongoing War of the Realms event.
April 15, 2024
The Gorr the God Butcher Arc here is absolute peak Thor!!! Never wanted to put it down, had so much to say, and fleshed out Thor in so many above and beyond ways! The subsequent issue was also masterfully done, but all the stories that follow are mostly just okay. Malekith is introduced in a memorable and menacing fashion, there is some neat focus on what the Nine Realms are like, but the stories are stretched out with nothing but babies-first- D&D story going on until the conclusion.
August 17, 2019
doing a reread just to get to War of the Realms... GODBOMB was just superb, Ribic's work was fantastic... THE ACCURSED was okay, Garney's work was average (some parts seem rushed, different inking), but I assume this will be very important for the WotR story.
August 29, 2019
This is a fantastic collection of Jason Aaron’s Thor. Two distinctly different storylines but they flowed from one to the other easily. The small set up for The Mighty Thor was touching. Unsure of the need for #18.
October 25, 2019
I'm just sad Skabgagg had to die.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2020
I would give it five stars if it were just the God Butcher story, but as a whole, it gets a four.
June 30, 2022
To call this a great superhero comic would be too faint a praise for this series, it is good epic fantasy. I often hear about how superhero comics are all the same, telling the same stories repeatedly with no end. But it's always sweet when there's a superhero story that breaks the mold...though it shouldn't be too surprising, the inspired author can always tell a familiar story in a new way.
Jason Aaron, at his best, often likes to start his stories with a swing to the fences and his Gorr saga is a feast of the imagination, bombastic and filled with personality and bravado. It is not as much of a superhero romp but a fantasy adventure with superhero trappings. It has the scale and vision of a great epic fantasy saga, while never being ashamed of what it is. Its dialogue is melodramatic without being overwrought. Aaron thinks big with this first part of his Thor run, and his big imagination serves him well with this story.
Admittedly, Thor is not one of the characters that I follow religiously when it comes to mainstream comics, but Aaron manages to find ways to make Thor interesting by giving him the same flaws, fears, and desires that any of us have. One of the things that Aaron excels with is characterization. Every character has a different personality and motivation, with their past experiences informing who they currently are now.
But most interesting is the characterization of Thor himself, while one might think that he would be un-relatable, he is still prone to the same issues as human beings are. Aaron's interest in religious imagery and themes shine through, with many references to different religious texts and the original mythology that inspired Marvel's version of Thor. We also see Thor being forced to confront his path as a god, and this story asks interesting questions about faith, perseverance, and what it means to be a god. Aaron takes full advantage of Thor's god status and explores what it means to be a good God and if there even is such a thing as a good God, and if gods exist, would they be worth believing in. Even Gorr becomes corrupted by the power he gains despite his hatred of gods, becoming the very thing that he ultimately despises in his quest to rid the world of gods. While this story doesn't answer the questions that it asks, it does leave crumbs for thought and is prone for more exploration in the future.
We also see Aaron once more use the non-linear structure that he used with Scalped, yet it is used with a more practiced hand and feels less chaotic. Aaron's control of the narrative is remarkable coupling with the ambition of the story that he wants to tell here. The story is well paced, with great writing and humor to keep the story from becoming too dour or overdramatic. I was also surprised by the consistent emotion that Aaron lets the reader feel as they go through this book, often in the most unexpected of places. It's also a story that feels epic, and often goes for the bombast and successfully doing so often.
Not to be forgotten is the artwork of Esad Ribic, and his style is as gorgeous and detailed as always. The tenacity and intensity of his artwork is ripe for comparison to the art of the great Frank Frazetta. He shares Frazetta's eye for badass imagery and great action sequences, so much so where he could be described as a successor of Frazetta along with the great Gerald Brom. But what makes Ribic's art pop is the amazing colors from Ive Svorcina, which is filled with so much life and personality, giving this series its identity. Even in the later art from Ron Garney, Svorcina's colors enhance Garney's visuals, though sadly not as memorable as Ribic's great art.
The story after the God Butcher arc is also very good, with plenty of great moments to spare. The story is very reminiscent is a D&D campaign or a fellowship-like fantasy story where the group of roguish adventurers go after the great evil, and it is also filled with personality and feels more like a fantasy epic than your standard superhero comic. But the story does have some flaws, like character motivation not always coming together and the occasional plot convenience to move the story along, which proved bothersome yet not immersion breaking.
I had decided to re-read the God Butcher saga since Thor: Love and Thunder is coming out in a few weeks, and to see if it still held up from the last time I read it, and I'm happy to say that it does. This isn't merely a good superhero comic, but a great fantasy epic that should make the rest of epic fantasy dip its head in shame. I can't wait to see where this goes next.
April 29, 2022
I've read the first two volumes of this ages ago. I remember liking them quite a bit but not continuing (for whatever reason) until Aaron introduced Jane Foster as Thor (which became one of my favorite runs in comics). And with the new movie on the horizon, I thought it was a good time to revisit the gaps I have in Aaron's time with Thor, and I'm glad I did! He starts with a tremendous bang, and even if what comes next is a mixed bag, it's still impressive how quickly and thoroughly Aaron made his mark on the character. For simplicity's sake, I will break down this review into each of the three volumes included in this collection.
Volume 1: A stellar, haunting story, front-to-back. Aaron starts his odyssey with Thor by firing on all cylinders, as he and Ribic create a colossal mystery for Thor to solve that carries lofty, genuine stakes. The God Butcher is a great antagonist to kickstart the series with. The multiple timelines Aaron uses to chart the mystery across Thor's lifetime is an inspired bit of plotting. Ribic's artwork is fantastic, too, and while I'll never love how he does more expressive facial reactions, his sense of scale and atmosphere are top-notch. He brings a dark, looming tension to the series that perfectly mirrors Aaron's script and brings all of its best qualities to the surface in often stunning fashion. I've read these first five issues multiple times, and they've yet to grow old.
Volume 2: The climactic second half of the God Butcher storyline loses some of its bites but is still an appropriately epic tale for Thor. Gor's backstory is pretty derivative. I admire Aaron's decision to humanize his terrifying villain—I just wish the payoff left more of an impression. The God Bomb story is neat, even though the cosmic scale ironically lessens the stakes. Ribic's artwork remains a standout, though. Even if Aaron's story lost me, the dense and grim pages brought me back. There are some stunning spreads here that make all of Aaron's crowd-pleasing moments practically leap off the page, and it rules.
Volume 3: This is a mixed bag for me. Issue 12 is the highlight, as it gives us a touching, standalone story spotlighting Thor's interactions with humanity. It's a simple anthology of vignettes that acts as a kind of reset for the series after the spectacle of the last story. I love how Aaron showcases Thor's heroism and selflessness while also revealing the toll it takes on him. The storyline that follows, which involves Thor working alongside other heroes across the realms to takedown Malekith, is mostly forgettable, though. The change in artwork works for the series—although Ribic is certainly missed—and there are still some pretty impressive images to admire. Sadly, Aaron's scripts lack momentum or stakes and feel so familiar that they lose most of the impact that the God Butcher arc is known for.
My misgivings aside, this collection remains a generally impressive debut for Aaron's time with Thor. It's honestly a solid representation of Aaron's greatest strengths (and weaknesses) as a writer. It can serve as a decent barometer for whether you'll vibe with his storytelling sensibilities or not. All of his creativity, cinematic spectacle, and ability to capture the voices of every character he works with are on full display here, even if it does share the spotlight with what ultimately becomes a somewhat generic plot. In my mind, the good outweighs the "meh," especially when viewed in the context of the broader narrative Aaron is building toward.
Volume 1: A stellar, haunting story, front-to-back. Aaron starts his odyssey with Thor by firing on all cylinders, as he and Ribic create a colossal mystery for Thor to solve that carries lofty, genuine stakes. The God Butcher is a great antagonist to kickstart the series with. The multiple timelines Aaron uses to chart the mystery across Thor's lifetime is an inspired bit of plotting. Ribic's artwork is fantastic, too, and while I'll never love how he does more expressive facial reactions, his sense of scale and atmosphere are top-notch. He brings a dark, looming tension to the series that perfectly mirrors Aaron's script and brings all of its best qualities to the surface in often stunning fashion. I've read these first five issues multiple times, and they've yet to grow old.
Volume 2: The climactic second half of the God Butcher storyline loses some of its bites but is still an appropriately epic tale for Thor. Gor's backstory is pretty derivative. I admire Aaron's decision to humanize his terrifying villain—I just wish the payoff left more of an impression. The God Bomb story is neat, even though the cosmic scale ironically lessens the stakes. Ribic's artwork remains a standout, though. Even if Aaron's story lost me, the dense and grim pages brought me back. There are some stunning spreads here that make all of Aaron's crowd-pleasing moments practically leap off the page, and it rules.
Volume 3: This is a mixed bag for me. Issue 12 is the highlight, as it gives us a touching, standalone story spotlighting Thor's interactions with humanity. It's a simple anthology of vignettes that acts as a kind of reset for the series after the spectacle of the last story. I love how Aaron showcases Thor's heroism and selflessness while also revealing the toll it takes on him. The storyline that follows, which involves Thor working alongside other heroes across the realms to takedown Malekith, is mostly forgettable, though. The change in artwork works for the series—although Ribic is certainly missed—and there are still some pretty impressive images to admire. Sadly, Aaron's scripts lack momentum or stakes and feel so familiar that they lose most of the impact that the God Butcher arc is known for.
My misgivings aside, this collection remains a generally impressive debut for Aaron's time with Thor. It's honestly a solid representation of Aaron's greatest strengths (and weaknesses) as a writer. It can serve as a decent barometer for whether you'll vibe with his storytelling sensibilities or not. All of his creativity, cinematic spectacle, and ability to capture the voices of every character he works with are on full display here, even if it does share the spotlight with what ultimately becomes a somewhat generic plot. In my mind, the good outweighs the "meh," especially when viewed in the context of the broader narrative Aaron is building toward.
October 2, 2020
This features two of the most epic story arcs I have ever read in all of superhero comics. One sets up the origins of a new villain, an antithesis of all that our protagonist, Thor, stands for--but even though Thor is the Asgardian hero whom people from across the universe pray for, the strongest and best god there is, the worthy wielder of the mystical Mjölnir, Thor's ideals tremble under the implications of this god-hating monster named Gorr. The second arc concludes the story set up in the first, and it is one that spans millennia and reaches across the universe.
This story knows exactly what it aims to do, and its execution is flawless, or near so. It is not all climax, but rather the speed/tempo of the pacing changes like in a good piece of orchestrated music--it is always done intentionally and is never to the detriment of the story--except perhaps for the first issue, which is a little on the slow side, but it still has plenty of character. The overall tone also varies, thus giving us a multi-faceted tale that takes the reader on not only a physical journey that includes Earth and mainly takes place in the wider universe, but also on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Sometimes it expresses fear and suspense, veering into horror--this is mainly at the beginning when the evil Gorr gets a chance to be a mysterious menace lurking and striking out of shadows. Sometimes it is anger fueled by Gorr's cosmic atrocities and personal affronts to Thor's wish to save the innocent. Sometimes there is doubt as a pause right before something epic happens--this veers into spoiler territory, so I will not explain it further, but it sets up a feeling of tenseness that, while not quite resolved, is fed into something that simply feels awesome. Sometimes there is humor with little jokes peppered in certain places--sharks and drinking alcohol, it all flows seamlessly. It all comes together as a page-turning and thoroughly essential Thor story. Everything that happens in the first two arcs is crafted with care and delivered just as the creators intended.
One main feature of these two story arcs that really struck me was the narration boxes. They are filled with hyperbole like the kind you would expect to find in ancient tales of heroes. The diction, however is very contemporary and easy to understand. They perfectly set the mood of most of the book and they accentuate the action happening onscreen.
The art in these two arcs is emotional and detailed and flows smoothly in the action scenes. Images of giant godly constructions are displayed with a palpable sense of scale. The faces convey all ranges of acting and being.
And then we get a cool one-shot of Thor's adventures on Midgard (Earth) with a different artist and we get to see him being a really nice person, which all in all was pretty heartwarming.
Overall, this was an excellent volume and I want to see this journey through to its end.
This story knows exactly what it aims to do, and its execution is flawless, or near so. It is not all climax, but rather the speed/tempo of the pacing changes like in a good piece of orchestrated music--it is always done intentionally and is never to the detriment of the story--except perhaps for the first issue, which is a little on the slow side, but it still has plenty of character. The overall tone also varies, thus giving us a multi-faceted tale that takes the reader on not only a physical journey that includes Earth and mainly takes place in the wider universe, but also on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Sometimes it expresses fear and suspense, veering into horror--this is mainly at the beginning when the evil Gorr gets a chance to be a mysterious menace lurking and striking out of shadows. Sometimes it is anger fueled by Gorr's cosmic atrocities and personal affronts to Thor's wish to save the innocent. Sometimes there is doubt as a pause right before something epic happens--this veers into spoiler territory, so I will not explain it further, but it sets up a feeling of tenseness that, while not quite resolved, is fed into something that simply feels awesome. Sometimes there is humor with little jokes peppered in certain places--sharks and drinking alcohol, it all flows seamlessly. It all comes together as a page-turning and thoroughly essential Thor story. Everything that happens in the first two arcs is crafted with care and delivered just as the creators intended.
One main feature of these two story arcs that really struck me was the narration boxes. They are filled with hyperbole like the kind you would expect to find in ancient tales of heroes. The diction, however is very contemporary and easy to understand. They perfectly set the mood of most of the book and they accentuate the action happening onscreen.
The art in these two arcs is emotional and detailed and flows smoothly in the action scenes. Images of giant godly constructions are displayed with a palpable sense of scale. The faces convey all ranges of acting and being.
And then we get a cool one-shot of Thor's adventures on Midgard (Earth) with a different artist and we get to see him being a really nice person, which all in all was pretty heartwarming.
Overall, this was an excellent volume and I want to see this journey through to its end.
August 23, 2022
This book was amazing Jason Aaron demonstrated masterful story telling in this volume. Gorr the God Butcher was a terrifying villain with such a powerful and compelling backstory that you almost think he’s right. The idea to tell the story in multiple time periods and use time travel was genius, it used the idea of on immortal being such as Thor to create unique situations and expand mythology and lore into more unique corners. Seeing King Thors world and the lengths Gorr went to to create his godbomb was so intense and epic. When the three Thors finally defeated Gorr the payoff and ending to the 11 issue Gorr story was so good and incredibly satisfying I was almost content to never read Thor again. But he kept going, the next issue was filler that set up some plot points for later on in Aaron’s run and catch us up with Thors supporting cast. The next five issue were dedicated to Malekith escaping Hel and wrecking havoc on the nine realms setting up Aaron’s late event the war of the realms. It ended with a filler issue of young Thor fighting a dragon which was fine. The art was so good through this volume too. Esad Ribićs’ paintings during the Gorr story was beautiful and his covers for the whole series are such beautiful art they could hang in museums. Ron Garney did a very good job putting life and color into the league of realms and all the dark elves during that arc and I loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2022
A really solid start from Jason Aaron! The Gorr arc was about as great as I could’ve hoped! A big two volume epic that really is able to showcase Gorr as a new all-time great Thor villain. I don’t envision the movie version being super faithful to this, but I’m hoping it still retains the spirit of the character.
After that, in issue 12, we get a cool down issue with Thor just vibing on Earth helping folks out. It’s just really wholesome and is a good reminder that Thor is still a hero and guardian of Earth, which I feel like he needs every once in a while to keep him relatively grounded and relatable. It may honestly be my favorite issue from this collection.
Next is the reintroduction of Malekith. This volume is fairly average. Esad Ribic is definitely missed in the art department. Malekith isn’t nearly as compelling as Gorr, and he is ultimately set up to be a recurring problem. I know that he’s the final boss of this entire run, so hopefully Aaron puts the work in and makes the Dark Elf King a more intimidating and foreboding presence, as I just found him a bit lame, especially coming off the high of the God Butcher before him.
This collection wraps up with a dud. Issue 18 involves Young Thor dicking around with a pink alcoholic dragon. I really didn’t find anything redeemable about this issue, so I’ll just say skip it and move on.
After that, in issue 12, we get a cool down issue with Thor just vibing on Earth helping folks out. It’s just really wholesome and is a good reminder that Thor is still a hero and guardian of Earth, which I feel like he needs every once in a while to keep him relatively grounded and relatable. It may honestly be my favorite issue from this collection.
Next is the reintroduction of Malekith. This volume is fairly average. Esad Ribic is definitely missed in the art department. Malekith isn’t nearly as compelling as Gorr, and he is ultimately set up to be a recurring problem. I know that he’s the final boss of this entire run, so hopefully Aaron puts the work in and makes the Dark Elf King a more intimidating and foreboding presence, as I just found him a bit lame, especially coming off the high of the God Butcher before him.
This collection wraps up with a dud. Issue 18 involves Young Thor dicking around with a pink alcoholic dragon. I really didn’t find anything redeemable about this issue, so I’ll just say skip it and move on.
July 9, 2022
It has been a while since I have read a Thor comic. But the Jason Aaron run had been recommended so many times, I knew it would be the next Thor story I read. Thank goodness they collected everything into two books recently! This first book tells there saga of Gorr the God Butcher, which was handy for the new movie that just came out. Gorr is one of those wonderful, compelling villains because he started with a valid point. Clearly, as with all villains, he takes it too far, but he does even make Thor doubt himself. I was fascinated by the intertwining of the stories of the three Thors, and the real questioning of what godhood is in the Marvel universe. There are definitely some questions at the end, but the writing and the art throughout were fantastic.
Then we get a bit of a LOTR homage with the League of Realms hunting Malekith. This story really highlights how much they truly wasted Malekith in Thor: The Dark World. It also makes me wonder if the comics have ever had a battle of sorcery between Malekith and Loki, or even someone like Doctor Strange.
Lastly, I appreciated the vignettes of Thor being a responsive god to those that call out to him, just as much as the main storylines. It reinforces what he learned from Gorr, and that a god is only a god if he has mortals to mind.
Then we get a bit of a LOTR homage with the League of Realms hunting Malekith. This story really highlights how much they truly wasted Malekith in Thor: The Dark World. It also makes me wonder if the comics have ever had a battle of sorcery between Malekith and Loki, or even someone like Doctor Strange.
Lastly, I appreciated the vignettes of Thor being a responsive god to those that call out to him, just as much as the main storylines. It reinforces what he learned from Gorr, and that a god is only a god if he has mortals to mind.
September 27, 2022
4.33 stars rounded down...
Re-reading this because of Thor: Love and Thunder.
The first run (God Butcher-5 stars): I'm not usually a fan of Thor, but this read was great! Although the timelines get a bit confusing and blended, the God Butcher is an interesting character and idea. The artistic style is unique, not beautiful in the classical sense, but the painting-style is unique, creative, and different. All in all, this is well done, but is inconclusive...
The second run (God Bomb-5 stars): What's better than 1 Thor? 3... and from different eras. This collection concluded the God Butcher storyline and does so very well. Although the story feels a bit choppy in places, overall it's a great story. The artwork is beautifully painted, and it's just a neat all around story.
The third run (Malekith story-3 stars): This story follows the epic God Butcher and Godbomb stories, but it fell flat in comparison. Malekith is back and bringing terror with him. The League is established to track him, and although these elements are all pretty awesome, thereafter, the story falls flat. It is anticlimactic, and disheartening. The last story is a stand alone story and is just sad (Thor befriends a dragon).
The art remains well done, unique and beautiful, but this story is mediocre at best...
These are copied from my first reads/reviews of the books, and my opinions are the same.
Re-reading this because of Thor: Love and Thunder.
The first run (God Butcher-5 stars): I'm not usually a fan of Thor, but this read was great! Although the timelines get a bit confusing and blended, the God Butcher is an interesting character and idea. The artistic style is unique, not beautiful in the classical sense, but the painting-style is unique, creative, and different. All in all, this is well done, but is inconclusive...
The second run (God Bomb-5 stars): What's better than 1 Thor? 3... and from different eras. This collection concluded the God Butcher storyline and does so very well. Although the story feels a bit choppy in places, overall it's a great story. The artwork is beautifully painted, and it's just a neat all around story.
The third run (Malekith story-3 stars): This story follows the epic God Butcher and Godbomb stories, but it fell flat in comparison. Malekith is back and bringing terror with him. The League is established to track him, and although these elements are all pretty awesome, thereafter, the story falls flat. It is anticlimactic, and disheartening. The last story is a stand alone story and is just sad (Thor befriends a dragon).
The art remains well done, unique and beautiful, but this story is mediocre at best...
These are copied from my first reads/reviews of the books, and my opinions are the same.
July 1, 2021
I did not like Thor until this book. He always struck me as way too formal and I much preferred characters who had their feet on planet earth. I had no interest or regard for Asgard. Aaron did something incredible here and tied him around the theme of faith which I found waaaay more interesting. I really liked Gorr as a villain and I really appreciated Aaron providing an issue focusing on his history. The ending of the Gorr arc was a little samey, but getting there was great.
This was my first time reading any Thor book and I think the only reason I liked it is because Aaron did such a great job laying down a relevant theme. While I’m not suffering any crisis of faith before or after reading this book, it did give me pause to consider the nature and value of faith in deities and what a deities life cycle might look like.
The arc with Malekor was pretty Meh, but it was nice to get a see of one of Thor’s historical BBEG.
I bought this because of my interest in watching Jane Foster become Thor (which is actually part of Vol 2, rather than this Vol.). I didn’t anticipate how much I was going to enjoy a Thor solo book. Aaron nailed this one.
This was my first time reading any Thor book and I think the only reason I liked it is because Aaron did such a great job laying down a relevant theme. While I’m not suffering any crisis of faith before or after reading this book, it did give me pause to consider the nature and value of faith in deities and what a deities life cycle might look like.
The arc with Malekor was pretty Meh, but it was nice to get a see of one of Thor’s historical BBEG.
I bought this because of my interest in watching Jane Foster become Thor (which is actually part of Vol 2, rather than this Vol.). I didn’t anticipate how much I was going to enjoy a Thor solo book. Aaron nailed this one.
June 21, 2025
I had previously read Thor: God of Thunder, Vol. 1: The God Butcher, but I didn't remember much of it by the time I picked this up. I really enjoyed this. I liked the first section more than the second.
At first I wasn't a fan of the artwork in the God Butcher series, but it really grew on me.
At first I wasn't a fan of the artwork in the God Butcher series, but it really grew on me.
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