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Thor by Jason Aaron #1-8
Thor by Jason Aaron Omnibus, Vol. 1
Jason Aaron and legendary artistic collaborators including Esad Ribić and Russell Dauterman begin a truly epic saga of Thor — whoever he or she may be! Across the ages, gods are vanishing — and the God of Thunder must unite with his past and future selves to stand against Gorr the God Butcher! Meanwhile, Malekith the Accursed begins a bloody rampage that will spread war throughout the realms. Which makes it a terrible time for the Odinson to be rendered unworthy of lifting Mjolnir! Another hero will hold the hammer high, fighting for Asgard and Midgard as Thor — the Goddess of Thunder! She’ll battle Malekith, Loki, Roxxon…and even Odin! But who is she under the mask? And what is this new Thor’s terrible secret?
COLLECTING: Thor: God of Thunder (2012) 1-25, Thor (2014) 1-8, Thor Annual (2015) 1, Thors (2015) 1-4, Mighty Thor (2015) 1-12
COLLECTING: Thor: God of Thunder (2012) 1-25, Thor (2014) 1-8, Thor Annual (2015) 1, Thors (2015) 1-4, Mighty Thor (2015) 1-12
1216 pages, Hardcover
First published October 19, 2016
47 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,361 books1,682 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 8, 2022
I was gonna give this a 4/5 stars but DANGGGGGGGGGGG ! This was a RIDE !!!!! This run still holds up ! The 'God Butcher' storyline alone didn't feel like I was reading a superhero book, felt like I was reading more of a FANTASY NOVEL. It was that EPIC to me ! My personal opinion: this is one of my favorite runs on Thor ! Jason really takes you on a dark and gritty ride with his writing. I wasn't bored not one time. The build up and suspense is there ! Jason did a dope job writing the "Jane Foster Thor" stuff as well. Sometimes the writing can take lil dip but whatever man I think the positive definitely outweighed the negative for me ! I found myself clapping towards the last few issues of the book. Some very satisfying moments in this run ! Marvel hurry up and announced that volume 2 ! WOOOOOOOO ! What a read !!!!!!!!!! Sorry to hype this book up but man was this GREAT, no it wasn't good, it was GREAT ! Fight me LOL ! Ok I'll shut up now haha.
July 18, 2022
Avoid the movie and go for this brilliant omnibus instead, this is the best Thor comic i ever read and one of the finest omnis in general.
February 6, 2026
Thor by Jason Aaron Omnibus, Vol. 1 Written by Jason Aaron | Art by Esad Ribić, Russell Dauterman, Mike Del Mundo, et al.
📌 Overall Critical Assessment
📌 Chapter-Wise / Arc Breakdown
📌 Themes and Symbolism
📌 Comparison to Genre Contemporaries
📌 Strengths and Limitations
📌 Final Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 / 5)
Thor by Jason Aaron Omnibus, Vol. 1 is a monumental reinvention of Marvel’s thunder god—one that reframes Thor not as a static mythic hero, but as a thematic exploration of worth, legacy, and decay. Across timelines, identities, and cosmic scales, Aaron transforms Thor from a symbol of divine power into a study of what happens when belief—by gods, mortals, and the hero himself—begins to erode.
📌 Overall Critical Assessment
Aaron’s run succeeds because it treats Thor less as a single character and more as a role under pressure. The omnibus intertwines mythology with modern ecological dread, religious skepticism, and personal failure. Gods die. Faith collapses. Even Mjolnir rejects its wielder.
Visually, the omnibus is astonishingly cohesive despite rotating artists. Esad Ribić’s painterly grandeur gives the cosmic arcs operatic weight, while Russell Dauterman injects clarity and emotional immediacy into character-driven moments. The result is a run that feels epic without becoming hollow.
📌 Chapter-Wise / Arc Breakdown
📌 Themes and Symbolism
Worthiness: Defined not by purity, but by willingness to suffer for others.
Faith: Gods require belief—but belief corrodes under neglect.
Legacy: Thor is an idea that outlives individuals.
Jason Aaron’s Thor asks whether gods deserve worship—or whether they must earn it every day.
📌 Comparison to Genre Contemporaries
Compared to Walt Simonson’s mythic heroism or J. Michael Straczynski’s operatic divinity, Aaron’s Thor is existential. Where earlier runs celebrated godhood, Aaron interrogates it.
Against contemporary superhero epics like Batman by Snyder or Captain America by Brubaker, this run stands out for its mythological scope paired with moral intimacy. It is cosmic without being abstract.
📌 Strengths and Limitations
Strengths:
Deep thematic consistency, iconic antagonists, and one of Marvel’s most meaningful legacy arcs. Jane Foster’s Thor is handled with gravity rather than gimmick.
Limitations:
The omnibus is dense. Readers seeking episodic superhero storytelling may find the philosophical throughline demanding.
📌 Final Verdict
Thor by Jason Aaron Omnibus, Vol. 1 is not just a great Thor run—it is one of Marvel’s defining modern epics. It treats superhero mythology as something alive, fallible, and morally accountable.
This is a story about gods who fail, mortals who endure, and the terrible cost of being worthy.
May 12, 2024
This is THE Thor run, the first half of it at least. each arc is iconic, from the god butcher saga all the way to the last issue of the mighty thor. each exploring a different avenue of thor’s humanity. Aaron also engages with a myriad of themes such as theistic idolatry, the military industrial complex fuelling perpetual war for profit, identity through an existentialist lens and so on. all wrapped up in a grandiose Shakespearean soap opera.
and the art…the art makes me sad because nothing in live-action could ever compare. a marriage of neon hues, explosive celestial warfare, and powerful, yet subtle emotion balanced perfectly.
just in awe of this
and the art…the art makes me sad because nothing in live-action could ever compare. a marriage of neon hues, explosive celestial warfare, and powerful, yet subtle emotion balanced perfectly.
just in awe of this
September 24, 2023
Read all of it except the Mighty Thor volumes, I tried I just couldn't do it anymore.
Gave it 3 stars cause for some I actually did like it, it just got old after a while. I just really am not a huge fan of Thor and want to be done with him/her.
Gave it 3 stars cause for some I actually did like it, it just got old after a while. I just really am not a huge fan of Thor and want to be done with him/her.
June 20, 2022
First, let’s get this out of the way: this volume is a showcase for the collection leading - and best - God of Thunder. After introducing Gorr the God Butcher, Marvel does what it always does, and make the run less interesting the longer the series goes along. After the best storyline, Thor teams up with League of realms - fantasy posse hunting down the rampaging Malikith. Intertwined is a
Roxxon corporate storyline fronted by a Minotaur billionaire in human form. All this, Intermingled with all-father Thor fighting Galactus, concluding in his trio of daughters looking through an ancient library, reading the history of Malekith, Young Thor, and reveals Lady Thor. The Thor 2014 run portrays the ice giants searching for the head of their king back, which has been unearthed by Raxxon during a fracking project. Malekith is orchestrating the chaos. Lady Thor has assumed the role, the hammer bestowed on her by the All Mother. After tussling, Thor relents, and is no longer worthy. The hammer has chosen a new champion. Odin can’t accept a woman is wielding the hammer, taking his brother to use The Destroyer metal to get the hammer back. Thor comes like a scene out of Avengers Infinity War with an all woman revenge team. Throughout the run, it’s not known who Thor goddess or thunder is, even tho it’s fairly obvious.
The less said about the four issue mini series Thors the better, following a multiverse of the character trying to figure out who killed Beta Ray Bill.
Agger and Malekith combine in the dark elf world.
Loki fake kills the all mother while Agger is kidnapped and tortured. Shield is nearing Jane thinking she is Lady Thor. Mjolnir takes on the appearance of Jane to save her from suspicion.
It’s all fairly simplistic, but the beginning was so good, it’s hard to give it a lower ranking.
Roxxon corporate storyline fronted by a Minotaur billionaire in human form. All this, Intermingled with all-father Thor fighting Galactus, concluding in his trio of daughters looking through an ancient library, reading the history of Malekith, Young Thor, and reveals Lady Thor. The Thor 2014 run portrays the ice giants searching for the head of their king back, which has been unearthed by Raxxon during a fracking project. Malekith is orchestrating the chaos. Lady Thor has assumed the role, the hammer bestowed on her by the All Mother. After tussling, Thor relents, and is no longer worthy. The hammer has chosen a new champion. Odin can’t accept a woman is wielding the hammer, taking his brother to use The Destroyer metal to get the hammer back. Thor comes like a scene out of Avengers Infinity War with an all woman revenge team. Throughout the run, it’s not known who Thor goddess or thunder is, even tho it’s fairly obvious.
The less said about the four issue mini series Thors the better, following a multiverse of the character trying to figure out who killed Beta Ray Bill.
Agger and Malekith combine in the dark elf world.
Loki fake kills the all mother while Agger is kidnapped and tortured. Shield is nearing Jane thinking she is Lady Thor. Mjolnir takes on the appearance of Jane to save her from suspicion.
It’s all fairly simplistic, but the beginning was so good, it’s hard to give it a lower ranking.
September 26, 2023
For the longest time, I found it too convoluted, tedious and cumbersome to get into comics. Where does one begin? What do I have to read to follow a plotline? Should I read two issues of Series B to continue on with Series A?
Besides being a great read, this Omnibus covers all bases, holding a page or two from Comic B to follow Comic A's plotline. My only issues are that the chief antagonist that leads the plot, Malekith, is very one-dimensional (Thor:The Dark World suddenly doesn't appear as weak. They just picked a villan without much "juice", if ya catch me), and that Dario Agger achieves levels of buisness supremacy with moral scruples that Umbrella would envy. Other than that, nice read.
Besides being a great read, this Omnibus covers all bases, holding a page or two from Comic B to follow Comic A's plotline. My only issues are that the chief antagonist that leads the plot, Malekith, is very one-dimensional (Thor:The Dark World suddenly doesn't appear as weak. They just picked a villan without much "juice", if ya catch me), and that Dario Agger achieves levels of buisness supremacy with moral scruples that Umbrella would envy. Other than that, nice read.
June 30, 2024
nooit slecht, vaak super sterk met een goeie focus op Thors inner workings en grootse verhaallijnen en later ook zijn connecties met andere mensen en midgard. Hoewel de art (echt 90% meesterwerk, zegt wat met zo’n 1000 bladzijden) het boek ten alle tijden draagt, kan de tweede helft van dit stuk van de run wat middelmatig zijn imo en op een gegeven moment wordt de “epische stijl” wel een beetje vermoeiend. Het boek verliest hier vooral veel momentum met het opzetten van de nieuwe Thor, terwijl het hint naar het grote event aan het einde van de run en dingen die nog ver ver weg zijn. nog steeds een super iconische run tho, met veel definitieve Thor arcs en momenten (so far at least). nu wachten totdat de tweede helft binnenkomt 👍
September 28, 2025
Assurément un de mes comics préférés. C'est épique, grandiose, inspirant, émouvant et j'en passe. On en apprend tellement sur la mythologie de Thor : les personnages, les royaumes ou même l'histoire même du marteau de Thor.
En étant une grande épopée cosmique, Jason Aaron arrive quand même à humaniser la Déesse du Tonnerre. Elle est un modèle de courage et de force mais aussi d'altruisme.
Les dessins de Russell Dautterman sont absolument extraordinaires.
C'est un indispensable sur Thor et peut-être le meilleur travail de Jason Aaron.
En étant une grande épopée cosmique, Jason Aaron arrive quand même à humaniser la Déesse du Tonnerre. Elle est un modèle de courage et de force mais aussi d'altruisme.
Les dessins de Russell Dautterman sont absolument extraordinaires.
C'est un indispensable sur Thor et peut-être le meilleur travail de Jason Aaron.
April 16, 2025
There's a reason this is the Thor run. Besides the Simonson run of course. The God Butcher arcs are peak, Malekith in the later arcs is a perfect antagonist, and Loki shows up and betrays everyone. Still trying to figure out how to feel about Jane Fosthor I don't hate her or anything. Just wondering what they are wanting to do. I know how this ends thanks to spoilers just wondering what's in-between.
July 29, 2025
First arc is one of the best stories I've read recently visually and the writing. 5/5
Then comes the second half of the first part- which is GREAT but you're left wanting more
The second half of the book has a major shift under the Mighty Thor Series. It's good but the art stytle takes a bit of a hit imo.
I think the story is good but a lot of the book feels like a set-up for a sequel/future event (which in hindsight it is)
Overall fun read
Then comes the second half of the first part- which is GREAT but you're left wanting more
The second half of the book has a major shift under the Mighty Thor Series. It's good but the art stytle takes a bit of a hit imo.
I think the story is good but a lot of the book feels like a set-up for a sequel/future event (which in hindsight it is)
Overall fun read
August 27, 2022
I initially only had the first hardcover of this run collecting the arc with the god butcher. I held off on reading this series further knowing it would one day be collected in an omnibus. I was pretty hyped to see where the story goes and this did not disappoint. Now the wait for omnibus volume 2 begins!
January 5, 2023
I'm not even a Thor guy but wow. This omnibus collects some phenomenal stories with some really striking villains, most notably Gorr and Malekith. Esad Ribic may be one of my favorite Marvel artists and I can see why he was asked to do Secret Wars after his run on Thor. Mighty Thor is also a really good version of Thor, and I look forward to reading the rest of the lead up to War of the Realms.
May 1, 2023
Never had read anything of Thor and had a blast reading this book. Especially the first 2 arcs are amazing. The arch with Gorr and Malekith was a 10! The writing and the artwork is sublime. Highly recommend it. Even without any prior knowledge of Thor's mythos you still can enjoy this read.
June 27, 2022
Excellent lots of great stories in here !
July 6, 2022
What’s there to say? The first half of an absolute all-timer.
July 15, 2022
The early saga with Gorr the god butcher is 10/10 must-read material. After that I wasn't as much interested in the Malekith stuff going on but Esad Ribic's arc elevated the books.
July 31, 2022
Um, wow! I’ve never read any other Thor material, but I can’t imagine any being better. What an incredible book (story & art to match). Can’t wait for Vol 2. Thank you Jason Aaron!
August 18, 2022
Great book starts out a little slow but then just builds and builds an excellent read even for non thor enthusiasts
March 17, 2024
The first half of Jason Aaron’s 7 year run on Thor. It’s an amazing story so far. Awesome seeing a different Thor then Odinson. Can’t wait to read volume 2
March 31, 2024
The beginning is stronger than the end but great nonetheless. Gorr is truly an awesome villain. Awesome Roxxon buildup.
May 14, 2024
Wow, just wow. There is so much great art and top shelf story telling here. Thank you, Jason, for sharing your stories with us.
September 17, 2025
The first major arc in this book with gorr the god butcher is probably my favorite Thor I’ve ever read
October 4, 2025
Lots of fun and I loved the approach they took with the Mighty Thor. She’s honestly so much more interesting than Odinson Thor! I’m definitely going to read the end to her saga.
November 18, 2025
Epic, fun, coherent, mythological super-heroics with beautiful artwork from Ribic and Dauterman.
Great stuff. On to volume 2!
Great stuff. On to volume 2!
January 18, 2025
The Ribic issues are 5 stars easily.
The Dauterman/Foster Thor issues are good but not as strong. Dauterman does sound effects in the art at times which is outstanding. Colour work is great.
This is one of the best omnibus that exists.
The Dauterman/Foster Thor issues are good but not as strong. Dauterman does sound effects in the art at times which is outstanding. Colour work is great.
This is one of the best omnibus that exists.
April 27, 2022
FULL REVIEW *Spoiler Free*- https://youtu.be/S01lci4myLc
Definitely A Tale of Two Cities
OVERALL RATING: 3 stars
Art: 3.75 stars
Prose: 3.25 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Pacing: 2.75 stars
Character Development: 2.5 stars
World Building: 3 stars
Definitely A Tale of Two Cities
OVERALL RATING: 3 stars
Art: 3.75 stars
Prose: 3.25 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Pacing: 2.75 stars
Character Development: 2.5 stars
World Building: 3 stars
February 11, 2026
Thor by Jason Aaron is an excellent if frustrating read.
If the entirety of the book was to the same standard as his opening Godbutcher/Godbomb arc this would easily be the best Thor run and it wouldn’t even be close. The storytelling in those issues paired with Esad Ribic’s art is lightning in a bottle, and unfortunately most of the stories that follow don’t really come close.
Most of them are solid (the weakest being the arc right after Godbomb and the Secret Wars tie ins) but there’s nothing as weak as the Matt Fraction run just prior.
What Aaron does a very good job of through all these stories is capture Thor’s voice and make him an interesting protagonist. In the first 25 issues of this run there’s not a doubt in my mind that Thor is awesome… and he is above all Worthy.
Which makes the sudden pivot to him being Unworthy even more head scratching.
It comes out of nowhere, partially because it happens in an event that is largely uncollected in this book and partially because Thor has acted nothing of the sort in any of the prior issues. Now I’m certain there are reasons for this in the second volume, but for now it left a bad taste in my mouth seeing Thor essentially kicked out of his own book for no reason whatsoever.
In fact, Jason Aaron made Thor so likeable in his run that it puts his replacement Jane Foster at a disadvantage. She’s nice and likeable, but she’s not who I’m reading the book for and I felt a bit disconnected from the stories towards the end.
I think a big reason for this is that Jane isn’t really that connected to Asgard or the other realms, not like Thor is. Thor should have been the one whose eyes we’re seeing this story through, but for some reason the book decided he wasn’t the protagonist it needed.
Now as I said the stories in this book are all largely solid and I’m already reading the second volume at the time of writing this, but I can’t help but feel it could have been more if it had just trusted its main character a little more.
As is usually the case with Thor comics the art is spectacular, especially the work of Esad Ribic and Russel Dauterman. While I would never say they carry the book, they certainly help when the sudden shift in protagonist let it down.
Hopefully volume 2 will change my mind.
If the entirety of the book was to the same standard as his opening Godbutcher/Godbomb arc this would easily be the best Thor run and it wouldn’t even be close. The storytelling in those issues paired with Esad Ribic’s art is lightning in a bottle, and unfortunately most of the stories that follow don’t really come close.
Most of them are solid (the weakest being the arc right after Godbomb and the Secret Wars tie ins) but there’s nothing as weak as the Matt Fraction run just prior.
What Aaron does a very good job of through all these stories is capture Thor’s voice and make him an interesting protagonist. In the first 25 issues of this run there’s not a doubt in my mind that Thor is awesome… and he is above all Worthy.
Which makes the sudden pivot to him being Unworthy even more head scratching.
It comes out of nowhere, partially because it happens in an event that is largely uncollected in this book and partially because Thor has acted nothing of the sort in any of the prior issues. Now I’m certain there are reasons for this in the second volume, but for now it left a bad taste in my mouth seeing Thor essentially kicked out of his own book for no reason whatsoever.
In fact, Jason Aaron made Thor so likeable in his run that it puts his replacement Jane Foster at a disadvantage. She’s nice and likeable, but she’s not who I’m reading the book for and I felt a bit disconnected from the stories towards the end.
I think a big reason for this is that Jane isn’t really that connected to Asgard or the other realms, not like Thor is. Thor should have been the one whose eyes we’re seeing this story through, but for some reason the book decided he wasn’t the protagonist it needed.
Now as I said the stories in this book are all largely solid and I’m already reading the second volume at the time of writing this, but I can’t help but feel it could have been more if it had just trusted its main character a little more.
As is usually the case with Thor comics the art is spectacular, especially the work of Esad Ribic and Russel Dauterman. While I would never say they carry the book, they certainly help when the sudden shift in protagonist let it down.
Hopefully volume 2 will change my mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews