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Thor Epic Collection
Thor Epic Collection, Vol. 9: Even an Immortal Can Die
Writer Len Wein is joined by all-time great THOR artist Walter Simonson, and there's no question that what's in store will be legendary! Odin has disappeared, and Asgard needs its All-Father, so Thor ventures across the vastness of space to find him. But his quest will bring him into conflict with the Enchantress, the Executioner, the Destroyer and, of course, Loki! Then, Roy Thomas and John Buscema take up the hammer! Tapping deep into Thor's mythic roots, the duo crafts amazing adventures featuring the death of Balder, the Midgard Serpent and a new Norse Thor! Also featuring rare Thor and Hercules stories from MARVEL PREVIEW, a team-up with the Guardians of the Galaxy against Korvac, and the beginning of the epic Eternals saga! Collects THOR (1966) #260-280 and ANNUAL #6-7, and MARVEL PREVIEW #10.
- GenresComicsCollectionsMarvel
520 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2023
4 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Len Wein
1,585 books154 followersLen Wein was an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men (including the co-creation of Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus). Additionally, he was the editor for writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons' influential DC miniseries Watchmen.
Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 15, 2025
Look, I've read a lot of Thor. I'm pretty up on my golden-tressed, hammer-swinging Norse goddery.
But this? This might be my favorite Thor run of all the Thor runs I've read. Simonson's art is spectacular (and S. Buscema is no slouch) and Wein and Thomas crank out banger after banger.
If you love Thor and you love classic Marvel stuff, seek this out. I'll even send you tissues so you can cope with the stress of what happens to poor Balder (side note: shouldn't he have less hair?).
But this? This might be my favorite Thor run of all the Thor runs I've read. Simonson's art is spectacular (and S. Buscema is no slouch) and Wein and Thomas crank out banger after banger.
If you love Thor and you love classic Marvel stuff, seek this out. I'll even send you tissues so you can cope with the stress of what happens to poor Balder (side note: shouldn't he have less hair?).
September 5, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 since I love Thor.
I’ve now read Thor volumes 8, 9, 11 and 12, and they were all more or less solid. It’s consistently entertaining material, though to be fair it never soars to the previous heights of Lee/Kirby, or later heights with Simonson. But no real low points for me either, I’ve liked all of these volumes and can recommend them.
Speaking of Simonson, this volume contains his first artwork on the series. It’s good, but like several other famous Marvel artists, he starts out in the nondescript Marvel house style before he would blossom into his own later on. But the artwork remains very serviceable throughout, with long-time Thor artist John Buscema returning later in the volume, so no complaints here.
Len Wein writes the first half of this book, and we’re dropped right into the thick of action - I had to go back to volume 8 and skim the last few issues to remember what was going on. (These issues do have a problem common to many Marvel books of the era: Long plotlines that continue over a gazillion issues. May we please get some resolution once in a while?) Right, anyway: Thor and his friends are on a mission to the Doomsday star to retrieve the missing Odin in the long-running “Odin-Quest” story line, and at the same time the Enchantress and the Executioner are trying to usurp power back in Asgard. Away we go!
I’ve always loved the mix of fantasy and sci-fi elements in the book. These interstellar travels of Thor and the swashbuckling Warriors Three reads very much like fantasy in space. The visual design of the Doomsday star is great, and the story behind it makes for some compelling sci-fi. These issues are my favourite part of the Wein run.
The Doomsday star plotline eventually comes to a resolution, but there’s no rest for Thor: As soon as they arrive back in Asgard, he has to deal with mischievous Loki’s latest evil plot for power. The following issues are non-stop action as Thor battle the Destroyer. It’s entertaining stuff but it does drag on a bit. Finally reaching a resolution, we pause for a bit with Annual #6, a fun romp featuring Thor and the Guardians of the Galaxy against Korvac. A self-contained episode, how refreshing! I needed that after these past few long-winding issues.
Next, Thor returns to earth and his Don Blake persona. It’s been ages since this last happened, so this was welcome. Thor faces foes like Damocles, Stilt-Man, and the super-computer FAUST in a run of solid issues.
Roy Thomas starts his run with issue 272. (His run went up to issue 299, so volume 10 will contain the bulk of it, including his famous Celestials Saga.) The first of his stories is an interlude where Thor recounts a tale from his younger days to some kids. It’s nice to have stories like this sometimes, inbetween the big battles.
Thomas then launches into a multi-issue Ragnarok storyline. It’s entertaining high adventure, though perhaps featuring a smidge more silver age-style goofiness than Wein before him. I can see echoes of his earlier, more purple-prosed Marvel work (though to be fair, purple prose is already built into the Thor concept, with its pompous Shakespearean dialogue.) Still, the stakes are high and I’m enjoying the ride, for the most part.
After the Ragnarok storyline, Annual 7 features the Eternals, foreshadowing the Celestials storyline. Don Glut then writes a rather forgettable fill-in issue, and the last regular Thor issue in the book is a goofy done-in-one story by Thomas from a plot by Don & Maggie Thompson.
The volume ends with the B&W magazine Marvel Preview #10, featuring a main Thor story by Wein and a Hercules back-up story by Mantlo. The Thor story in particular is excellent - does the whole Marvel Preview series hold this high standard, or is it hit-and-miss? I need to check out more issues of this series.
Another fairly solid, if not excactly essential Bronze Age Thor volume.
I’ve now read Thor volumes 8, 9, 11 and 12, and they were all more or less solid. It’s consistently entertaining material, though to be fair it never soars to the previous heights of Lee/Kirby, or later heights with Simonson. But no real low points for me either, I’ve liked all of these volumes and can recommend them.
Speaking of Simonson, this volume contains his first artwork on the series. It’s good, but like several other famous Marvel artists, he starts out in the nondescript Marvel house style before he would blossom into his own later on. But the artwork remains very serviceable throughout, with long-time Thor artist John Buscema returning later in the volume, so no complaints here.
Len Wein writes the first half of this book, and we’re dropped right into the thick of action - I had to go back to volume 8 and skim the last few issues to remember what was going on. (These issues do have a problem common to many Marvel books of the era: Long plotlines that continue over a gazillion issues. May we please get some resolution once in a while?) Right, anyway: Thor and his friends are on a mission to the Doomsday star to retrieve the missing Odin in the long-running “Odin-Quest” story line, and at the same time the Enchantress and the Executioner are trying to usurp power back in Asgard. Away we go!
I’ve always loved the mix of fantasy and sci-fi elements in the book. These interstellar travels of Thor and the swashbuckling Warriors Three reads very much like fantasy in space. The visual design of the Doomsday star is great, and the story behind it makes for some compelling sci-fi. These issues are my favourite part of the Wein run.
The Doomsday star plotline eventually comes to a resolution, but there’s no rest for Thor: As soon as they arrive back in Asgard, he has to deal with mischievous Loki’s latest evil plot for power. The following issues are non-stop action as Thor battle the Destroyer. It’s entertaining stuff but it does drag on a bit. Finally reaching a resolution, we pause for a bit with Annual #6, a fun romp featuring Thor and the Guardians of the Galaxy against Korvac. A self-contained episode, how refreshing! I needed that after these past few long-winding issues.
Next, Thor returns to earth and his Don Blake persona. It’s been ages since this last happened, so this was welcome. Thor faces foes like Damocles, Stilt-Man, and the super-computer FAUST in a run of solid issues.
Roy Thomas starts his run with issue 272. (His run went up to issue 299, so volume 10 will contain the bulk of it, including his famous Celestials Saga.) The first of his stories is an interlude where Thor recounts a tale from his younger days to some kids. It’s nice to have stories like this sometimes, inbetween the big battles.
Thomas then launches into a multi-issue Ragnarok storyline. It’s entertaining high adventure, though perhaps featuring a smidge more silver age-style goofiness than Wein before him. I can see echoes of his earlier, more purple-prosed Marvel work (though to be fair, purple prose is already built into the Thor concept, with its pompous Shakespearean dialogue.) Still, the stakes are high and I’m enjoying the ride, for the most part.
After the Ragnarok storyline, Annual 7 features the Eternals, foreshadowing the Celestials storyline. Don Glut then writes a rather forgettable fill-in issue, and the last regular Thor issue in the book is a goofy done-in-one story by Thomas from a plot by Don & Maggie Thompson.
The volume ends with the B&W magazine Marvel Preview #10, featuring a main Thor story by Wein and a Hercules back-up story by Mantlo. The Thor story in particular is excellent - does the whole Marvel Preview series hold this high standard, or is it hit-and-miss? I need to check out more issues of this series.
Another fairly solid, if not excactly essential Bronze Age Thor volume.
February 13, 2025
The first half of this book wasn't too bad, but I enjoyed the second half much more.
The first half of this volume finishes out Len Wein's Thor run. It starts where the last one left off, with Thor and friends continuing their search for Odin. It's not a bad story but nothing special, and I was glad when it finally finished.
Roy Thomas starts his run at issue 272 and I found his writing a big step up (which pains me a little to say, after Roy Thomas's scummy behaviour recently with stealing credit for co-creating Wolverine and taking away from Len Wein's legacy).
Most of the second half of the book deals with Loki trying to fulfill the prophecies which will bring forth Ragnarok. It was a really engaging story with some great ideas and a good ending.
The weakest part of the book for me was the Annuals. The first had a team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy against Korvac, and the second dealt with the Eternals. While I didn't really enjoy the Eternals story, I feel like it'll be important for the next volume.
Len Wein issues - 3 stars
Roy Thomas issues - 4 stars
Annuals - 2.5 stars
The first half of this volume finishes out Len Wein's Thor run. It starts where the last one left off, with Thor and friends continuing their search for Odin. It's not a bad story but nothing special, and I was glad when it finally finished.
Roy Thomas starts his run at issue 272 and I found his writing a big step up (which pains me a little to say, after Roy Thomas's scummy behaviour recently with stealing credit for co-creating Wolverine and taking away from Len Wein's legacy).
Most of the second half of the book deals with Loki trying to fulfill the prophecies which will bring forth Ragnarok. It was a really engaging story with some great ideas and a good ending.
The weakest part of the book for me was the Annuals. The first had a team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy against Korvac, and the second dealt with the Eternals. While I didn't really enjoy the Eternals story, I feel like it'll be important for the next volume.
Len Wein issues - 3 stars
Roy Thomas issues - 4 stars
Annuals - 2.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews