A staple not only in the comic book medium but an icon across pop culture, the God of Thunder has smashed his way through decades of pages, becoming the dynamic and honorable character fans have come to love. Through humility and patience, Thor would learn that the experience of defeat gives gratification to victory, going on to become a wise king, a powerful herald, and a worthy protector.
With nearly 60 years of development, the God of Thunder has had countless epic battles proving him worthy of his title.
10 The God of Thunder Knocks Out The Phoenix Force
The Phoenix Force is a cosmic entity that represents the total sum of all life that has, does, and will ever exist throughout the multiverse. A key figure in the X-Men: Phoenix/Dark Phoenix storyline, the cosmic firebird was capable of destroying solar systems and warping reality when bonded to Jean Grey. With an entity wielding such extraordinary power, it’s hard to believe any mere hero would be capable of defeating it, and you’d be right in that regard. However, when it comes to a hammer-wielding God of Thunder, the multiversal entity gets temporarily knocked out.
Written by Jason Aaron, the Asgard/Shi’ar War would see the Phoenix Force seek to retrieve Thor’s hammer as it feared its power now in the hands of Jane Foster. When Odinson steps in, he manages to strike a blow so brutal it renders the entity unconscious, highlighting the sheer power of Mjolnir and why the Phoenix Force sought it out.
9 Thor Goes Blow For Blow With The Incredible Hulk
The “strongest one there is,” is a hearty declaration made by Marvel’s emerald brute as it encapsulates the ever-growing strength developed over decades. However, although his feats of strength have made him one of Marvel’s most prominent characters, the bouts of strength between him and Thor have become a timeless hallmark of comic books. With dozens of battles throughout their respective publications, the two originally faced off in Avengers #3 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Each has bested the other on a number of occasions though with Hulk’s strength having no upper limit, increasing alongside his anger, it’s interesting to see the God of Thunder contend with him in such a dynamic. This rivalry would be translated into live-action with the MCU bringing the two to blows in Avengers and Thor: Ragnarok.
8 Nearly Dying, Thor Crafts Stormbreaker Using A Neutron Star
Going into the events of Infinity War, the survivors of Asgard are invaded by Thanos and his Black Order leading to the culling of half his people and Thor's near-death. Coming across the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor embarks on a mission to craft a new weapon as he now seeks to wreak his vengeance on the Mad Titan. Coming to the legendary Nidavellir, Thor comes to find Thanos inflicted his twisted slaughter on the Dwarves after forcing them to forge the Infinity Gauntlet.
Leaving Eitri as the sole survivor, Thor works alongside the King of the Dwarves to craft Stormbreaker, a weapon Eitri says is the most powerful in all of Asgard. To do this, Thor must realign Nidavellir’s rings; however, Eitri warns him that this is suicide. Blowing caution to the wind, Thor takes on the full power of a neutron star, reigniting the forge to craft his weapon, though once again coming close to death.
7 The God of Thunder Cracks The Skull of A Celestial
The Celestials are a race of colossal space gods that are the progenitors of life throughout the universe, inflicting their judgment on the planets they deem to have “failed the test.” A supremely powerful race whose might is unmatched, The Mighty Thor #387-388, written by Tom DeFalco, would see the God of Thunder go up against the Celestial, Exitar.
When the innocent life of Pangoria is threatened with annihilation, Thor steps in to prevent the cleansing of the planet by flying atop Exitar’s head and gathering every ounce of his strength to cast a devasting blow to the Celestials skull. Cracking Exitar’s skull, Thor proceeds into the Celestial’s brain and wreaks further havoc before being disposed of by Exitar.
6 Thor Reawakens The Asgardians & Establishes Asgardia
Following the destruction of the cycle of Ragnarok, Thor’s spirit would be reborn into Donald Blake’s body where he’d go on to establish a new home in Broxton, Oklahoma. Naming this new kingdom Asgardia, Thor begins a quest to reawaken the lost Asgardian souls across the globe, starting with Heimdall as his cosmic vision allowed for a type of compass to the rest of the Asgardians.
Interestingly enough, Loki would be reborn into a woman’s body and Thor would come to find his father was not reborn because Thor subconsciously wished to be free of his father, thus did not bring Odin back.
5 Taking His Rightful Place, Thor Becomes King of Asgard
The classic story of humility found in Thor’s banishment lead him to dispel the brash nature that kept him from ascending to the throne. Learning that peace isn’t achieved with an iron fist, but a diplomatic voice, Thor took this pivotal lesson to be a wiser protector to the Nine Realms. Sharing dual loyalty to Asgard and Midgard, Thor was a fierce defender of both realms, fending off multitudes of foes and achieving amazing exploits throughout his lengthy publication history.
Coincidentally, a vast majority of those feats were achieved as a Prince of Asgard, though his inevitable coronation was always on the horizon. Jason Aaron’s Unworthy Thor & War of the Realms would see Odinson finally take up the Throne of Asgard and become the new All-Father fully equipped with the Thorforce.
4 Wielding Two Time-Displaced Hammers, Thor Defeats Gorr The God Butcher
Jason Aaron’s critically acclaimed Thor: God of Thunder would strip Odinson of his worthiness after Nick Fury reveals that Gorr the God Butcher was correct in his motivations to destroy all gods, believing them to be undeserving of their praise. In the arc’s conclusion, Thor reclaims Mjolnir and is flung to the future where he encounters both a younger and older version of himself, and while his younger self hadn’t become worthy of Mjolnir yet, Old King Thor was in possession of his own more powerful hammer.
With Gorr set on detonating a bomb that will annihilate all gods throughout space/time, Old King Thor lends “present-day” Thor his hammer to bring Gorrs’assault to an end. Wielding two time-displaced Mjolnirs, Thor not only encounters and defeats Gorr, but also absorbs the All-Black as well, the source of Gorr’s power.
3 Thor Becomes ‘Rune King Thor’ To Break The Cycle Of Ragnarok
Debatably Thor’s greatest accomplishment as it transitioned him from a powerful god to a nigh-omnipotent cosmic entity, Rune King Thor would be imbued with the power to witness the past, present, and future and bring the cycle of Ragnarok to an end. Written by Daniel Berman and Micheal Avon Oeming, Rune King Thor would appear in Avengers Disassembled: The Mighty Thor #80–85 after Thor realizes he must venture on a sacrificial quest to be granted wisdom and knowledge beyond that of Odin.
Surrendering both his eyes to the Well of Mimir, Thor proceeds to hang himself on the Tree of Yggdrasil, an act that gives him cosmic awareness and the ability to perceive The Ones Who Sit Above In Shadow, a group of celestial gods to the Asgardian race. Feeding off the life force of the Asgardians, Thor comes to ascertain that Ragnarok was a cycle perpetuated by these cosmic gods. Thus to free the souls of his people, Thor destroys Yggdrasil and brings their influences to an end.
2 The God Of Thunder Becomes A Herald Of Galactus
Said to be a universal constant that acts as a counterbalance to the Celestial race, Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, traverses the universe consuming countless planets to keep his life force sustained. Operating alongside him to warn planets of their inevitable doom are the Heralds of Galactus, all imbued with a portion of a limitless source of cosmic energy called the Power Cosmic. Therefore when the God of Thunder comes under the servitude of Galactus, it’d undoubtedly be a sight to behold.
Written by Donny Cates, Thor: The Devourer King would bring Galactus to Asgard’s doorstep where he informs the new king of a multiversal entity known as the Black Winter. A threat not to just Asgard or Galactus, but the universe entirely, Galactus turns Thor into his newest herald, sending him on a mission to find 5 planets that will give Galactus the power to face the Black Winter.
1 Thor Avenges His Failure Against The Mad Titan
Definitely a debate in whether this is an accomplishment or a domino in the path of him internalizing his grief, Avengers: Endgame would launch with a twist when the remaining Avengers pursue Thanos to his farm only to find the Mad Titan atomized the Infinity Stones to prevent them from ever being used.
As the Avengers begin interrogating Thanos, the God of Thunder, silent and full of anguish, lobs Stormbreaker at Thanos, cleaving off his head. In shock, the Avengers ask Thor what he’s done and in response, he says, “I went for the head,” a nod to the taunting failure that Thanos imposed before snapping out half the life in the universe.