Thor Comic Book Prices
Value of Thor Comics
A hit movie based on the character was released in 2011, so you can expect Thor comic book prices to increase in value. Another bump should be expected for 2012, when Thor joins the likes of Captain America and Iron Man in the motion picture adaptation of The Avengers. While various representations of the god of thunder have appeared from numerous comic book publishers, the Marvel Comics’ version is easily the most popular.
Thor has appeared in every volume of The Avengers, and he was even a founding member of the team. In addition to his own long-running solo series, the fair-haired Asgardian has made appearances in numerous crossovers, one-shots, limited series, and stories set in alternate realities. And don’t forget about all the video games, cartoons, trading cards, and miscellaneous merchandise.
I’m a fan of mythology, so Thor has always been one of my favorite titles. His endless battles against Loki and Surtur are always classics, and I’m just as keen to see him clash with Earth-based supervillains as a member of the Avengers. And while his distinctive way of talking may take some getting used to for new readers, it’s become as much a part of the character’s charm as his winged helmet and massive hammer.
While the value of Thor comics fluctuate based on the overall state of the industry, this article is designed to help collectors know which issues to target and how much they could reasonably be expected to pay for them. As you might expect, older titles such as Journey into Mystery are always going to command the biggest price, but the astute collector can also make a profit on recent issues.
Suggestions for Your Thor Comics Collection
If you’re just starting to put together a horde of titles, make sure to look at these suggestions for your Thor comics collection. From the expensive to the obscure, I’ve detailed some of the more desirable tales from the hammer-wielding deity.
Debut in Journey into Mystery
When the guys at Marvel (specifically Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber) were trying to create a character stronger than the Hulk, they decided to make him a god. Drawing from Norse mythology, the trio brought Thor to the pages of comics and redefined the way readers viewed immortals.
Thor debuted in Journey into Mystery #83 in 1962, and his popularity later resulted in the title being changed to Journey into Mystery with the Mighty Thor. The final issue came in 1966, when issue #125 gave way to a monthly series called The Mighty Thor. In 2011, the title Journey into Mystery was revived with issue #622.
Issue #83 of Journey into Mystery is listed at a value of $46,000 in near mint condition, but a copy graded at 9.2 sold for $82,800 on 2011. All the issues up to #97 are listed for at least $1,000, and the final issue (#125) before the title changeover is valued at $300.
Self-Titled Thor Series
The Mighty Thor (also known as Thor) debuted with the first issue numbered #126 (valued at $500). It would run until #502 in 1996, with the title reverting back in 2009 for issues 600 to 621. In May of 2011, a new series entitled The Mighty Thor started up and continues to this day.
Between these events, the comic book exploits of Thor took place in a number of self-titled volumes. The second volume of Thor ran for 85 issues from 1998 until 2004. Volume Three, meanwhile, ran for 12 issues from 2007 to 2009. The most valuable issue of Volume 2 is #1C, which is a white sketch cover that sells for $40. You might be able to get it cheaper in eBay, but you’re just as likely to have to pay double.
My favorite creative talent in the solo Thor series was Walt Simonson. He had free reign during his time on Thor, and he used this power in a number of creative ways. For example, he turned Thor into a frog for three issues, and he also introduced an alien champion named Beta Ray Bill who was an equal match for Thor. I also happened to be partial to his art, as I felt it worked well in the context of the mythological storylines. Simonson was both artist and writer from issues #337 to #367. Once Sal Buscema took over the artistic duties, Simonson continued to write until #382.
If you want to see Thor’s abilities pushed to their limit, you should also take a look at issues #21 to #25 of volume two. In these stories, Thor must contend with both the powerful Thanos and the seemingly unstoppable Man-Gog. The final issue of this story arc contains a metallic foil edition (#25A) that’s valued at $8.
And for those of you who still resent Tony Stark for his actions during Civil War, be sure to check out the third volume of Thor, especially issue #3. Thor shows up unhappy to hear about Stark creating a murderous clone of the thunder god, and he shows it by kicking the crap out of Iron Man.
Alternate Versions of Thor
While alternate versions of Thor like Eric Masterson and Beta Ray Bill may float your boat, the alternate universe versions of the god of thunder are where things get interesting. Since most of these have been published in the last 20 years, don’t expect to get rich. You will, however, find some bizarre and frequently violent tales designed to make you look at Odin’s son in a whole new light. Here are a few titles to start with:
Marvel Mangaverse: Avengers Assemble! – The version of Thor in this title possesses power levels far beyond his Earth 616 counterpart.
Earth X – Thor and his fellow Asgardians are members of a race of shapeshifters in this bleak 1999 tale that aspires to be Marvel’s version of Kingdom Come. Thor is a female in this reality. Issue #13B is the most valuable, with a Dynamic Forces cover that’s worth $16.
Marvel Zombies – The popular zombie series envisions Thor as a flesh-eating member of the undead. Since he is no longer worthy to wield Mjolnir, he relies on a makeshift hammer made from a pipe and a cinder block.
Ultimate Avengers – The Thor who’s a member of the Ultimate Avengers comes off like a tree-hugging hippie, and his teammates have no confidence that he’s a Norse god. Later in the series, they become believers. The most valuable of the original mini-series is #1B, a special foliogram variant cover listed at $20.
Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-Ham – Set in a world where all the Marvel characters are reimagined as animals, the mighty Thor is cast in the role of Thrr, the Dog of Thunder. As you might imagine, these comics don’t take themselves too seriously. The monthly series ran for 17 issues, and #1 is worth $6.
Thor comic book prices may not be in the realm of Superman or Batman, but there’s still a decent earning potential for those with money to invest. In a perfect world, you’ll find all the older Thor titles in a box in your attic, or you might stumble across an issue or two at a garage or estate sale. Then again, half the fun is actually locating the items.