5 Books to Read Before Watching Thor: Ragnarok

I’ve seen Thor: Ragnarok yesterday and while there’s an embargo on the reviews, I can definitely help you fanboys and fangirls in some reading that will INTENSIFY the movie experience when you get to see the film next week. Here are 5 books to read before watching Thor: Ragnarok.

 

Thor Ragnarok

Product Description: The menace of Loki! The attack of the massive Midgard Serpent! The death of Balder! The sacrifice of Odin! Deadly battles with trolls and giants! The debut of a new redheaded Thor! All-out war with the forces of Hela! Does the fate of Asgard lie in the hands of a human reporter? As Ragnarok, the end of all the gods, looms on the horizon, Thor and allies Sif, Odin and the Warriors Three do all they can to stop it-but even their best may not be enough!

Thor Ragnarok is the shit. It’s the actual story of Odin’s death at the hands of Surtur the fire demon and the eventual fallout that happens. It also gives readers a deeper insight into the mysterious Odinforce (which eventually becomes the Thorforce). Plus its a really good classic from Marvel.

 

 

Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1 and Vol 2

Product Description: A trail of blood threatens to consume Thor’s past, present and future! Throughout the ages, gods have been vanishing, their mortal worshippers left in chaos. The only hope for these ravaged worlds is for Thor to unravel the gruesome mystery of the God Butcher! In the distant past, the Thunder God discovers a forgotten cave that echoes with the cries of tortured gods – and is shocked to find himself among them! In the present, Thor follows the bloody wake of murdered gods across the depths of space. And thousands of years from now, the last godking of a ruined Asgard makes his final stand against the God Butcher’s berserker legions. As three Thors from three eras race to stop the God Butcher, the full extent of his vicious scheme takes terrifying shape! COLLECTING: Thor: God of Thunder 1-5

These two storyarcs is amazing. This gives us a look into the past, present and future of Thor Odinson. The movie has some clever nods to the Jason Aaron books (and no it doesn’t involve Jane Foster). It’s also the gateway to the future Thor books that Marvel comes out up until this point.

 

 

Planet Hulk

Product Description: Savage alien planet. Oppressed barbarian tribes. Currupt emperor. Deadly woman warrior. Gladiators and slaves. Battle axes and hand blasters. Monsters and heroes – and the Incredible Hulk! Let the smashing commence!

Planet Hulk by Greg Pak and Carlo Pagulayan and Aaron Lopresti was one of the more insane concepts Marvel did that actually clicked. Not only do we a Gladiator Hulk, which was used in Thor: Ragnarok, we also see some interesting developments for Banner which can still be felt right now (in a world where Amadeus Cho is now the Hulk). It made even non-Hulk fans LOVE the character. Like a gamma bomb, it also blew up in our collective faces. I was furious at the Illuminati for ruining the green giant’s happiness.

 

 

Thor by J. Michael Stracynzski Vol. 1

Product Description: Thor is back! And in a story only J. Michael Straczynski could tell! Returned to the pantheon of great Marvel heroes, the Asgardian God of Thunder is reunited with the mortal form of Dr. Don Blake. Together, they must reckon with the legacy of the mythic Norse kingdom and the awakening of its immortal heroes – but in a world that may not want them back!

 

What happens to Asgardians after Ragnarok? They get reborn. Thor returns to a world after Civil War with Iron Man calling the shots and Steve Rogers ‘dead’. This book examines a world with literal gods living side by side with humans. Plus this is another time we see Loki in a female body. Sets the stage for future stories such as ‘Fear Itself’ and ‘Siege’. I would have placed JMS’ run at the top of this 5 books to read before watching Thor: Ragnarok

 

Avengers Disassembled: Thor

Product Description: Ragnarok appears to have come for the gods of Asgard, and only Thor and his Avengers allies might be able to stave off that fate – but will the Thunder God be Asgard’s savior, or the architect of its downfall? In search of new wisdom, Thor must repeat the ordeals of Odin – and the price may be too terrible for even an immortal to pay! Beset on all sides by treacherous foes from his past, the God of Thunder leads the tattered remnants of the forces of Asgard on a desperate quest, as the Realm Eternal burns. Collects Thor #80-85.

So while the number one item for this 5 books to read before watching Thor: Ragnarok list had “Ragnarok” in the title, this book actually depicts the death of Thor, Asgard and everything we know and love. Every character dies with the help of Loki of course who gives some of Thor’s stronger enemies their own mjolnir. Compelling ending and a great way to end an era for the god of thunder. Plus it also kinda explains why Thor was absent during Avengers Disassembled and Civil War.

 

 

 

 

 

So there you have it, 5 books to read before watching Thor: Ragnarok. I suggest you check these out at your favorite LCS or from bigger stores like Fully Booked. Or you can order these books online through Amazon.