When gods go to war, the cosmos listens—and no one brings the storm quite like Thor. As the Asgardian God of Thunder, Thor’s battles aren’t just about heroism or strength; they’re mythic showdowns that echo across dimensions, shake celestial realms, and test the limits of what even a god can endure. Whether he’s clashing with cosmic entities like Galactus, grappling with personal demons in the form of old rivals, or standing alone against impossible odds, Thor doesn’t just fight—he rages, endures, and transforms. His greatest battles have altered timelines, toppled empires, and redefined what it means to wield Mjolnir. This list highlights ten of the most jaw-dropping, universe-shaking confrontations Thor has ever faced—each one a testament to his might, his heart, and the legendary weight of his legacy.
#10: Thor vs. Hercules (Thor Annual #1, 1965)
In one of the earliest and most legendary god-on-god clashes, Thor faces off against Hercules in a showdown of divine pride. What starts as a competition over Jane Foster quickly escalates into a full-blown brawl through city streets, collapsing buildings and shaking the heavens. With neither god willing to back down, their titanic strength turns a simple rivalry into an iconic moment of Marvel mythology. While the fight ends in a draw thanks to Odin’s intervention, the sheer spectacle of these two Olympians going blow for blow set the standard for what happens when gods throw down. It’s not just muscle—it’s legacy, and this clash laid the groundwork for future battles on a mythological scale.
#9: Thor vs. Silver Surfer (Silver Surfer Vol. 3 #86)
When cosmic power meets godly might, you get a collision like no other. Thor’s battle with the Silver Surfer is less about hatred and more about misunderstanding—but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most explosive fights in spacefaring Marvel history. The two warriors clash in orbit and across dimensions, their powers shaking the fabric of reality. The Surfer’s speed and the Power Cosmic push Thor harder than most foes ever have, forcing him to rely not just on brute strength but on his warrior’s cunning and indomitable will. It’s a reminder that even among gods and heralds, Thor stands toe-to-toe with the universe’s best.
#8: Thor vs. Red Norvell (Thor #273–278)
Red Norvell was created by Odin as a stand-in to die in Ragnarok instead of the true Thor. But before he can fulfill that fate, he challenges the original God of Thunder. This fight is intensely personal and symbolic, pitting Thor against a man who’s been gifted similar powers and believes himself worthy of Mjolnir. Their battle is mythic, steeped in prophecy and destiny, and shakes the roots of Asgard itself. While Thor ultimately triumphs, the emotional weight of battling a reluctant usurper who shares his strength adds a powerful layer to this universe-shaking conflict. It’s not just thunder clashing—it’s legacy, choice, and fate colliding all at once.
#7: Thor vs. Beta Ray Bill (Thor #337–340)
One of Thor’s most emotional and impactful battles comes when he faces Beta Ray Bill, a noble alien who proves himself worthy of Mjolnir. What begins as a misunderstanding turns into a brutal duel in space, where Thor is stripped of his hammer and must rely on raw combat skill. Their blows are thunderous, the setting is otherworldly, and the stakes are nothing less than the worthiness of a god. Bill ultimately defeats Thor, proving himself an honorable warrior. But instead of bitterness, this moment births one of the most powerful friendships in Thor’s life—and a second enchanted hammer, Stormbreaker. Few fights have changed Thor’s destiny more.
#6: Thor vs. The Midgard Serpent (Thor #380)
This epic battle takes place in a single issue drawn entirely in splash pages, and it is nothing short of a masterpiece. Thor takes on Jörmungandr, the world serpent destined to kill him in Ragnarok. The art alone makes this clash feel apocalyptic—every panel is a moment frozen in myth. Thor fights with fury and desperation, knowing this is a battle he cannot survive. The serpent is massive, spanning the Earth, and Thor meets it with unrelenting force. Their combat shatters mountains, ruptures the oceans, and warps the sky. It ends with both combatants seemingly destroyed, a death foretold. The scale, style, and sorrow in this fight make it one of the most unforgettable rampages in Marvel history.
#5: Thor vs. The Hulk (Various – Most Iconically in Thor #385 & The Mighty Thor #390)
The rivalry between Thor and Hulk is legendary—and their fights are always seismic. In Thor #385, they clash in a titanic struggle that leaves craters in the Earth, as Thor tries to restrain the raging Hulk without holding back too much of his godly power. Later, in The Mighty Thor #390, their fight is more mature and nuanced, showing how far both characters have come. Hulk is rage incarnate; Thor is fury guided by honor. These fights showcase not just strength, but how control, duty, and rage intertwine in two of Marvel’s most powerful beings. Every time they collide, it’s a reminder that the Earth is barely strong enough to hold them.
#4: Thor vs. Gorr the God Butcher (Thor: God of Thunder #1–11)
In this modern epic, Thor battles across time against Gorr, a villain who believes gods are corrupt and must be destroyed. Gorr wields the All-Black Necrosword, and his crusade stretches across centuries, with Thor fighting him in three different eras: young Thor, present-day Thor, and All-Father Thor. The battles are devastating—gods are slaughtered, worlds are unmade, and Thor himself is nearly broken. It’s a saga of belief, sacrifice, and the cost of immortality. In defeating Gorr, Thor doesn’t just save the universe—he reclaims his own sense of worth and purpose. This fight changed who Thor was and showed the universe how dangerous a god-killer could be.
#3: Thor vs. Sentry (Siege #4)
At the climax of Siege, Norman Osborn’s power play crumbles, and the corrupted Sentry—merged with the Void—becomes a threat to all existence. Thor is the last line of defense. The battle is cosmic in scale and tragic in tone. Sentry tears through heroes like paper, but Thor stands firm, wielding Mjolnir with all the fury of Asgard behind him. The sky burns, the Earth cracks, and in the end, Thor does what no one else could: he destroys the Sentry. It’s a heavy moment, as Thor carries his fallen friend’s body from the wreckage, a god delivering justice with sorrow. The universe didn’t just shake—it grieved.
#2: Thor vs. Galactus (Thor Vol. 6 #1–6, 2020)
When Galactus seeks Thor’s help to survive the coming of the Black Winter, Thor becomes his new herald. But when the truth of Galactus’s manipulation is revealed, Thor’s fury ignites into godly vengeance. What follows is a staggering battle of god vs. cosmic force, as Thor taps into all the power of the All-Father and the Power Cosmic to confront the Devourer of Worlds. Galactus falls—not just defeated, but obliterated, his body used as a warning to the incoming darkness. This moment redefines Thor’s power, elevating him to one of the most feared figures in the cosmos.
#1: Thor vs. Thanos (Thor Vol. 2 #25 & Others)
Thor’s clashes with Thanos are the stuff of legend. In Thor Vol. 2 #25, their battle spans space and time as Thor, wielding the mystical Odinforce, takes on the Mad Titan in a universe-rattling duel. Thanos’s intellect and sheer will are matched by Thor’s determination and divine fury. While Thanos usually wins through schemes, when it’s fist-to-fist with Thor, the fights are truly cosmic. The intensity, the destruction, and the philosophical weight of god vs. nihilist give these battles an apocalyptic tone. In every clash, Thor proves that no matter the odds, the God of Thunder never yields.
Thor’s greatest battles aren’t just about raw power—they’re about legacy, sacrifice, and the ever-evolving definition of what it means to be a god. Each of these epic showdowns left scars on the Marvel Universe and forced Thor to fight not only for victory, but for identity, belief, and balance in realms far beyond Earth. When the thunder cracks and Mjolnir flies, it’s never just a fight—it’s myth in motion.
