10 Darker Thor Stories That Would Help Thor 5 Fix The God Of Thunder

Thor: Love and Thunder's mixed reception and the film's problems as a whole mean that Thor 5 might have to be a much darker take on the God of Thunder, especially if it ends up being Chris Hemsworth’s final MCU movie. Almost a year after Love and Thunder, plans for Thor 5 have yet to be announced. However, considering that Thor: Love and Thunder’s ending left the door open for Thor to return, the MCU has the chance of bringing back the classic Avenger for at least one more movie.

Following the disappointing Thor: The Dark World and Avengers: Age of Ultron, the MCU realized that it needed to reinvent Thor for a third film. Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok was completely different from the first two Thor movies, allowing Chris Hemsworth to explore a new, funnier side of the character. Love and Thunder failed at replicating Ragnarok’s magic, meaning that a potential Thor 5 will have to reinvent Thor – again. If the Marvel Cinematic Universe wants to bring back Chris Hemsworth’s Thor in a new, darker movie, there are at least 10 Thor comic book stories that would help fix the character.

10 Avengers Disassembled: Thor

The context of Avengers Disassembled: Thor by Michael Oeming and Andrea Di Vito cannot be replicated in the current MCU, as Scarlet Witch’s reality-bending storyline has already been used in WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. That said, Avengers background aside, Avengers Disassembled: Thor (sometimes referred to as Thor: Disassembled) can make for an intimist, high-stakes Thor story in Thor 5. In Thor: Disassembled, Thor has to face known foes and mysterious forces to save Asgard from destruction. Of course, the MCU has already covered Ragnarok, but Thor fighting to protect his people one final time can still work.

A Thor: Disassembled adaptation could bring back villains from all the Thor movies without necessarily having to retcon their stories. In a journey to protect what is left of his people from a mysterious force, Thor could encounter alternate versions of Loki, the Frost Giants, Malekith, and Hera. Not only would that bring the MCU Thor franchise full circle, but it would allow Thor 5 to explore how each of those villains affected Thor as a character. In addition, Avengers Disassembled: Thor ends with Thor dying, sort of. If Thor 5 is to kill Thor and conclude Chris Hemsworth’s MCU journey, something like Avengers Disassembled: Thor’s ending would be perfect.

9 Whom the Gods Would Destroy?

Whom the Gods Would Destroy? is not a multi-layered, complex comic book arc exploring Thor’s character like other entries on this list. However, Thor #126 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby may be exactly what the MCU’s Thor 5 needs, with a few adjustments. Thor: Love and Thunder’s post-credits scene teased a fight between Thor and Hercules, so going back to one of their first original comic book fights would make sense. Why Thor and Hercules fight in Thor #126 would have to be changed, but the idea of a weakened Thor having to fight this ridiculously powerful god can make for an interesting, more serious story.

8 Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers

Although Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers by Rob Rodi and Esad Ribic takes place in alternate Earth-616, this 2004 comic book could serve as the inspiration for one final MCU Thor story. Thor and Loki’s relationship has been at the heart of the MCU since Phase 1, and while a major chapter of their story concluded in Avengers: Infinity War, there is still room for a Thor and Loki swan song. Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers works as a “what if…?” story imagining a world where Loki defeated Thor and ruled over Asgard. Adapting such a story for Thor 5 would bring the MCU’s Thor franchise full circle.

Obviously, the MCU’s current Loki does not seem interested in going back to Asgard or becoming a king. Even though the “redeemed Loki” was killed in Infinity War, the current Loki from the Loki series has already reevaluated his “glorious purpose.” Loki is hardly an antagonist anymore, which does not mean something like Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers cannot work in Thor 5. With the right adjustments, Thor and Loki could find themselves on opposing sides one more time for a final confrontation. Essentially, having Thor 5 be centered on Thor and Loki’s relationship could deliver the darker, more emotionally-heavy story the franchise is asking for.

7 J. Michael Straczynski’s Thor Run

J. Michael Straczynski’s Thor run influenced the MCU’s Thor, especially for Thor (2011) and The Avengers (2012). With Chris Hemsworth’s future as Thor up in the air, Thor 5 may ask for a more direct adaptation of J. Michael Straczynski’s Thor run to bring the saga full circle. Love and Thunder already did the “gods living on Earth” story, which does not mean Thor 5 cannot bring the God of Thunder back to Midgard. In addition, while the MCU preferred not to use Thor’s Donald Blake backstory, the “human side” of Thor can be explored in an Earth-based story. A slower-paced, Earth-based Thor 5 can naturally feel more serious than Ragnarok and Love and Thunder.

6 Mjolnir’s Song

If Thor 5 is to be Chris Hemsworth’s final Thor movie, the premise of Thor #380 by Walter Simonson could make for a quite dark finale. In Mjolnir’s Song, Thor learns that he is bound to die fighting the Jormungand serpent. While the MCU has adapted several aspects of Thor’s mythos, considering both Marvel Comics and Norse mythology, the Jormungand never appeared in a Marvel movie. Thor has lived for over 5,000 years in the MCU. As such, Thor 5 could see the God of Thunder face a sense of mortality that comes with the arrival of the Jormungand. Finally, Thor fighting a giant serpent could make for some great action pieces.

5 Ages Of Thunder

Thor stretching his hand for his hammer in Ages of Thunder

Thor: Love and Thunder’s problems have put the MCU’s Thor franchise in a difficult position. If Ragnarok already reinvent the character, how can Thor be re-reinvented for Thor 5? Steering away from the Marvel Universe and the Avengers may be the answer. Ages Of Thunder by Matt Fraction, Patrick Zircher, and Khari Evans deliver the “Norse mythology meets superhero” epic that both Thor comics and Thor movies often struggle to achieve. Set far before Thor becomes one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Ages Of Thunder shows that Thor’s story should not be limited to the Avengers. Thor 5 could be set in the distant past, exploring Thor and Loki’s earliest adventures.

Thor 5’s story could perhaps begin in the present day and then go back to ancient Asgard to deliver the Norse mythology-centered Thor movie that none of the previous films really achieved. An Ages Of Thunder-inspired Thor 5 set in the past would also allow the MCU to revisit Loki and Thor’s relationship without getting in the way of what the Loki series and the Multiverse Saga are doing to the God of Mischief. Other Thor characters, such as Odin, Heimdall, Hela, and the Warriors Tree could also return.

4 Thor And The Eternals: The Celestials Saga

In 1966, Thor #283 by Roy Thomas and Joy Buscema combined the current Marvel Comics universe with Jack Kirby’s groundbreaking Eternals through the God of Thunder. Now, the MCU could bridge the gap between the Eternals movie characters and the rest of the franchise in Thor 5. When will the Eternals return is a question that the MCU has yet to answer. Eternals 2 was never announced, and there are no announced plans for any of the Eternals to appear in any of the upcoming MCU Phase 5 movies. The Celestial Saga, which sees Thor facing Eternals and Celestials, is one of the best Marvel Comics stories ever told and would work in the MCU.

3 Thor: Vikings

A Thor 5 based on Thor: Vikings by Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry would probably be the darkest Thor film ever made. Any Thor story written by the creator of The Boys comics would be a very different take on the Marvel superhero, and Thor: Vikings lived up to the expectations. The premise itself would be a bit absurd for the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Thor has to save Midgard from zombie Vikings. However, Thor having to protect his beloved realm from a horde of zombie-like spirits of fallen Asgardians, if done correctly, could work both as a dark Thor movie and as Chris Hemsworth’s final Thor film.

2 Like A Bat Out Of Hel!

The cover for Thor #362’s Like a Bat out of Hel! by Walter Simonson was recreated in Thor: Ragnarok when Karl Urban’s Skurge the Executioner was about to die. Regardless of that particular moment having been adapted already, the concept behind Like a Bat out of Hel! could be reshaped into an original story for Thor 5. The idea of Thor having to walk through Hel in other to return home, with some changes, would be the darker Thor story that the MCU needs. Thor 5 could place Thor and his friends in the underworld and then follow the God of Thunder as he tries to leave Hel and return home.

1 The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill

The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill, which was part of Walter Simonson’s game-changing Thor run, is not exactly a dark story. However, of all the previously mentioned Thor comics, The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill is perhaps what would best work as Thor 5 coming off of Love and Thunder. Following Love and Thunder with a gritty story like Thor: Vikings may be too much of a disruption, whereas The Ballad of Beta Ray Bill could maintain some of the humor and the levity of the franchise. Thor 5 could finally properly bring Beta Ray Bill to the MCU after multiple teases and deliver an emotional tale of two Thors to wrap up the franchise.