Thor Silver Age key issues span Journey into Mystery #83-125 and Thor #126-200 (1962-1971). The must-haves are JiM #83 (first Thor, $18,000-375,000), JiM #85 (first Loki, $3,000-15,000), JiM #103 (first Enchantress, $2,000-8,000), Thor #134 (first High Evolutionary, $500-8,000) and Thor #165 (first Him/Adam Warlock, $500-55,000).
Thor's Silver Age era (1962-1971) is the foundational period for the character and his mythological universe. In less than a decade, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby built a complete pantheon: Asgard, the Nine Realms, Loki, Odin, Sif, the Warriors Three, Hela, the Destroyer, the Enchantress, the cosmic Silver Surfer and many more. Every issue from this period lays a building block for the Thor universe as we know it today: including in the MCU adaptations.
For collectors, Thor Silver Age issues represent the most prestigious and most valuable segment of the franchise. Natural scarcity (60+ years of age, fragile paper, unpreserved print runs) combined with worldwide demand creates a dynamic market where prices keep climbing. This guide catalogues every key issue from this period with updated 2026 valuations.
Journey into Mystery #83-100: The Foundations (1962-1963)
The first eighteen Thor issues in Journey into Mystery establish the character's foundations and introduce his main antagonists and allies. These are the rarest and most expensive issues in the franchise.
- JiM #83 (August 1962): first appearance of Thor, Dr. Donald Blake finds the hammer. Stan Lee, Jack Kirby. CGC 4.0: $18,000-22,000 | CGC 6.0: $40,000-50,000. The Holy Grail of any Thor collection.
- JiM #84 (Sept. 1962): second appearance of Thor, first Jane Foster (as "Jane Nelson"). CGC 4.0: $2,500-3,500 | CGC 7.0: $8,000-12,000.
- JiM #85 (Oct. 1962): first Silver Age appearance of Loki. Second most popular MCU villain. CGC 4.0: $3,000-4,500 | CGC 7.0: $10,000-15,000.
- JiM #86 (Nov. 1962): first Silver Age appearance of Odin. CGC 4.0: $1,500-2,200 | CGC 7.0: $5,000-7,000.
- JiM #87 (Dec. 1962): fifth appearance of Thor. CGC 4.0: $400-600.
- JiM #89 (Feb. 1963): first appearance of the Executioner. CGC 4.0: $500-700 | CGC 7.0: $2,000-3,000.
- JiM #97 (Oct. 1963): debut of Tales of Asgard backup, Thor origin story. CGC 4.0: $600-900 | CGC 7.0: $2,500-3,500.
Journey into Mystery #100-125: The Mythological Expansion (1963-1966)
This period sees Thor's universe expand considerably with the introduction of characters and concepts that remain central today:
- JiM #103 (April 1964): first appearance of the Enchantress (Amora) and the Executioner together. CGC 4.0: $1,500-2,000 | CGC 7.0: $5,000-7,000. An underused character on screen with strong potential.
- JiM #107 (August 1964): first appearance of Grey Gargoyle. CGC 4.0: $200-350.
- JiM #112 (Jan. 1965): Thor vs Hulk: one of the most iconic battles in the Marvel Universe. CGC 4.0: $500-800 | CGC 7.0: $2,500-4,000. Highly sought-after iconic cover.
- JiM #114 (March 1965): first appearance of the Absorbing Man. CGC 4.0: $300-500 | CGC 7.0: $1,200-1,800.
- JiM #116 (May 1965): first appearance of the Destroyer, with a masterful Kirby cover. CGC 4.0: $200-400.
- JiM #118 (July 1965): first full appearance of the Destroyer in action. CGC 4.0: $200-350.
- JiM #119 (August 1965): first issue featuring the Warriors Three together. CGC 4.0: $150-250.
- JiM #124-125 (Jan.-Feb. 1966): final issues before the title change to Thor. CGC 4.0: $100-200 each.
Thor #126-150: The New Title (1966-1968)
The title change marks the character's emancipation. Jack Kirby reaches the peak of his artistry on the series here, with increasingly ambitious page compositions:
- Thor #126 (March 1966): first issue under the "Thor" title (formerly JiM #126). Hercules appears. CGC 4.0: $400-600 | CGC 7.0: $1,500-2,200.
- Thor #127 (April 1966): first Pluto (Hades). CGC 4.0: $100-200.
- Thor #134 (Nov. 1966): first appearance of the High Evolutionary and first Man-Beast. CGC 4.0: $300-500 | CGC 8.0: $3,000-5,000. This issue has been rising in value thanks to the Guardians of the Galaxy films.
- Thor #137 (Feb. 1967): first appearance of Ulik the Troll. CGC 4.0: $80-150.
- Thor #145-146 (Oct.-Nov. 1967): Inhumans origin story (Tales of Asgard backup replaced). CGC 4.0: $100-200 each.
- Thor #148 (Jan. 1968): first appearance of the Wrecker. CGC 4.0: $100-180. The Wrecker and his Wrecking Crew become major recurring antagonists.
Thor #150-200: The Peak and the Transition (1968-1971)
The final Kirby-era issues and the transition to new artists:
- Thor #158 (Nov. 1968): Thor's origin (Dr. Blake) revisited. CGC 4.0: $80-120.
- Thor #160-162 (Jan.-March 1969): Galactus saga: Ego the Living Planet. Kirby at the peak of his cosmic creativity. CGC 4.0: $100-200 each issue.
- Thor #165 (June 1969): first full appearance of "Him" (Adam Warlock). CGC 4.0: $500-750 | CGC 8.0: $2,500-3,500 | CGC 9.8: $55,000. Double key (Thor + Warlock).
- Thor #166 (July 1969): second appearance of Him, battle issue with Thor. CGC 4.0: $100-180.
- Thor #169 (Oct. 1969): Galactus origin story begins. CGC 4.0: $150-250.
- Thor #176-177 (May-June 1970): Kirby's final issues on Thor. CGC 4.0: $60-120 each. Collector's pieces for Kirby fans.
- Thor #180 (Sept. 1970): Neal Adams on art, first notable post-Kirby issue. CGC 4.0: $50-100.
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Frequently asked questions
Journey into Mystery #83 (August 1962), the first appearance of Thor, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Dr. Donald Blake finds the hammer there. The guide describes it as the Holy Grail of any Thor collection.
Jane Foster, under the name "Jane Nelson", debuts in Journey into Mystery #84 (September 1962). Loki arrives in #85 (October 1962) and Odin in #86 (November 1962), both for the first time in the Silver Age.
#89 for the Executioner, #97 for the start of the Tales of Asgard backups, #103 (April 1964) for the Enchantress, #112 for the Thor versus Hulk fight, #114 for the Absorbing Man and #116 to #118 for the Destroyer.
The title becomes Thor with #126 (March 1966), which brings Hercules. Jack Kirby reaches the peak of his art there, with Thor #134 (first High Evolutionary and Man-Beast) then Thor #160-162, the saga of Ego, the Living Planet.
Thor #165 (June 1969), the first full appearance of "Him", the future Adam Warlock, a double key for Thor and Warlock. Thor #176-177 are Kirby's last issues on the series, and #180 marks Neal Adams's arrival.