New to 'Thor'? Want to try a standalone Thor comic? Try this one.
Thor: Wolves of the North is a nifty little one-shot Thor story. It takes place during the middle ages on Earth (Midgard) when Hela allies herself with Skuld's demonic horde to wage war on Asgard via Midgard. Odin sends his son, Thor to Earth to attack the enemy there where they are currently amusing themselves by raiding a Viking village for sport.
The great thing about this story is the setting. Most Thor stories take place either in the modern day Marvel Universe, or in ancient Asgard. But here is a story that bridges that gap - taking place on Earth, but many centuries ago. Writer Mike Carey does an excellent job of creating a Norse culture that is believable instead of the way they are stereotypically portrayed. And while Mike Perkins adopts some of the stereotypical conventions (horned helmets), but his art is also believably coarse and it has some beautiful women (Hela and the Viking chieftain Einar) and the battles are great - gorier than what you normally see (at one point Thor throws his hammer literally through an enemy!).
Stories like these are what have contributed to a Thor renaissance in recent years.