The 1970s were a time of significant change for Marvel Comics. Amidst this upheaval, iconic narratives like "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" and Doctor Strange meeting God emerged, showcasing the creative prowess of the era. However, it was the early 1980s that truly marked a renaissance for Marvel, with legendary creators producing some of the most influential runs in comic history. This period saw Frank Miller's transformative work on Daredevil, John Byrne's stellar run on Fantastic Four, David Michelinie's impactful Iron Man stories, and the zenith of Chris Claremont's X-Men saga. Roger Stern's Amazing Spider-Man and Walt Simonson's Thor also contributed to what many consider to be Marvel's golden age. These creators and their works are key reasons why these characters remain beloved and relevant today.
When examining the entire history of the Marvel Universe, the 1980s stand out as a potential golden age for the company. In Part 7 of our exploration of Marvel's essential issues, we delve into this remarkable decade.
More Essential Marvel
- 1961-1963: The Birth of a Universe
- 1964-1965: The Sentinels Are Born and Cap Dethaws
- 1966-1969: How Galactus Changed Marvel Forever
- 1970-1973: The Night Gwen Stacy Died
- 1974-1976: The Punisher Begins His War on Crime
- 1977-1979: Star Wars Saves Marvel From Bankruptcy
- The Dark Phoenix Saga and Other All-Time X-Men Stories
Chris Claremont's influential run on X-Men began in 1975, but it was during the early 1980s that he delivered some of the franchise's most iconic stories. The Dark Phoenix Saga, spanning X-Men #129-137, is arguably the most renowned X-Men story ever. This epic tale, co-plotted and pencilled by John Byrne, follows Jean Grey's transformation into the Dark Phoenix, a villainous alter-ego influenced by the Hellfire Club. The saga not only introduced pivotal characters like Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost, and Dazzler but also delivered one of the most emotionally charged moments in the X-Men universe with Jean Grey's sacrifice. Although adapted multiple times, including in films like X-Men: The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix, fans often feel these adaptations fall short of the original's impact. On the other hand, animated series such as X-Men: The Animated Series and Wolverine & the X-Men have captured the saga's essence more faithfully.
Following closely, the Days of Future Past storyline in X-Men #141-142 is another landmark tale. This gripping narrative involves time-travel and features the Sentinels, mutant-hunting robots first introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965. The story sees an adult Kitty Pryde traveling back in time to avert the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly, an event that leads to a dystopian future dominated by Sentinels. Despite its brevity, this arc has left a lasting impact, inspiring adaptations like the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and a season arc in Wolverine & the X-Men.
Completing the trilogy of essential X-Men stories from this period is X-Men #150. This issue features a dramatic confrontation between the X-Men and Magneto, resulting in a near-fatal incident for Kitty Pryde. The battle prompts Magneto to reveal his Holocaust survivor backstory, a revelation that has since shaped his character into a more complex, morally ambiguous figure.
The First Appearances of Rogue, She-Hulk, and the New Mutants
The 1980s also introduced several key characters to the Marvel Universe, particularly notable female heroes. Rogue, initially a villain and a member of Mystique's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, debuted in Avengers Annual #10. This issue not only marked Rogue's origin as Mystique's foster daughter but also depicted her draining Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel) of her powers, a pivotal moment that altered both characters' paths. Despite the controversial content in Avengers #200 involving Carol's traumatic experience, Avengers Annual #10 remains a crucial chapter in Marvel's history.
Another significant female character, Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk, made her debut in Savage She-Hulk #1. As the last character co-created by Stan Lee during his initial Marvel tenure, She-Hulk's origin involved a life-saving blood transfusion from her cousin, Bruce Banner, granting her similar powers. Although her first solo series received mixed reviews, She-Hulk's character flourished once she joined teams like the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Tatiana Maslany's portrayal of She-Hulk in the MCU series further cemented her place in the Marvel pantheon.
The New Mutants, Marvel's first X-Men spin-off, were introduced in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before receiving their own series. This new team of teenage mutants, including Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (later Mirage), brought fresh dynamics to the X-Men universe. Illyana Rasputina, aka Magik, joined the team in issue #15, leading to some of her most significant storylines. The 2020 film adaptation of New Mutants featured this lineup, with Anya Taylor-Joy portraying Magik.
Iconic Storylines for Daredevil, Iron Man, and Captain America
Daredevil #168 marked a transformative moment for the character, with Frank Miller's writer-artist run introducing Elektra and reimagining Daredevil's mythology. Over the next two years, Miller crafted a gritty, noir-inspired saga that included the rise of Kingpin as Matt Murdock's arch-nemesis, the introduction of Stick, Daredevil's first clash with the Punisher, and the tragic death of Elektra at Bullseye's hands in issue #181. This run, considered definitive, inspired both the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series, with the upcoming MCU show Daredevil: Born Again set to continue this legacy.
David Michelinie and Bob Layton's Doomquest storyline in Iron Man #149-150 brought Iron Man into a solo confrontation with Doctor Doom, resulting in a time-travel adventure to the era of King Arthur. Iron Man allied with the legendary king, while Doom teamed up with Morgan le Fay. This arc not only solidified Doctor Doom as a key adversary in Iron Man's rogues gallery but also set the stage for future collaborations between Doom and Morgan.
Roger Stern and John Byrne's run on Captain America produced a memorable arc in Captain America #253-254, featuring Cap's battle against the Nazi vampire Baron Blood. This darker tale, connected to Cap's WWII exploits with the Invaders, showcased exceptional storytelling and artwork, culminating in a dramatic finale.
Moon Knight Becomes a Hero and Marvel Helps Create the G.I. Joe Mythology
Moon Knight's transition to a hero was solidified in Moon Knight #1. Initially introduced as an antagonist in Werewolf by Night #32, Moon Knight's character was fully realized in his own series, which detailed his backstory and introduced his alter egos, Steven Grant and Jake Lockley. This issue laid the groundwork for all subsequent Moon Knight stories.
While not owned by Marvel, the G.I. Joe franchise owes much of its character development to Marvel Comics. The Real American Hero toy line was accompanied by a Marvel comic in 1982, with editor Archie Goodwin conceptualizing Cobra and writer Larry Hama developing the majority of the character roster, including Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Lady Jaye, and the Baroness. Hama's compelling narratives and character depth made G.I. Joe one of Marvel's most popular titles in the mid-1980s, resonating particularly well with female readers due to its balanced portrayal of gender roles.
