The 1970s marked a period of significant change for Marvel Comics. This era introduced iconic storylines such as "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" and the profound narrative of Doctor Strange meeting God. However, it was in the early 1980s that Marvel truly shone, with legendary creators delivering groundbreaking work on some of their most beloved titles. This period saw Frank Miller's transformative run on Daredevil, John Byrne's influential work on Fantastic Four, David Michelinie's innovative storytelling in Iron Man, and the peak of Chris Claremont's X-Men saga. Roger Stern's Amazing Spider-Man and Walt Simonson's Thor soon followed, cementing the 1980s as a pivotal era that shaped these characters' enduring legacies.
When considering the entire history of the Marvel Universe, the 1980s stand out as a potential golden age for the company. In this seventh installment of our series on essential Marvel issues, we delve deeper 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 defining run on X-Men, which began in 1975, reached its zenith in the early 1980s with three landmark stories. The Dark Phoenix Saga, spanning X-Men #129-137, is arguably the most celebrated X-Men story ever. It chronicles Jean Grey's transformation into the Dark Phoenix, a formidable adversary for the X-Men, influenced by the Hellfire Club. This cosmic saga, co-plotted and pencilled by John Byrne, not only introduced key characters like Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost, and Dazzler but also delivered one of the franchise's most poignant moments with Jean's sacrifice. Despite its numerous adaptations, including in films like X-Men: The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix, fans often feel that the animated series, such as X-Men: The Animated Series and Wolverine & the X-Men, captured the essence of the story more faithfully.
Following closely, Days of Future Past in X-Men #141-142 became another iconic tale, featuring the time-traveling efforts of an adult Kitty Pryde to prevent a dystopian future dominated by the Sentinels. This compact yet impactful arc, which introduced the Sentinels in 1965 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, has been revisited and adapted, notably in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and as the basis for a season arc in Wolverine & the X-Men.
The third notable story from this period is found in X-Men #150, where a confrontation with Magneto nearly leads to Kitty Pryde's death, prompting the revelation of his Holocaust survivor backstory. This pivotal moment significantly shaped Magneto's character development into a more complex figure.
The First Appearances of Rogue, She-Hulk, and the New Mutants
The 1980s also introduced several key female characters to the Marvel Universe. Rogue, a fan-favorite X-Men member, debuted as a villain in Avengers Annual #10. Initially part of Mystique's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and portrayed as Mystique's foster daughter, Rogue's story took a dramatic turn when she absorbed the powers of Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel). This issue also touched on controversial themes with Carol's past trauma, impacting her relationship with the Avengers. Although challenging to adapt, Avengers Annual #10 remains a critical juncture in Marvel's history.
She-Hulk, created by Stan Lee, made her first appearance in Savage She-Hulk #1. Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner's cousin, gained her powers through an emergency blood transfusion. Though her initial series was not well-received, She-Hulk found her footing as a member of the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Tatiana Maslany later brought the character to life in the MCU's She-Hulk series.
The New Mutants, Marvel's first X-Men spin-off, debuted in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before transitioning to their own series. The team, featuring young mutants like Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (Mirage), along with the later addition of Illyana Rasputina (Magik), set the stage for numerous impactful stories. The 2020 New Mutants film drew heavily from this lineup.
Iconic Storylines for Daredevil, Iron Man, and Captain America
Daredevil #168 marked a turning point with Frank Miller's writer-artist run, introducing Elektra and redefining the character's mythos. Miller's subsequent issues over the next two years crafted a gritty, noir-inspired narrative, introducing key elements like Kingpin as Matt Murdock's nemesis, the blind sensei Stick, and pivotal confrontations with the Punisher and Bullseye. This run, particularly Daredevil #168-191, inspired both the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series, with the latter set to continue in the MCU show Daredevil: Born Again.
David Michelinie and Bob Layton's Doomquest in Iron Man #149-150 stands out as a defining arc, featuring Iron Man's solo battle against Doctor Doom, which transports them to the time of King Arthur. This story not only solidified Doom's place in Iron Man's rogues gallery but also set the stage for future collaborations between Doom and Morgan le Fay.
Captain America's confrontation with Baron Blood in Captain America #253-254, crafted by Roger Stern and John Byrne, offered a darker, compelling narrative tied to Cap's WWII history with the Invaders. This story, with its striking artwork and intense finale, is a must-read for fans.
Moon Knight Becomes a Hero and Marvel Helps Create the G.I. Joe Mythology
Moon Knight, initially an antagonist in Werewolf by Night #32, became a fully realized hero in Moon Knight #1. This issue, by Doug Moench and Don Perlin, established his backstory and introduced his multiple personas, Steven Grant and Jake Lockley, setting the foundation for future stories.
While not owned by Marvel, the G.I. Joe franchise owes much of its character development to Marvel Comics. Starting in 1982, the Marvel tie-in comic, spearheaded by editor Archie Goodwin and writer Larry Hama, fleshed out characters like Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Lady Jaye, and the Baroness. Hama's compelling narratives and equal treatment of female characters made G.I. Joe a hit, particularly with women readers, solidifying its status as one of Marvel's most popular titles in the mid-1980s.
