The 1970s were a tumultuous time for Marvel Comics, marked by significant changes and the introduction of compelling narratives and characters, such as "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" and "Doctor Strange meeting God." However, it was in the 1980s that Marvel truly hit its stride, with legendary creators delivering groundbreaking work on their flagship titles. This era saw Frank Miller's iconic run on Daredevil, John Byrne's influential take on the Fantastic Four, David Michelinie's memorable Iron Man stories, and the peak of Chris Claremont's legendary X-Men saga. Not to be outdone, Roger Stern's Amazing Spider-Man and Walt Simonson's Thor were just around the corner, solidifying the decade as a cornerstone for these characters' enduring popularity.
In the broader context of the Marvel Universe, the 1980s stand out as a possible golden age for the company. Join us for Part 7 of our journey through the essential issues of Marvel!
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 transformative run on the X-Men, which began in 1975, reached its zenith in the early 1980s with three seminal stories. The Dark Phoenix Saga, spanning X-Men #129-137, stands as the most celebrated X-Men narrative. Jean Grey, corrupted by the cosmic Phoenix entity and influenced by the Hellfire Club, becomes the Dark Phoenix and a formidable adversary. This epic space opera, co-plotted and pencilled by John Byrne, not only tells a gripping tale but also introduces key characters like Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost, and Dazzler. The saga's emotional peak, Jean Grey's sacrifice after regaining control, remains a poignant moment in X-Men lore. While the story has been adapted into films like X-Men: The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix, it's widely agreed that these adaptations didn't capture the essence of the original. Animated series, including X-Men: The Animated Series and Wolverine & the X-Men, have fared better in retelling this classic.
AnswerSee ResultsFollowing closely, Days of Future Past in X-Men #141-142 presents a dystopian future dominated by Sentinels, mutant-hunting robots first introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965. This time-travel narrative sees an adult Kitty Pryde attempting to prevent the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly, an event that triggers the Sentinel-ruled future. This compact yet impactful story has been revisited multiple times and inspired the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past, as well as the season arc of Wolverine & the X-Men.
Completing the trio of essential X-Men stories from this period is X-Men #150, where a battle with Magneto nearly results in Kitty Pryde's death. This event leads to the revelation of Magneto's Holocaust survivor backstory, a pivotal moment that shapes his complex moral journey.
X-Men #150
The First Appearances of Rogue, She-Hulk, and the New Mutants
The 1980s also introduced pivotal characters, notably some of Marvel's most iconic female heroes. Rogue, initially a villain, made her debut in Avengers Annual #10 as part of Mystique's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and Mystique's foster daughter. Her power-draining encounter with Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel) set a new trajectory for both characters. This issue also highlighted Carol's strained relationship with the Avengers due to their failure to protect her from Marcus Immortus, a dark chapter in Marvel's history. Over time, Carol reconciled with the Avengers, but her initial shift toward the X-Men was significant.
Rogue... as a bad guy in Avengers Annual #10.
Another key female hero, She-Hulk, debuted in Savage She-Hulk #1, the last character co-created by Stan Lee during his original Marvel tenure. Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner's cousin, gained powers similar to the Hulk after a life-saving blood transfusion. Although her initial series didn't shine, She-Hulk's character flourished when she joined the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Tatiana Maslany's portrayal in the MCU's She-Hulk series brought her to a new audience.
The New Mutants, Marvel's first X-Men spin-off series, emerged in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before securing their own title. The initial team of teenage mutants included Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (later Mirage). Illyana Rasputina (Magik), Colossus's younger sister, joined in issue #15, featuring in many significant stories. This team, excluding Karma, was later portrayed in the 2020 New Mutants film, with Anya Taylor-Joy as Magik.
Iconic Storylines for Daredevil, Iron Man, and Captain America
For a transformative comic issue, look no further than Daredevil #168, marking the start of Frank Miller's writer-artist run. This issue introduced Elektra and reshaped Daredevil's mythology with elements of gritty realism and crime noir. Over the next two years, Miller crafted an epic saga featuring Kingpin as Matt Murdock's nemesis, the introduction of Stick, Daredevil's first encounter with the Punisher, and the tragic death of Elektra at Bullseye's hands in issue #181. This run, which spans Daredevil #168-191, is essential reading and inspired both the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series, with the upcoming MCU show Daredevil: Born Again continuing this legacy.
Iron Man and Captain America also experienced defining moments in the early '80s. David Michelinie and Bob Layton's Doomquest in Iron Man #149-150 saw Iron Man face Doctor Doom solo for the first time, leading to an adventure in Arthurian legend. Aligning with King Arthur against Doom and Morgan le Fay, this story cemented Doom as a key adversary for Iron Man, though Reed Richards remains his primary foe.
Captain America #253
Captain America #253-254, part of Roger Stern and John Byrne's brief but impactful run, features Cap's confrontation with the Nazi vampire Baron Blood. This darker narrative, rooted in Cap's WWII history with the Invaders, showcases stunning artwork and a gripping conclusion, making it a must-read for fans.
Moon Knight Becomes a Hero and Marvel Helps Create the G.I. Joe Mythology
The 1980s also saw the launch of two significant #1 issues: Moon Knight #1 and G.I. Joe #1. Moon Knight, initially an antagonist in Werewolf by Night #32, became a hero in his own series, which fleshed out his backstory and introduced his alternate personas, Steven Grant and Jake Lockley. This issue laid the foundation for all subsequent Moon Knight stories.
G.I. Joe #1
Though not owned by Marvel, the G.I. Joe franchise owes much of its character development to the company. Starting in 1982, Marvel's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic, conceived by Archie Goodwin and written by Larry Hama, introduced iconic characters like Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Lady Jaye, and the Baroness. Hama's storytelling made the series one of Marvel's most popular titles in the mid-80s, notably resonating with female readers due to the equal treatment of female characters. The success of this comic underscores Marvel's significant contribution to the G.I. Joe mythology.
