Marvel's 1980s: Greatest Decade Ever?

The 1970s were a turbulent decade for Marvel Comics. While significant characters and storylines like "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" and Doctor Strange's encounter with God emerged, the 1980s witnessed a surge of legendary creators launching seminal runs on Marvel's most popular titles. This era saw the rise of Frank Miller's Daredevil, John Byrne's Fantastic Four, David Michelinie's Iron Man, and the peak of Chris Claremont's X-Men, with Roger Stern's Amazing Spider-Man and Walt Simonson's Thor soon to follow. These creators profoundly shaped the enduring legacy of these characters.

Considering Marvel's history, the 1980s arguably represent the company's true golden age. Join us for Part 7 of our exploration of essential Marvel issues!

**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 X-Men began in 1975, but its three most impactful stories appeared in the early 1980s. The Dark Phoenix Saga (X-Men #129-137) is arguably the most renowned X-Men story, and for good reason. Years after Jean Grey became the Phoenix, this cosmic entity corrupts her, aided by the Hellfire Club, transforming her into the Dark Phoenix, a formidable adversary. This cosmic saga, penciled and co-plotted by John Byrne, is not only a captivating narrative but also introduces Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost, and Dazzler. Jean Grey's sacrifice after regaining her senses is a profoundly heartbreaking moment, even knowing her eventual return. While adaptations like X-Men: The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix haven't fully captured its essence, the animated series X-Men: The Animated Series and Wolverine & the X-Men offer more faithful portrayals.

Shortly after, Days of Future Past (X-Men #141-142) followed. This iconic story featuring the Sentinels—first introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965—depicts an adult Kitty Pryde traveling back in time to prevent the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly, an event triggering a dystopian future ruled by Sentinels. Despite its brevity, this arc is incredibly influential, and its reality has been revisited by numerous creators. It was adapted into the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and served as the basis for a season arc in Wolverine & the X-Men.

Finally, X-Men #150, a clash between the X-Men and Magneto nearly resulting in Kitty Pryde's death, reveals Magneto's Holocaust survivor backstory. This defining moment shaped his character's subsequent development into a more morally complex figure.

**The First Appearances of Rogue, She-Hulk, and the New Mutants**

The 1980s also saw the introduction of major characters, including prominent female heroes. Rogue, a popular X-Men member, initially debuted as a villain in Avengers Annual #10, part of Mystique's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. This issue depicts Rogue absorbing Carol Danvers' (Ms. Marvel) powers, significantly impacting both characters' trajectories. This issue also showcases Carol's confrontation with the Avengers for their failure to protect her from Marcus Immortus. Carol would later become more closely associated with the X-Men before eventually reconciling with the Avengers. Avengers Annual #10 remains a pivotal moment in Marvel history.

Savage She-Hulk #1 introduced another significant Marvel heroine, Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk), the last character co-created by Stan Lee during his original Marvel tenure. Established as Bruce Banner's lawyer cousin, she gains similar powers after a life-saving blood transfusion. While her first solo series wasn't highly regarded, She-Hulk's character developed significantly after joining the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Tatiana Maslany later portrayed She-Hulk in her MCU series.

This period also marked the debut of The New Mutants, the first X-Men spin-off series. Initially appearing in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before their own series, the team included Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (Mirage). Illyana Rasputina (Magik), Colossus's younger sister, joined in issue #15, with many of her most important stories unfolding during her time with the team. A version of this lineup (excluding Karma) appeared in the 2020 film New Mutants, with Anya Taylor-Joy portraying Magik.

**Iconic Storylines for Daredevil, Iron Man, and Captain America**

Daredevil #168 marks a transformative moment for the character. The first issue of Frank Miller's writer-artist run introduced Elektra and a radical reimagining of Daredevil's mythology. Over the next two years, Miller crafted a gritty, crime noir saga featuring Kingpin as Matt Murdock's nemesis, the introduction of Stick, a battle with the Punisher, and the pivotal issue #181 where Bullseye kills Elektra. Miller's run (Daredevil #168-191) served as inspiration for the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series, and will continue to influence the upcoming MCU series Daredevil: Born Again.

Two major Avengers also experienced significant storylines. Iron Man #149-150, the final masterpiece from David Michelinie and Bob Layton's first run, features Iron Man's first solo battle with Doctor Doom, sending them back to Arthurian times. This arc solidified Doom as a key member of Iron Man's rogues' gallery.

Another notable arc, though less well-known, is Captain America's confrontation with Baron Blood in Captain America #253-254. The best story from Roger Stern and John Byrne's brief run, it features a darker tone than typical for Captain America, with stellar artwork and a powerful conclusion.

**Moon Knight Becomes a Hero and Marvel Helps Create the G.I. Joe Mythology**

Two more #1 issues round out this influential period: Moon Knight #1 and G.I. Joe #1. While Moon Knight initially appeared in Werewolf by Night #32, his solo series solidified his heroic persona, fully developing his backstory and introducing his alternate personalities. All subsequent Moon Knight stories built upon this foundation.

Although Marvel doesn't own the G.I. Joe franchise, it played a crucial role in its creation. The Real American Hero toy line's tie-in comic, beginning in 1982, saw Marvel editor Archie Goodwin conceive Cobra, and writer Larry Hama develop most of the character roster, including iconic figures like Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Lady Jaye, and the Baroness. Hama's work made G.I. Joe one of Marvel's most popular titles, particularly appealing to female readers due to the equitable portrayal of female characters.