Were the 1980s the Greatest Decade for Marvel?

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 debuted, the 1980s witnessed Marvel's greatest creators launching iconic runs on their most popular titles. This era saw 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 on the horizon. These creators profoundly shaped the enduring legacy of these characters.

Considering Marvel's history, the 1980s arguably represent the company's true golden age. This is Part 7 of our exploration of essential Marvel comics.

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 most impactful stories appeared in the early 1980s. The Dark Phoenix Saga (X-Men #129-137) is arguably the most famous X-Men story, and for good reason. Years after Jean Grey became the Phoenix, this cosmic entity corrupts her, turning her into the Dark Phoenix, a formidable enemy to the X-Men. This cosmic saga, pencilled and co-plotted by John Byrne, introduced Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost, and Dazzler. Jean Grey's sacrifice, after regaining her senses, remains a heartbreaking moment, even knowing her eventual return. While film adaptations haven't always captured the essence of the saga, animated versions, including X-Men: The Animated Series and Wolverine & the X-Men, have done it more justice.

Shortly after, came Days of Future Past (X-Men #141-142), a famous story featuring the Sentinels (first introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965). Adult Kitty Pryde travels back in time to prevent an assassination that triggers a dystopian future ruled by Sentinels. This two-issue arc has been revisited multiple times, adapted into the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and a season arc of Wolverine & the X-Men.

Another pivotal X-Men story, X-Men #150, depicts a battle between the X-Men and Magneto, nearly resulting in Kitty Pryde's death. Magneto's revelation as a Holocaust survivor became a defining aspect of his character, shaping his later moral ambiguity.

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, debuted in Avengers Annual #10 as a villain in Mystique's Brotherhood. This issue featured Rogue draining Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel) of her powers, significantly impacting both characters. This issue also showed Carol confronting the Avengers for their inaction during her ordeal with Marcus Immortus, as revealed in Avengers #200. Carol later became more affiliated with the X-Men before rejoining the Avengers.

Savage She-Hulk #1 introduced Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk), the last character co-created by Stan Lee during his original Marvel tenure. She gained powers after an emergency blood transfusion following an attack. While her first solo series wasn't highly acclaimed, She-Hulk's character developed significantly after joining the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Tatiana Maslany portrays She-Hulk in the MCU series.

The New Mutants, the first X-Men spin-off series, debuted in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before getting their own title. The team's initial lineup included Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (Mirage), with Illyana Rasputina (Magik) joining later. A version of this team, excluding Karma, appeared in the 2020 film New Mutants.

Iconic Storylines for Daredevil, Iron Man, and Captain America

Daredevil #168 marked the start of Frank Miller's writer-artist run, introducing Elektra and a significant reimagining of Daredevil's mythology. Miller's two-year run established Kingpin as a major nemesis, introduced Stick, featured Daredevil's first encounter with the Punisher, and culminated in the iconic issue #181 where Bullseye kills Elektra. This run heavily influenced the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series, and will continue to impact the upcoming MCU series Daredevil: Born Again.

David Michelinie and Bob Layton's run on Iron Man concluded with Doomquest (Iron Man #149-150), showcasing Iron Man's first solo battle with Doctor Doom, transporting them to Arthurian times. This solidified Doom as a key member of Iron Man's rogues gallery.

Captain America #253-254, from Roger Stern and John Byrne, features Captain America confronting Baron Blood, a Nazi vampire connected to his time with the Invaders. This darker storyline stands out for its compelling narrative and impressive artwork.

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

Moon Knight #1 and G.I. Joe #1 are significant #1 issues from this era. While Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32, his solo series fully established him as a hero, detailing his backstory and introducing his alternate personalities. All future Moon Knight stories built upon this foundation.

Although Marvel doesn't own the G.I. Joe franchise, its creation is heavily indebted to Marvel. The 1982 tie-in comic, with editor Archie Goodwin's concept for Cobra and Larry Hama's character development, created iconic figures like Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Lady Jaye, and the Baroness. Hama's work made G.I. Joe a popular Marvel title, particularly among women readers due to the equitable portrayal of female characters.