The 1970s were a period of significant change for Marvel Comics. While many iconic characters and storylines debuted then (e.g., "The Night Gwen Stacy Died," Doctor Strange's encounter with God), the 1980s witnessed some of Marvel's greatest creators crafting seminal works on its most popular titles. This era includes 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 significantly shaped the enduring legacy of these characters.
Arguably, the 1980s represent Marvel's true golden age. This installment continues our exploration of essential Marvel issues.
More Essential Marvel
- 1961-1963 - The Birth of a Universe
- 1964-1965 - The Sentinels Emerge and Captain America's Demise
- 1966-1969 - Galactus's Reshaping of the Marvel Universe
- 1970-1973 - The Night Gwen Stacy Died
- 1974-1976 - The Punisher's War on Crime Begins
- 1977-1979 - Star Wars Rescues Marvel From Financial Ruin
The Dark Phoenix Saga and Other Landmark X-Men Tales
Chris Claremont's transformative X-Men run began in 1975, but its most impactful stories appeared in the early 1980s. The Dark Phoenix Saga (X-Men #129-137), arguably the most famous X-Men story, showcases Jean Grey's corruption by the Phoenix entity, turning her into the Dark Phoenix and a formidable adversary. This cosmic saga, illustrated and co-plotted by John Byrne, features the first appearances of Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost, and Dazzler. Jean Grey's sacrifice, despite her eventual return, remains a heartbreaking moment. While film adaptations fell short, the animated series X-Men: The Animated Series and Wolverine & the X-Men offered more faithful renditions.
Days of Future Past (X-Men #141-142) is another iconic story featuring the Sentinels, introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965. Adult Kitty Pryde travels back in time to prevent an event triggering a dystopian future ruled by Sentinels. This two-issue arc, adapted into the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and a Wolverine & the X-Men season arc, remains highly influential.
X-Men #150 reveals Magneto's Holocaust survivor backstory, a pivotal moment shaping his character development into a more morally complex figure.
The Debuts of Rogue, She-Hulk, and the New Mutants
Several significant characters emerged in the 1980s, including prominent female heroes. Rogue, a popular X-Men member, initially debuted as a villain in Avengers Annual #10, part of Mystique's Brotherhood. This issue features Rogue absorbing Carol Danvers' (Ms. Marvel) powers, significantly impacting both characters. It also depicts Carol's confrontation with the Avengers for their inaction during her ordeal with Marcus Immortus, as revealed in Avengers #200.
Savage She-Hulk #1 introduced Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk), the last character co-created by Stan Lee during his original Marvel tenure. She-Hulk's solo series wasn't initially successful, but her later collaborations with the Avengers and Fantastic Four enhanced her character. Tatiana Maslany portrayed She-Hulk in the MCU series.
The New Mutants, Marvel's first X-Men spin-off, debuted in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before launching their own series. The initial team included Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (Mirage). Illyana Rasputina (Magik) joined in issue #15. A version of this team (excluding Karma) appeared in the 2020 New Mutants film.
Landmark Storylines for Daredevil, Iron Man, and Captain America
Daredevil #168 marks the beginning of Frank Miller's defining run, introducing Elektra and significantly altering Daredevil's mythology. Miller's two-year saga established Kingpin as a major nemesis, introduced Stick, featured Daredevil's first encounter with the Punisher, and culminated in the iconic death of Elektra in #181 (though she was resurrected). This run heavily influenced the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series.
Iron Man #149-150, the final masterpiece from David Michelinie and Bob Layton's initial run, features Iron Man's first solo battle with Doctor Doom, transporting them to Arthurian times. This arc solidified Doom's place in Iron Man's rogues gallery.
Captain America #253-254, the best story from Roger Stern and John Byrne's run, depicts Captain America's confrontation with Baron Blood, a Nazi vampire connected to the Invaders.
Moon Knight's Rise and Marvel's Contribution to G.I. Joe
Moon Knight #1, while not his first appearance (Werewolf by Night #32), solidified Moon Knight as a heroic figure, detailing his backstory and introducing his alternate personalities.
G.I. Joe #1, though not a Marvel-owned property, owes its existence largely to Marvel. Marvel editor Archie Goodwin conceived Cobra, and Larry Hama developed 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 a major hit, particularly with female readers due to the equitable portrayal of female characters.
