Were the 1980s the Greatest Decade for Marvel?

The 1970s were a period of significant change for Marvel Comics. While notable characters and storylines debuted during this era, including "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" and Doctor Strange's encounter with God, the 1980s witnessed many of Marvel's greatest creators crafting landmark works on their most popular titles. This period encompasses 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 article continues our exploration of essential Marvel comics, focusing on the 1980s.

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 Landmark X-Men Stories

Chris Claremont's influential X-Men run began in 1975, but its most celebrated stories emerged in the early 1980s. The Dark Phoenix Saga (X-Men #129-137) remains arguably the most famous X-Men story. Jean Grey's transformation into the Dark Phoenix, fueled by a cosmic entity and the Hellfire Club, pits her against the X-Men. This cosmic saga, co-plotted and penciled by John Byrne, introduces Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost, and Dazzler. Jean Grey's sacrifice, despite her eventual return, is a profoundly moving moment. While film adaptations have fallen short, the animated series X-Men: The Animated Series and Wolverine & the X-Men offer more faithful renditions.

Following closely, Days of Future Past (X-Men #141-142) is a seminal Sentinels story. Adult Kitty Pryde travels back in time to prevent an event that leads to a dystopian future ruled by Sentinels. This two-issue arc remains incredibly popular and has influenced subsequent storylines. The 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and Wolverine & the X-Men adapted this arc.

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

The 1980s also introduced significant female characters. Rogue, initially a villain, debuted in Avengers Annual #10 as part of Mystique's Brotherhood. This issue features Rogue absorbing Carol Danvers' powers, a pivotal moment for both characters. It also depicts Carol confronting the Avengers for their inaction in saving her from Marcus Immortus.

Savage She-Hulk #1 introduced Jennifer Walters, She-Hulk, the last character co-created by Stan Lee during his original Marvel tenure. Her solo series wasn't initially strong, but her later appearances with the Avengers and Fantastic Four solidified her character. Tatiana Maslany portrayed She-Hulk in the MCU series.

The New Mutants, an X-Men spin-off, debuted in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before their own series. This team of teenage mutants, including Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (Mirage), later included Illyana Rasputina (Magik). The 2020 film New Mutants adapted this lineup (excluding Karma), with Anya Taylor-Joy as Magik.

Iconic Storylines for Daredevil, Iron Man, and Captain America

Daredevil #168 marks the beginning of Frank Miller's defining run, introducing Elektra and reinventing Daredevil's mythology. This gritty, crime noir 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 later). This run heavily influenced the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series.

Iron Man #149-150, "Doomquest," is a masterpiece from David Michelinie and Bob Layton's initial Iron Man run. Iron Man's first solo battle against Doctor Doom sends them to Arthurian times, where they ally with King Arthur and Morgan le Fay respectively. This arc solidified Doom's place in Iron Man's rogues' gallery.

Captain America #253-254, featuring Captain America's confrontation with Baron Blood, a Nazi vampire, is a standout story from Roger Stern and John Byrne's run. This darker tale showcases excellent artwork and a powerful conclusion.

Moon Knight's Rise and the Creation of G.I. Joe Mythology

Moon Knight #1, while not his first appearance (Werewolf by Night #32), firmly established the character as a hero, detailing his backstory and introducing his alternate personalities. This issue laid the groundwork for all future Moon Knight stories.

G.I. Joe #1, while not solely a Marvel creation, 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 highly popular title, particularly among female readers due to the equitable portrayal of female characters.