Were the 1980s the Greatest Decade for Marvel?

The 1970s were a turbulent era 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 groundbreaking runs on Marvel's most popular titles. This era saw Frank Miller's definitive Daredevil, John Byrne's impactful Fantastic Four, David Michelinie's Iron Man, and the zenith 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.

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 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 X-Men run, beginning in 1975, produced some of its greatest stories in the early 1980s. The Dark Phoenix Saga (X-Men #129-137) is arguably the most renowned X-Men story, for good reason. Years after Jean Grey's embodiment of the Phoenix, this cosmic entity corrupts her, aided by the Hellfire Club, transforming her into the Dark Phoenix, a formidable adversary. This cosmic epic, penciled and co-plotted by John Byrne, features the first appearances of Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost, and Dazzler. Jean Grey's sacrifice after regaining her senses is a heartbreaking moment, even knowing her eventual return. While film adaptations haven't always captured its essence, animated versions, notably in X-Men: The Animated Series and Wolverine & the X-Men, have been more successful.

Following closely, Days of Future Past (X-Men #141-142), a seminal story featuring the Sentinels (first introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965), depicts adult Kitty Pryde traveling back in time to prevent an event that triggers a dystopian future ruled by Sentinels. This two-issue arc remains iconic, its reality revisited by subsequent creators. The story was adapted into the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and served as a season arc for Wolverine & the X-Men.

Another pivotal X-Men story from this period is X-Men #150, where a near-fatal battle between the X-Men and Magneto reveals Magneto's Holocaust survivor backstory. This defining element shaped his subsequent character 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 notable 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 altering both characters' trajectories. It also showcases Carol's confrontation with the Avengers for their inaction in saving her from Marcus Immortus, as revealed in Avengers #200. Carol later became more affiliated with the X-Men before rejoining the Avengers.

Savage She-Hulk #1 marked the debut of another major Marvel heroine, 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 initial 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 the MCU series.

The New Mutants, the first X-Men spin-off series, debuted in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before getting their own title. This team of teenage mutants, including Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (Mirage), and later Illyana Rasputina (Magik), had many significant storylines during their time on the team. 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, the first issue of Frank Miller's writer-artist run, introduced Elektra and a reinvention of Daredevil's mythology. Over two years, Miller crafted a gritty, crime-noir saga establishing Kingpin as a major nemesis, introducing Stick, and culminating in the iconic issue #181 where Bullseye kills Elektra. This run heavily influenced the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series, and will be continued in the MCU's Daredevil: Born Again.

Iron Man #149-150, "Doomquest," from David Michelinie and Bob Layton's first run, depicts Iron Man's first solo battle with Doctor Doom, resulting in their transport to Arthurian times. This arc solidified Doom as a key member of Iron Man's rogues gallery.

Captain America #253-254, featuring Cap's confrontation with Baron Blood, a Nazi vampire, is a standout story from Roger Stern and John Byrne's run, showcasing a darker tone and exceptional artwork.

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

Moon Knight #1 and G.I. Joe #1 represent influential #1 issues from this era. While Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32, his own series solidified his heroic identity, introducing his alternate personalities. All subsequent Moon Knight stories built upon this foundation.

Though not a Marvel-owned property, Marvel's involvement in G.I. Joe is significant. The Real American Hero toy line's tie-in comic, starting in 1982, saw Marvel editor Archie Goodwin conceptualize Cobra, with Larry Hama developing most of the character roster. Hama's work made G.I. Joe highly popular, particularly among female readers due to the equitable portrayal of female characters.