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 debuted then, the 1980s truly marked a golden age, witnessing some of Marvel's greatest creators launch iconic runs on their 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. Understanding the enduring legacy of these characters requires acknowledging the pivotal contributions of these creators.

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, beginning in 1975, saw its most impactful stories unfold in the early 1980s. The Dark Phoenix Saga (X-Men #129-137) stands as arguably the most famous X-Men story ever. Years after Jean Grey became the Phoenix, this cosmic entity corrupts her, aided by the Hellfire Club, turning her into the Dark Phoenix, a formidable enemy. This cosmic saga, penciled and co-plotted by John Byrne, is not only a gripping narrative but also introduces Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost, and Dazzler. Jean Grey's sacrifice after regaining her senses is profoundly heartbreaking, even knowing her eventual return. While film adaptations have fallen short, the saga has been better served in animated form, notably in X-Men: The Animated Series and Wolverine & the X-Men.

Following closely, Days of Future Past (X-Men #141-142) features the Sentinels, first introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965. This story sees adult Kitty Pryde traveling back in time to prevent an event that leads to a dystopian future ruled by Sentinels. Despite its brevity, this arc remains iconic, its apocalyptic future revisited in subsequent works. It was adapted into the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and formed the basis of a season arc in 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 of his Holocaust survivor past fundamentally reshaped his character, paving the way for his later development into a more morally complex figure.

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

The 1980s also marked the introduction of several major Marvel characters, including prominent female heroes. Rogue, a popular X-Men member, debuted as a villain in Avengers Annual #10, part of Mystique's Brotherhood. This issue features Rogue draining Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel) of her powers, significantly altering both characters' trajectories. This issue also depicts Carol's confrontation with the Avengers for their inaction in saving her from Marcus Immortus, a pivotal moment in Marvel history.

She-Hulk, co-created by Stan Lee, debuted in Savage She-Hulk #1. Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner's cousin, gains similar powers after an emergency blood transfusion. While her first solo series was less successful, she evolved into a more compelling character within the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Tatiana Maslany later portrayed She-Hulk in the MCU series.

The 1980s also saw the launch of The New Mutants, an X-Men spin-off series, debuting in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before getting their own title. This team of teenage mutants included Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (Mirage), with Illyana Rasputina (Magik) joining later. A version of this team appeared in the 2020 film New Mutants.

**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. Over two years, Miller crafted a gritty saga, establishing Kingpin as a major nemesis, adding the blind sensei Stick to Matt Murdock's backstory, and featuring the iconic death of Elektra in #181 (though she was resurrected). This run heavily influenced both the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series.

David Michelinie and Bob Layton's Iron Man run culminated in Doomquest (Iron Man #149-150), Iron Man's first solo battle with Doctor Doom, resulting in their time travel to Arthurian times. This arc solidified Doom's place in Iron Man's rogues gallery.

Captain America's confrontation with Baron Blood in Captain America #253-254, a darker story than usual, showcases Roger Stern and John Byrne's work on the title.

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

Moon Knight #1 and G.I. Joe #1 are also significant. While Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32, his solo series solidified his heroic identity, introducing his alternate personalities. G.I. Joe, while not a Marvel-owned property, owes its characters largely to Marvel. Marvel editor Archie Goodwin conceived Cobra, and Larry Hama developed most of the character roster, establishing G.I. Joe as a popular title in the mid-1980s, notably appealing to female readers due to the equal portrayal of female characters.