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 emerged, the 1980s witnessed a surge of legendary creators launching iconic runs on Marvel's most popular titles. This era saw Frank Miller's groundbreaking 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 profoundly shaped the enduring legacy of these characters.

Considering Marvel's history, the 1980s may well 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 X-Men run, beginning in 1975, produced some of its most impactful stories in the early 1980s. The Dark Phoenix Saga (X-Men #129-137) stands as arguably the most famous X-Men tale, and for good reason. Years after Jean Grey's transformation into the Phoenix, a cosmic entity corrupts her, aided by the Hellfire Club, turning her into the Dark Phoenix, a formidable enemy. This cosmic saga, pencilled and co-plotted by John Byrne, is not only a compelling narrative but also introduces Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Emma Frost, and Dazzler. Jean Grey's sacrifice after regaining her senses is a profoundly heartbreaking moment, even knowing her eventual return. While film adaptations haven't always captured its essence, animated series like X-Men: The Animated Series and Wolverine & the X-Men have offered more faithful portrayals.

Shortly after, came Days of Future Past (X-Men #141-142), a landmark story featuring the Sentinels, first introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965. Adult Kitty Pryde travels back in time to prevent the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly, an event that triggers a dystopian future ruled by Sentinels. This two-issue arc remains incredibly influential, its reality revisited by subsequent creators. It was adapted into the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and served as the basis for a season arc in Wolverine & the X-Men.

Another pivotal X-Men story from this period is X-Men #150. A battle between the X-Men and Magneto, nearly resulting in Kitty Pryde's death, leads Magneto to reveal his Holocaust survivor backstory. This revelation solidified his 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 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 showcases Carol confronting the Avengers for their inaction in saving her from Marcus Immortus, a pivotal moment in Marvel history.

Savage She-Hulk #1 marked the debut of another significant Marvel heroine, Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk). The last character co-created by Stan Lee during his original Marvel tenure, Jennifer, Bruce Banner's cousin, gains similar powers after a life-saving blood transfusion. While her first solo series wasn't highly acclaimed, She-Hulk's character developed significantly through her interactions with the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Tatiana Maslany later portrayed She-Hulk in her own MCU series.

The first X-Men spin-off, The New Mutants, debuted in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before launching their own series. This team of teenage mutants included Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (Mirage). Illyana Rasputina (Magik) joined in issue #15, with many of her most impactful stories unfolding during her time on the team. A film adaptation, New Mutants (2020), featured this lineup (excluding Karma), with Anya Taylor-Joy as Magik.

**Iconic Storylines for Daredevil, Iron Man, and Captain America**

Daredevil #168 marks a turning point in the character's history. The first issue of Frank Miller's writer-artist run introduced Elektra and radically reshaped Daredevil's mythology. Over two years, Miller crafted a gritty, crime-noir saga establishing Kingpin as Matt Murdock's nemesis, introducing the sensei Stick, showcasing Matt's first encounter with the Punisher, and culminating in the iconic issue #181 where Bullseye kills Elektra. This run served as inspiration for both the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series, and its influence continues with the upcoming MCU series Daredevil: Born Again.

Two major Avengers also featured significant storylines. Iron Man #149-150, a masterwork from David Michelinie and Bob Layton's first run, features "Doomquest," 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.

Another notable arc, though less well-known, is Captain America's confrontation with Baron Blood in Captain America #253-254. This darker tale, from Roger Stern and John Byrne's run, features Cap facing John Falsworth (Baron Blood), a Nazi vampire connected to Cap's time with the Invaders.

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

Two more #1 issues round out this era's influential comics: Moon Knight #1 and G.I. Joe #1. While Moon Knight initially appeared in Werewolf by Night #32, his own series solidified his heroic persona, detailing his backstory and introducing his alternate personalities. All subsequent Moon Knight stories built upon this foundation.

Although Marvel doesn't own the G.I. Joe franchise, it played a crucial role in its creation. The Real American Hero toy line's tie-in comic, starting in 1982, saw Marvel editor Archie Goodwin conceptualize Cobra, and writer Larry Hama develop 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 one of Marvel's most popular titles, with its female characters receiving equal treatment, contributing to its wide appeal among female readers.