The mid-1980s marked a golden era for Marvel, both creatively and financially. Having overcome the financial challenges of the late '70s, largely thanks to the boost from Star Wars, Marvel was poised to revolutionize the comic book industry with the release of 1984's Secret Wars. This landmark event had far-reaching effects on the Marvel Universe and the industry, steering Marvel's heroes and villains into new narrative territories for years to come.
This period also saw the creation of several iconic stories, such as Frank Miller's Born Again arc in Daredevil, the resurrection of Jean Grey in X-Factor, and Walt Simonson's Surtur Saga in Thor, among others. In this article, we'll delve into these pivotal stories and other significant narratives from this era. Join us for Part 8 of our exploration of Marvel's essential 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
- 1980-1982 - Did the Dark Phoenix Saga Usher in the Greatest Decade for Marvel?
Frank Miller's Born Again and Walt Simonson's Surtur Saga
For some of the most acclaimed storylines of this period, look no further than Born Again, Frank Miller's return to writing Daredevil, this time with David Mazzuchelli on art. Spanning Daredevil #227-233, this arc is often considered the definitive Daredevil story. It follows Karen Page, who, in a desperate state of addiction, sells Daredevil's secret identity for heroin. The information ultimately reaches the Kingpin, who uses it to dismantle Matt Murdock's life, leaving him homeless and jobless. At his lowest, Matt is rescued by his mother, a nun named Maggie.
Matt's gradual resurgence as Daredevil, coupled with the Kingpin's descent into obsession, crafts a compelling narrative. This storyline was loosely adapted in Season 3 of Netflix’s Daredevil and inspired the title of the upcoming Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again.
Daredevil: Born Again
Simultaneously, Walt Simonson's work on Thor from 1983, starting with issue #337, introduced Beta Ray Bill, an alien worthy of wielding Mjolnir. Simonson's run is celebrated for revitalizing Thor with a mythic fantasy vibe, culminating in the year-long Surtur Saga from #340-353. Here, the fire demon Surtur aims to ignite Ragnarok with the Twilight Sword, dispatching Malekith the Accursed to distract Thor. The saga's climax features a monumental battle with Thor, Loki, and Odin united against Surtur. Elements of this saga influenced the plots of Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok.
Secret Wars Changes Comics Forever
In Part 4 of this series, we explored how the 1973 Avengers/Defenders War set the stage for future event crossovers. This trend fully materialized with the 1984 release of Secret Wars, a 12-part miniseries crafted by then Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, with Mike Zeck and Bob Layton on art. This series was born from a marketing partnership with Mattel, aiming to launch a toy line tied to an in-universe story. The plot is straightforward: the cosmic entity known as the Beyonder transports various Marvel heroes and villains to Battleworld to battle for supremacy. While the series is known for its large cast and significant impact on the Marvel Universe, its narrative depth has been debated. Shooter's portrayal of Doctor Doom stands out, though the handling of other characters' arcs has been criticized for inconsistency.
Secret Wars #1
Despite its mixed reception, Secret Wars undeniably transformed the comic book landscape, paving the way for its sequel, Secret Wars II, and DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths. These events solidified the event story model as a staple in comic book publishing.
Spider-Man’s Symbiote Suit and Other Iconic Spidey Stories
Following the legendary runs by Stan Lee and Gerry Conway, Roger Stern took the helm of Amazing Spider-Man starting with issue #224. His tenure introduced the Hobgoblin in #238, instantly becoming one of Spider-Man's most formidable adversaries. Stern's original Hobgoblin saga was cut short when he left after #251 due to editorial disputes, leaving the villain's identity unrevealed. Stern later revisited and concluded this storyline in the 1997 miniseries Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives.
Coinciding with Stern's departure, Amazing Spider-Man #252 introduced Spider-Man's black symbiote costume. This costume, first seen on Battleworld in Secret Wars #8, initiated a long-running arc leading to the introduction of one of Spider-Man's most iconic villains. The black suit has become one of Spider-Man's most recognizable looks, inspiring numerous adaptations including Spider-Man 3, various animated series, and video games.
Another significant Spider-Man story from this period is The Death of Jean DeWolff in Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110, penned by Peter David and Rich Buckler. This dark tale follows Spider-Man's pursuit of the Sin-Eater, who killed his ally Jean DeWolff, and his subsequent conflict with Daredevil over justice.
Spectacular Spider-Man #107
Jean Grey Returns, the Rise of Apocalypse, and Other Mutant Landmarks
The mid-1980s were also a transformative time for Marvel's mutants. Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4 confirmed Magneto as the father of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, a plot twist that remained canon for decades. X-Men #171 saw Rogue switch sides from the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to the X-Men, becoming a beloved heroine. Similarly, X-Men #200 showcased Magneto's trial and his subsequent leadership of Xavier's School, marking his transition to a more heroic role.
Two pivotal mutant milestones were the resurrection of Jean Grey and the debut of Apocalypse. Jean Grey's return was detailed in Avengers #263 and Fantastic Four #286, where her body was recovered from an underwater capsule, with no memory of her time as the Phoenix. This led to the formation of X-Factor with the original X-Men members. X-Factor #5-6 introduced Apocalypse, an ancient Egyptian mutant enhanced by Celestial technology, who became a recurring antagonist in the X-Men universe, influencing various media adaptations.
X-Factor #1
