In the mid-1980s, Marvel Comics was riding high on a wave of success, both creatively and financially. Having overcome the financial struggles of the late 1970s, largely thanks to the Star Wars franchise, Marvel was poised to revolutionize the comic book industry with the release of Secret Wars in 1984. This event not only reshaped the Marvel Universe but also had a profound impact on the industry as a whole, setting new directions for Marvel's heroes and villains for years to come.
This period also saw the publication of several iconic stories, including Frank Miller's Born Again arc in Daredevil, the return 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 narratives and other significant stories from the same era. Join us as we continue our exploration of Marvel's essential issues in Part 8 of our series!
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 era, look no further than Born Again, Frank Miller's return to writing Daredevil, this time with David Mazzuchelli on art. This arc, spanning Daredevil #227-233, 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 eventually reaches the Kingpin, who uses it to systematically destroy Matt Murdock's life, leaving him homeless and jobless. Matt's journey back to becoming Daredevil, and the Kingpin's descent into fanaticism, create a compelling narrative. This story was loosely adapted in Season 3 of Netflix's Daredevil and will inspire the upcoming Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again.
Simultaneously, Walt Simonson's tenure on Thor, starting with issue #337 in 1983, introduced Beta Ray Bill and revitalized the series with a mythic fantasy feel. His most celebrated work, the Surtur Saga (Thor #340-353), pits Thor against the fire demon Surtur, who aims to bring about Ragnarok with the Twilight Sword. The saga features epic battles and the introduction of Malekith the Accursed, culminating in a climactic confrontation involving Thor, Loki, and Odin. Elements of this saga were later incorporated into the films Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok.
Secret Wars Changes Comics Forever
As discussed in Part 4 of this series, the 1973 Avengers/Defenders War foreshadowed the event crossovers that would become a staple for Marvel and DC. This trend fully materialized with the 1984 release of Secret Wars, a 12-issue miniseries by Jim Shooter, Mike Zeck, and Bob Layton. Conceived as a marketing tie-in with Mattel, the story involves the Beyonder transporting Marvel's heroes and villains to Battleworld to determine the supremacy of good or evil. While the series is known for its large cast and significant impact on the Marvel Universe, it has been criticized for its lack of depth and character consistency. The success of Secret Wars led to a sequel, Secret Wars II, and influenced the industry's shift towards event-driven storytelling, a model solidified by DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Spider-Man’s Symbiote Suit and Other Iconic Spidey Stories
Following the foundational runs by Stan Lee and Gerry Conway, Roger Stern took the helm of Amazing Spider-Man with issue #224, bringing the series back to its high standards. Stern's most notable contribution was the introduction of the Hobgoblin in issue #238, who quickly became one of Spider-Man's most formidable adversaries. Although Stern's original Hobgoblin saga was cut short due to editorial interference, he later returned to resolve the villain's identity in the 1997 miniseries Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives.
Stern's departure coincided with the debut of Spider-Man's black symbiote costume in Amazing Spider-Man #252, which originated in Secret Wars #8. This costume introduced a major subplot leading to the emergence of Venom, one of Spider-Man's most iconic villains. The symbiote saga has been adapted numerous times across various media, including Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, and Insomniac's Spider-Man 2. Another significant story from this period is The Death of Jean DeWolff in Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110, a dark tale involving Spider-Man's pursuit of the Sin-Eater and his conflict with Daredevil.
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 revealed Magneto as the father of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, a revelation that remained canon for decades. X-Men #171 saw Rogue join the X-Men, cementing her status as a beloved heroine. X-Men #200 featured Magneto's trial and his subsequent leadership of Xavier's School, a storyline adapted in the second episode of X-Men '97.
The most significant mutant developments were the resurrection of Jean Grey and the introduction of Apocalypse. Jean Grey returned in a two-part story across Avengers #263 and Fantastic Four #286, leading to the formation of X-Factor with the original X-Men. X-Factor #5-6 introduced Apocalypse, an ancient mutant who became a major antagonist for the X-Men and a staple in various adaptations, including the 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse.
