The mid-1980s marked a golden era for Marvel Comics, both creatively and financially. Having weathered the financial storms of the late 1970s, thanks in part to the Star Wars licensing boom, Marvel was poised to revolutionize the comic book industry with the launch of Secret Wars in 1984. This groundbreaking series not only reshaped the Marvel Universe but also set a new standard for comic book storytelling and marketing. The impact of Secret Wars was profound, influencing the direction of Marvel's heroes and villains for years and prompting a wave of event-driven narratives across the industry.
During this period, several other iconic storylines emerged, 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 delve into these narratives and other significant developments from the same timeframe. Join us as we continue our exploration of Marvel's essential issues with 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
Among the most celebrated stories of this era is Frank Miller's Born Again, marking his return to writing Daredevil in issues #227-233. This arc, illustrated by David Mazzuchelli, is often hailed as the definitive Daredevil story. It follows Karen Page, who, in a desperate state of addiction, sells Daredevil's secret identity for heroin. This information ultimately falls into the hands of the Kingpin, who uses it to systematically dismantle Matt Murdock's life, leaving him homeless and jobless. Matt's journey back to becoming Daredevil, and the Kingpin's subsequent descent into fanaticism, creates a compelling narrative. This story inspired Season 3 of Netflix’s Daredevil and will influence the upcoming Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again.
Another iconic saga from this period is Walt Simonson's Surtur Saga in Thor, beginning with issue #337. Simonson introduced Beta Ray Bill, an alien worthy of wielding Mjolnir, and brought a mythic fantasy feel back to the Thor series. The Surtur Saga, spanning issues #340-353, centers on the fire demon Surtur's quest to bring about Ragnarok using the Twilight Sword. Thor faces off against Malekith the Accursed, a new villain, while Surtur forges his weapon. The saga culminates in a thrilling battle involving Thor, Loki, and Odin against Surtur, elements of which were later adapted into 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 foreshadowed the event crossovers that would later dominate Marvel and DC's publishing strategies. This trend fully emerged with the 1984 release of Secret Wars, a 12-part miniseries crafted by Jim Shooter, with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton. Conceived as a marketing tie-in with Mattel, Secret Wars saw the Beyonder transport Marvel's heroes and villains to Battleworld to battle for the supremacy of good or evil. While the series is known for its large-scale battles and character developments, it also faced criticism for inconsistencies with ongoing character arcs. Despite its narrative flaws, Secret Wars was a commercial success, leading to Secret Wars II and influencing the industry's shift towards event-driven storytelling.
Spider-Man’s Symbiote Suit and Other Iconic Spidey Stories
Following the influential runs by Stan Lee and Gerry Conway, Roger Stern revitalized Amazing Spider-Man starting with issue #224. His tenure saw the introduction of the Hobgoblin in issue #238, quickly establishing the character as one of Spider-Man's most formidable adversaries. Although Stern's original Hobgoblin saga was cut short due to editorial issues, he later returned to resolve the storyline in the 1997 miniseries Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives.
Shortly after Stern's departure, Amazing Spider-Man #252 introduced Spider-Man's black symbiote costume, which debuted during Secret Wars #8. This costume would lead to the creation of one of Spider-Man's most iconic villains. The symbiote saga has been adapted numerous times, including in films and animated series, though the Battleworld origin is often omitted. Another significant Spider-Man story from this era is The Death of Jean DeWolff in Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110, a darker narrative involving the Sin-Eater and a clash with Daredevil.
Jean Grey Returns, the Rise of Apocalypse, and Other Mutant Landmarks
The mid-1980s were also a pivotal time for Marvel's mutants. Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4 confirmed Magneto as the father of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, a revelation that endured for decades. X-Men #171 saw Rogue's transition from villain to hero, joining the X-Men and becoming a beloved character in adaptations. X-Men #200 marked a similar transformation for Magneto, who was put on trial and later took charge of Xavier's School for the Gifted.
Two landmark events for the X-Men during this period were Jean Grey's resurrection and the introduction of Apocalypse. Jean returned in Avengers #263 and Fantastic Four #286, leading to the formation of X-Factor. In X-Factor #5-6, Apocalypse, created by Louise Simonson and Jackson Guice, made his first appearance. This ancient mutant, enhanced by Celestial technology, became a central antagonist in the X-Men universe and a staple in various media adaptations.
