In the mid-1980s, Marvel was riding the wave of success with their all-time best runs, marking a lucrative period not only creatively but also financially. Having overcome the financial difficulties of the late '70s, largely thanks to the impact of Star Wars, Marvel was poised to revolutionize the comic industry with the release of Secret Wars in 1984. This series had profound effects on the Marvel universe and the comic industry as a whole, setting the stage for new directions for Marvel's beloved heroes and villains.
This period also saw the release of other 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 new directions and explore some of the significant stories from this era. Join us as we continue our journey through the essential issues of Marvel 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 acclaimed storylines from this era, Frank Miller's return to Daredevil with the Born Again arc stands out. This arc, featured in Daredevil #227-233 and illustrated by David Mazzuchelli, is often regarded as the definitive Daredevil story. It follows Karen Page, who, in a desperate state of addiction, sells Daredevil's secret identity for heroin, leading the information to fall into the hands of the Kingpin. The Kingpin then uses this knowledge to dismantle Matt Murdock's life, leaving him homeless, jobless, and isolated. Matt hits rock bottom but is saved by his mother, a nun named Maggie.
Matt's gradual return as Daredevil and the Kingpin's descent into fanaticism create a compelling narrative. This story was later adapted in Season 3 of Netflix's Daredevil and will inspire the Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again.
Another iconic saga from this period is Walt Simonson's Surtur Saga in Thor, starting with issue #337 in 1983. This saga introduced Beta Ray Bill, an alien worthy of lifting Mjolnir, and returned Thor's narrative to its mythic roots. The year-long story, spanning issues #340-353, follows the fire demon Surtur's quest to bring about Ragnarok using the Twilight Sword. Surtur sends Malekith the Accursed to battle Thor, allowing time to forge the sword. The saga culminates in an epic confrontation with Thor, Loki, and Odin united against Surtur. Elements of this story influenced the plots of both Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok.
Secret Wars Changes Comics Forever
In Part 4 of this series, we discussed the Avengers/Defenders War of 1973 as a precursor to the event crossovers that would become central to Marvel and DC's publishing strategy. The shift fully materialized in 1984 with the release of Secret Wars, a 12-issue miniseries crafted by then Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton. This series was part of a marketing partnership with Mattel, aiming to promote a new toy line through a Marvel story. The premise is straightforward: the cosmic entity known as the Beyonder transports a group of Marvel heroes and villains to Battleworld to determine the supremacy of good or evil through combat.
While Secret Wars is celebrated for its extensive cast and its lasting impact on the Marvel universe, the narrative often prioritizes large-scale battles over character development. Jim Shooter's portrayal of Doctor Doom stands out, though his handling of other characters' arcs can feel disjointed. The 2015 version of Secret Wars by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić offers a more cohesive narrative, but the original's influence on the comic industry is undeniable. The success of Secret Wars led to the sequel Secret Wars II and, alongside DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths, established the event model as a staple in comic publishing.
Spider-Man’s Symbiote Suit and Other Iconic Spidey Stories
Following the foundational runs by Stan Lee and Gerry Conway, Roger Stern revitalized Amazing Spider-Man with his arrival in issue #224. Stern's tenure, which lasted over two years, reestablished the series as a flagship title for Marvel. His most significant contribution was the introduction of the Hobgoblin in issue #238, quickly becoming one of Spider-Man's most formidable adversaries. Although Stern's original Hobgoblin saga was cut short due to editorial interference, he eventually returned to the character in the 1997 miniseries Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives, revealing the villain's identity as intended.
Shortly after Stern's departure, Amazing Spider-Man #252 introduced Spider-Man's black symbiote costume, which debuted in Secret Wars #8 on Battleworld. This costume sparked a long-running storyline leading to the emergence of one of Spider-Man's most popular villains. The symbiote saga has been adapted across various media, including Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Spectacular Spider-Man, and Insomniac's Spider-Man 2.
Another pivotal story from this era is The Death of Jean DeWolff in Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110, penned by Peter David and illustrated by Rich Buckler. This dark narrative follows Spider-Man's pursuit of the Sin-Eater, who killed his ally Jean DeWolff, and his subsequent conflict with Daredevil over justice. It remains a standout arc for its gritty tone and authentic portrayal of Spider-Man.
Jean Grey Returns, the Rise of Apocalypse, and Other Mutant Landmarks
The mid-1980s were also a transformative time for the X-Men and other mutant characters. Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4 confirmed Magneto as the father of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, a revelation that remained canon for decades until a retcon in 2015. X-Men #171 saw Rogue abandon the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to join the X-Men, cementing her status as a beloved heroine. Similarly, X-Men #200 depicted Magneto's trial, leading to his temporary role as headmaster of Xavier's School for the Gifted, a storyline later adapted in X-Men '97.
The most significant mutant developments were the resurrection of Jean Grey and the introduction of Apocalypse. Following the Dark Phoenix Saga, Jean Grey returned in a two-part story across Avengers #263 and Fantastic Four #286, revealing that the Phoenix Force had created a separate body for her. This allowed Jean to reunite with the original X-Men to form X-Factor. In X-Factor #5-6, Louise Simonson and Jackson Guice introduced Apocalypse, an ancient Egyptian mutant enhanced by Celestial technology, who became a central antagonist in the X-Men universe. Apocalypse's presence has been felt in numerous adaptations, including the film X-Men: Apocalypse.
