The 1970s were a turbulent era 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 true creative explosion. Marvel's greatest creators launched landmark runs on its most popular titles. This era saw Frank Miller's Daredevil, John Byrne's Fantastic Four, David Michelinie's Iron Man, and the pinnacle of Chris Claremont's X-Men, with Roger Stern's Amazing Spider-Man and Walt Simonson's Thor soon to follow. These creators indelibly shaped these characters' enduring legacy.

Considering Marvel's history, the 1980s arguably represent the company's 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 finest stories in the early 1980s. The Dark Phoenix Saga (X-Men #129-137) stands as arguably the most famous X-Men story, and for good reason. Years after Jean Grey became the Phoenix, a cosmic entity corrupts her, turning her into the Dark Phoenix, a formidable foe. 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, remains a 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 done a better job.

Shortly after, came Days of Future Past (X-Men #141-142), a renowned story featuring the Sentinels, mutant-hunting robots first introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965. Adult Kitty Pryde travels back in time to prevent an assassination that triggers a dystopian future. Despite its brevity, this arc is iconic, its reality revisited by subsequent creators. It was adapted in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and also 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, where a battle between the X-Men and Magneto nearly kills Kitty Pryde, leading Magneto to reveal his Holocaust survivor past. This backstory became foundational, shaping his later character development into a more morally ambiguous figure.

**The First Appearances of Rogue, She-Hulk, and the New Mutants**

The 1980s also saw the introduction of major characters, including notable female heroes. Rogue, a popular X-Men member, initially debuted as a villain in Avengers Annual #10, part of Mystique's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. This issue featured Rogue draining Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel) of her powers, significantly impacting both characters. This issue also includes Carol's confrontation with the Avengers for their inaction in saving her from Marcus Immortus, as revealed in Avengers #200. While challenging to adapt, Avengers Annual #10 remains a crucial moment in Marvel history.

Savage She-Hulk #1 introduced another major heroine, Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk), the last character co-created by Stan Lee during his original Marvel tenure. Established as Bruce Banner's lawyer cousin, she gains similar powers after a life-saving blood transfusion. While her first solo series wasn't highly regarded, She-Hulk's character developed significantly after joining the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Tatiana Maslany later portrayed She-Hulk in her MCU series.

The New Mutants, the first X-Men spin-off, debuted in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 before launching their own series. This teenage mutant team included Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Wolfsbane, and Dani Moonstar (Mirage). Illyana Rasputina (Magik), Colossus's younger sister, joined in issue #15, with many of her significant storylines occurring during her time on the team.

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

Daredevil #168 marks a turning point for the character. The first issue of Frank Miller's writer-artist run introduced Elektra and dramatically reshaped Daredevil's mythology. Over two years, Miller crafted a gritty, crime noir saga featuring Kingpin as Matt Murdock's nemesis, the introduction of Stick, a battle with the Punisher, and the pivotal issue #181 where Bullseye kills Elektra. This run is essential reading for Daredevil fans and serves as the inspiration for the 2003 film and the 2015 Netflix series (continued in the MCU's Daredevil: Born Again).

Two major Avengers also had significant storylines in the early 1980s. Iron Man #149-150, the final masterpiece from David Michelinie and Bob Layton's first Iron Man run, features "Doomquest." This story depicts Iron Man's first solo battle with Doctor Doom, resulting in their transport to Arthurian times. Iron Man allies with King Arthur while Doom teams up with Morgan le Fay. 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. The best story from Roger Stern and John Byrne's brief run, it features Cap facing John Falsworth (Baron Blood), a Nazi vampire connected to Cap's time with the Invaders. A darker tale than usual for Captain America, it boasts excellent artwork and a powerful conclusion.

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

Two more #1 issues round out this influential period: Moon Knight #1 and G.I. Joe #1. While Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32, his own series solidified him as a heroic figure, fully developing 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 was promoted with a Marvel comic starting in 1982. Marvel editor Archie Goodwin conceived Cobra, and writer Larry Hama developed most of the character roster, including iconic figures like Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Lady Jaye, and the Baroness. Hama's writing made G.I. Joe one of Marvel's most popular titles in the mid-1980s, notably appealing to female readers due to the equitable portrayal of female characters.