How Frank Miller Returned to Daredevil for Born Again

The mid-1980s marked a golden age for Marvel, a period of both creative peaks and financial success. Having weathered the financial storms of the late '70s, Marvel was poised to reshape the comic book industry. 1984's Secret Wars stands as a pivotal moment, a seismic shift with far-reaching consequences for the Marvel universe and the industry as a whole, impacting storylines and character arcs for years to come.

This era also witnessed the release of other iconic stories, including Frank Miller's Born Again Daredevil arc, the return of Jean Grey in X-Factor, and Walt Simonson's Surtur Saga in Thor. This article delves into these seminal works and other significant narratives from this period, continuing our exploration of essential Marvel issues (Part 8).

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 era's most acclaimed storylines are Frank Miller's Born Again (Daredevil #227-233), a collaboration with artist David Mazzuchelli, often cited as the definitive Daredevil tale. This arc depicts the devastating consequences of Karen Page's betrayal, revealing Daredevil's secret identity and leading to the Kingpin's systematic destruction of Matt Murdock's life. Murdock's subsequent descent and eventual redemption, alongside Kingpin's descent into fanaticism, create a powerful narrative. This story's impact is evident in Netflix's Daredevil Season 3 and the upcoming Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again.

Simultaneously, Walt Simonson revitalized Thor, beginning with issue #337 (1983). His tenure introduced Beta Ray Bill, an alien worthy of wielding Mjolnir. Simonson's Surtur Saga (#340-353), a year-long epic, showcases his masterful storytelling, recapturing the mythic fantasy elements of the character. Surtur's quest to unleash Ragnarok using the Twilight Sword, and his confrontation with Thor, Loki, and Odin, forms a memorable climax. Elements of this saga found their way into 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 crossover trend. Secret Wars (1984), a 12-part miniseries written by Jim Shooter (then Editor-in-Chief), with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton, solidified this trend. Born from a marketing collaboration with Mattel, the story features dozens of Marvel heroes and villains battling on Battleworld at the behest of the Beyonder.

While Secret Wars is a mixed bag—criticized for its lack of dramatic depth and inconsistent character portrayals—its impact on the industry is undeniable. Its success spawned Secret Wars II and, alongside DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths, cemented the event comic book model for decades.

Spider-Man's Symbiote Suit and Other Iconic Spidey Stories

Following the foundational runs of Stan Lee and Gerry Conway, Roger Stern revitalized Amazing Spider-Man, starting with #224. His most significant contribution was the introduction of the Hobgoblin in #238, a formidable new foe. Stern's original Hobgoblin storyline, however, was prematurely concluded due to editorial interference. He later returned to the character in the 1997 miniseries Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives.

Amazing Spider-Man #252 marked another milestone: the debut of Spider-Man's black symbiote costume. While its origin on Battleworld was revealed in Secret Wars #8, its impact is undeniable. This costume has become iconic, adapted countless times across various media.

Another pivotal Spider-Man story from this period is The Death of Jean DeWolff (Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110) by Peter David and Rich Buckler. This darker storyline, exploring themes of revenge and loss, remains a significant entry in the character's history.

Jean Grey Returns, the Rise of Apocalypse, and Other Mutant Landmarks

The mid-1980s also saw significant developments in the X-Men universe. Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4 revealed Magneto as the father of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, a backstory that remained canon for decades. X-Men #171 featured Rogue's heroic turn, joining the X-Men, a pivotal moment that’s widely accepted in later adaptations. X-Men #200 saw Magneto’s unexpected rise to leadership at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. This storyline was adapted in the second episode of X-Men ‘97.

The return of Jean Grey in Avengers #263 and Fantastic Four #286, and the introduction of Apocalypse in X-Factor #5-6 (created by Louise Simonson and Jackson Guice), are arguably the most impactful events of this era. Apocalypse, an ancient mutant enhanced by Celestial technology, quickly became a major X-Men villain, appearing in various adaptations, including X-Men: Apocalypse.