How Frank Miller Returned to Daredevil for Born Again

The mid-1980s marked a golden age for Marvel, financially recovering from the lean years and creatively flourishing. This period saw the release of 1984's Secret Wars, a pivotal moment that irrevocably altered the Marvel universe and the comic book industry. Its impact reverberated throughout subsequent storylines, sending beloved heroes and villains on new, exciting trajectories.

This era also boasted other iconic tales, including Frank Miller's Born Again Daredevil arc and Walt Simonson's Surtur Saga in Thor. This article delves into these narratives and other significant stories from this transformative 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 Born Again, marking Frank Miller's triumphant return to Daredevil (with David Mazzuchelli on art), and Walt Simonson's epic Surtur Saga in Thor.

Born Again (Daredevil #227-233) is a strong contender for the definitive Daredevil story. Karen Page, tragically addicted, sells Daredevil's secret identity, leading Kingpin to systematically dismantle Matt Murdock's life. Reduced to rock bottom, Matt's eventual salvation by his mother, Maggie, sets the stage for his harrowing return as Daredevil and Kingpin's descent into obsessive fanaticism. This masterful narrative was loosely adapted in Netflix's Daredevil Season 3 and inspired the title of the Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again.

Walt Simonson, taking the reins of Thor in 1983 (#337), introduced Beta Ray Bill, an alien worthy of wielding Mjolnir. Simonson, widely considered the definitive Thor creator, infused the book with mythic fantasy, culminating in the year-long Surtur Saga (#340-353). Fire demon Surtur, aiming for Ragnarok, sends Malekith to battle Thor, buying time to forge the Twilight Sword. The saga culminates in an epic confrontation between Thor, Loki, Odin, and Surtur. Elements of Simonson's saga were later incorporated into Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok.

Secret Wars Changes Comics Forever

As discussed in Part 4 of this series, 1973's Avengers/Defenders War foreshadowed the event crossovers that would become a staple of Marvel and DC. Secret Wars (1984), a 12-part miniseries written by Jim Shooter (then Editor in Chief), with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton, marked this shift. A marketing collaboration with Mattel, the story saw the Beyonder teleporting heroes and villains to Battleworld for a contest of good versus evil. While featuring large-scale battles and plot setups for ongoing series, Secret Wars's narrative cohesion is inconsistent, particularly concerning character arcs. Doctor Doom is well-written, but other characters' portrayals feel disjointed. While the 2015 Secret Wars by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić offers a more satisfying interpretation, the original's impact on the industry remains undeniable. Its success spawned Secret Wars II and, alongside DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths, solidified the event comic model.

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

Following Stan Lee and Gerry Conway's foundational runs, Amazing Spider-Man found its next iconic writer in Roger Stern. Taking over with #224, Stern revitalized the title, introducing the Hobgoblin in #238. Stern's Hobgoblin saga, unfortunately cut short by editorial interference, was later concluded in the 1997 miniseries Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives. Amazing #252 introduced Spider-Man's black symbiote costume, a storyline originating in Secret Wars #8, leading to the creation of one of Spidey's most popular villains. The symbiote saga has been adapted numerous times. Another pivotal story, The Death of Jean DeWolff (Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110), by Peter David and Rich Buckler, stands as one of the darkest Spider-Man tales, featuring Spidey's hunt for the Sin-Eater and a conflict with Daredevil.

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

The mid-80s also saw significant mutant milestones. Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4 revealed Magneto as Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch's father (later retconned). X-Men #171 showcased Rogue's heroic turn, joining the X-Men, and X-Men #200 saw Magneto's trial and subsequent leadership of Xavier's School. Jean Grey's resurrection, spanning Avengers #263 and Fantastic Four #286, led to the formation of X-Factor. X-Factor #5-6 introduced Apocalypse, created by Louise Simonson and Jackson Guice, becoming a prominent X-Men villain.