How Frank Miller Returned to Daredevil for Born Again

The mid-1980s marked a golden age for Marvel, a period of both creative peak and financial success. Having weathered the financial storms of the late '70s, Marvel was poised to reshape the comic book industry, largely thanks to 1984's Secret Wars. The impact of Secret Wars, both on the Marvel Universe and the industry as a whole, was monumental, setting the stage for new narrative directions for years to come.

This era also boasted other iconic stories, including Frank Miller's Born Again Daredevil arc, Jean Grey's return in X-Factor, and Walt Simonson's epic Surtur Saga in Thor. This article delves into these pivotal narratives and other significant events from this period. This is Part 8 of our exploration of essential Marvel comics.

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, Frank Miller's triumphant return to Daredevil (with David Mazzuchelli on art), and Walt Simonson's Thor saga. Born Again (Daredevil #227-233) is a contender for the definitive Daredevil story. A devastating betrayal—Karen Page selling Daredevil's secret identity—leads to Matt Murdock's complete downfall. His subsequent redemption, alongside Kingpin's descent into obsessive fanaticism, creates a powerful narrative. This story was loosely adapted in Netflix's Daredevil season 3 and inspired the title of the Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again.

Walt Simonson's tenure on Thor, beginning in 1983 with #337, introduced Beta Ray Bill, an alien worthy of wielding Mjolnir. Simonson, considered a definitive Thor creator, infused the title with mythic fantasy elements. His masterpiece, the year-long Surtur Saga (#340-353), features the fire demon Surtur's attempt to bring about Ragnarok. The saga culminates in an epic battle involving Thor, Loki, and Odin against Surtur. Elements of this saga were adapted 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 crossover model that would dominate Marvel and DC. Secret Wars (1984), a 12-part miniseries written by Jim Shooter (with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton), marked the full arrival of this model. A marketing tie-in with Mattel, the story features the Beyonder teleporting heroes and villains to Battleworld for a contest of good versus evil.

While Secret Wars is a mixed bag—criticized for its lack of dramatic depth and inconsistent character portrayals—its impact on the comic industry is undeniable. Its success spawned Secret Wars II and, along with DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths, solidified the event comic as a dominant publishing strategy.

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

Following the foundational runs of Stan Lee and Gerry Conway, Amazing Spider-Man found its next iconic writer in Roger Stern. Stern's run, starting with #224, restored the title's quality. His most significant contribution was the introduction of the Hobgoblin in Amazing #238. Stern's original Hobgoblin saga, though cut short due to editorial interference, remains a highlight, ultimately resolved in the 1997 miniseries Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives.

Stern's departure coincided with another landmark moment: the debut of Spider-Man's black symbiote costume in Amazing #252. While its origin on Battleworld was revealed in Secret Wars #8, the symbiote's appearance here launched a long-running subplot leading to the creation of Venom. The black suit remains one of Spider-Man's most famous alternate costumes, adapted numerous times across various media. Another notable story from this period is The Death of Jean DeWolff (Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110), a dark and gritty tale showcasing Spider-Man's conflict with the Sin-Eater and Daredevil.

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

The mid-1980s also brought significant developments in the X-Men universe. Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4 revealed Magneto as the father of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, a retconned element that remains iconic for many fans. X-Men #171 featured Rogue's pivotal turn to heroism, while X-Men #200 saw Magneto's rehabilitation and leadership of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. This story was adapted in the second episode of X-Men '97.

Two monumental events were Jean Grey's resurrection (across Avengers #263 and Fantastic Four #286) and the introduction of Apocalypse (X-Factor #5-6). Jean's return, with no memory of her time as the Phoenix, led to the formation of X-Factor. Apocalypse, a powerful ancient mutant, became a significant X-Men antagonist, appearing in various adaptations, including X-Men: Apocalypse.