I've been kind of fascinated with the '80s era as of late, as it was something of a golden age for the industry in general. Comics were getting more mature, plots more complex, and overall there was more grit and grim to it. Yet at the same time they didn't veer to heavily into being "dark", they still were about good people, and kept varying levels of idealism to prevent you from being apathetic, unlike in the regrettable '90s dark age.
This is especially true for Marvel. I feel like this was possibly the best and most influential decade for superhero storytelling and the impact is still being felt today. I'd say the most well-remembered and influential runs of the '80s are:
- X-Men (Chris Claremont)
- Spider-Man (Roger Stern/Tom DeFalco/David Michelinie among others)
- Daredevil (Frank Miller)
- Thor (Walt Simonson)
- Fantastic Four (John Byrne)
But really, it's just scratching the surface and there's a lot of good stuff to read.
So what would you say are the best comics that tend not to be as acknowledged of that era?
The most obvious example is Power Pack. Not so great sales, because it was a weird beast. It was a book starring kids that wasn't a kids book, and just as serious as the others. Many dismissed it as a dumb kids book, but those who stuck around loved it. The series was kept alive for a decent length, doing just good enough, and had an enthusiastic following, primarily with adults rather than children. Is it any wonder why whenever there's talk of MCU Power Pack, many, many fans are very excited, and the ones against it know nothing about them and just assume it'll be for kids?
Anyways, what other examples do you think fit? Discuss.