My Marvelous Year: 1984

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• I just learned about My Marvelous Year, and just finished the 1984 comics. It's a great list. Even more impressive is the responses everyone has posted here. It reaffirms the old adage "different strokes for different folks". Thanks to all for sharing your thoughts.

  For me these books reminded me how great Claremont was at this time. Some of my favorite comics of all time are the early years of New Mutants. I like Magik the character, but always found that four issue mini series off putting.

  Byrne FF was great.

  The Red Skull sequence kept me engaged, but it was too long for the little that really happened.

  While Secret Wars was a major milestone in the comic industry, I've always that it was awful story telling. Obviously forced, and many marginal and bad characterization as others have already noted. That said it was interesting to read again in the context of these other tales.

  • Welcome!

    I agree, it's fascinating seeing different reactions to the comics, especially Secret Wars. On some level I'm fully aware that it's not any kind of storytelling masterpiece, but I love the high points so much (Doom is so perfect in this series) I'm basically blind to the flaws.

    New Mutants has been a stand out as well - I did not expect to find myself as invested in these characters as I've become.

• There is a lot to read and assimilate this year.

  I think that overall the FF, ASM and Thor are all must reads in the mid-eighties. I had to read all the issues in these runs.

  Even though I re-read the Thor issues not long ago (just after the first movie) I still had to give them a quick read. Nobody has ever done Thor this well, and few have ever done such a coherent run on any monthly. The build-up of sub-plots over the first baker’s dozen issues works so well.

  The ASM run here is so important and is a good read. I had to go back and look up the “controversy” about Hobgoblin to be clear on what was going on. I’ll elaborate in the future to avoid any spoilers.

  And Byrnes FF is still The Benchmark for modern FF. The trial is great and all the interim issues are loads of fun to read. Then issue 267 “A Small Loss” is just a kick in the crotch. Still hits me right there.

  The Captain America run is not doing it for me. The issues I looked at in 1983 were far superior. This year’s story is hard to follow and the art is sub-par. I’d recommend giving it a miss and just go back and read some 1983 issues drawn by Zeck.

  The Magik/New Mutants were also disappointing. I recall reading these when they came out, but have never read then again. Now I remember why. The Magik mini is a mess. Hard to follow and poorly written. The New Mutants is another let down. I love Sienkiewicz, but Claremont is not holding up on his end. I think maybe he should stick to sci-fi and keep away from the magic.

  Which brings me to Secret Wars. I read this just last year as part of the 2015 Secret Wars reading order on Comic Book Herald. It still holds up, even after all these years. I have always been more interested in writers than artists in general, but over the years I have come to appreciate the importance of a good artist to telling a good story. I think that Secret Wars here exemplifies that. Mike Zeck and Bob Layton go a long way in making up for Shooters missteps. The story is fun to read, and moves well from issue to issue. And considering the context of 1984 it really is a stand out comic. Maybe not quite as good as the maxi series the Distinguished Competition published concurrently, but if that was a 10, then Secret Wars is a 9. The best thing about it is, of course, Doom. Setting the seeds for a story that comes 30 years later is no small feat. Villain of the year for sure. And with a nod to future events, Secret Wars 12 is my issue of the year.

  It’s a hard choice for the other categories this year. I like Byrne and Zeck on art, and Sienkiewicz is cool, but I have to give the nod to Walt Simonson. The same goes for writing, Byrne has some great stories, and Shooter hits an inside-the-park home run with Secret Wars, but Walt Simonson’s work on Thor really is the stand-out.

  Hero of the year this year is tough. The FF are splintered. Spidey was weak in the ‘Wars. Cap plays an important role in the ‘Wars, but his own comic is pretty poor. In the end I have to go with Thor for the hat trick.

• I feel totally exhausted after reading this year's selection. There was just so much! Granted, I read every Secret Wars tie-in available in MU, so that could have had something to do with it. :)

  I remember reading Secret Wars several years ago and doing it with basically no context i.e. not having read earlier Marvel comics other than classic Spidey and Fantastic Four, and I found it OK but not particularly notable. This time, with the Reading Club under my belt, I enjoyed it so, so much more. It's just a crazy, no holds barred brawl for twelve issues, and it makes the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe (Galactus and Doom) stand out even more because of their unwillingness to adhere to the Beyonder's rules. When Ultron gets reduced to a puppet of a different villain for the majority of an event, you know there's some craziness going on. I also thought the artwork was strong throughout Secret Wars.

  Other highlights of the year:

  - Search for Reed Richards was excellent, and the whole John Byrne thing was a great idea but I think a little overwrought. Still, a really strong and intriguing arc.

  - Kid Who Collects Spider-Man gets me every time; I think the reveal is handled perfectly. It's also a breath of fresh air to have a character who unabashedly loves Spidey, since often even Spidey doesn't love himself! Also, Parker wears the absolute most amazing poolside outfit in the history of comics (they just don't make Animal shirts like that anymore).

  - Casket of Ancient Winters had really excellent villains (boy, Malekith is just a little different than he was in the movie), and Simonson's storytelling and ability to make characters feel noble and just continues to impress.

  - Bill Sienkiewicz's artwork in New Mutants is mind-blowing, and by far gets my Artist of the Year vote. It's such an extraordinary departure from anything else Marvel was doing at the time (and really ever up to that point) and it captures the insanity and fever dream quality of the Demon Bear saga better than I bet Claremont could have possibly hoped for when he wrote it.

  - I did love the Red Skull's origin story and defeat, though I wasn't too a big fan of all of the dream/nightmare stuff leading up to the origin story.

  - X-Men had a return to form this year for me after being a bit underwhelming last year. There were a number of really excellent stories, and I love the hilltop break-up conversation with Kitty and Colossus so, so much (followed by a brawl for the ages between Juggernaut and Colossus). Also, Love and Death is an amazing piece of writing from Claremont.

  Other comics we read:

  -Majik was eh for me, though I thought a lot of the artwork was solid. Still, a little Illyana goes a long way.

  - Hulk was, for my taste, kind of an empty spectacle, though I get that it was an enormous moment at the end with Strange finally exiling him.

  - West Coast Avengers was fun though a little inconsequential in the end (and The Blank has got to be one of the lamer villain names). I also, as a Los Angeles native, found it very amusing that they kept name-dropping streets in Los Angeles in the most awkward and incorrect way possible.

  - The other FF comics were fine, though not my faves. I've read them before, and to me the highlight is Doc Ock getting "triggered" by Spidey posters.

  - All the other Spidey comics were solid but not my faves, though Hobgoblin and Kingpin are a great combo. However, the symbiote coming into its own form is of course a huge deal.

  Overall, an excellent and important year in Marvel history with the first crossover event and some huge pieces of character development throughout. Onto 1985!

• Secret Wars definitely influenced my vote for 1984, which brought me to vote for Jim Shooter for writer along with Doctor Doom for villain. I enjoyed Captain America's portrayal in both his own comic and especially in Secret Wars, where he steps up to the plate and delivers (Wolverine's "He's the least of us, I won't follow him" really bristles me tho. I hate how out of character I feel it is for the way he's been written for quite a while.)

  I already mention Bill Sienkiewicz as artist of the year. He's going to gt my vote every year he's eligible. I quit comics in 1982 and his work on the Elektra mini-series and The New Mutants brought me back.

  For issue of the year, I went with Hulk 300. I love the bestial Hulk and enjoy the issues where it takes a slew of super heroes to barely stop him if at all. When he contained Iron Fist's, um, iron first, that just gave me chills.

• I will start with recommendations for other 1984 comics to enjoy. The 11 (?!) stories on this week's list are generally the best or most essential, but there are plenty of other good choices. I apologize if any of these are making it to 1985's group.

  Thor #341, 343-344, 350
  Fantastic Four #263-264, 269-273
  Amazing Spider-Man #254, 259
  New mutants Annual #1
  Iron Man #182
  Uncanny X-Men #180

  The post-Secret Wars issues that I like best are Fantastic Four #265 (with the great Paste-Pot Pete!) and Amazing Spider-Man #252 (a "day in the life" story of Peter Parker with the new costume).

  Fantastic Four #261-262: Both of these issues are five stars, and #262 gets my vote for issue of the year. The use of different Marvel Universe characters is extremely well done, with each guest star being both awesome and relevant to the story. The inclusion of John Byrne in the story itself seems to generate strong opinions. I thought that part of the story was a bit silly but also fun.

  Amazing Spider-Man #248-251: A lot of people like "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man." I kind of understand why, but it comes off like an ad for the Make-a-Wish Foundation to me. Most of the story was just a rehash of Spider-Man's origin story, which we have seen and will see many times. On the other hand, the Hobgoblin stories are great.

  Secret Wars: The crossover event that started them all for Marvel still holds up for me. I understand and agree with some of the criticisms about inconsistent characterization and length, but I generally have too much fun when I read the story to care. #4's escape from beneath the mountain is one of my all-time favorite sequences in comics, and the issue gets five stars for that alone. The little interactions between characters (heroes and villains alike) who generally do not appear together is a big part of what makes crossovers like this so fun. Galactus' power is well demonstrated in #1 when he takes out Ultron in one shot.

  Thor: This is all solid, well-done storytelling. We are in a slow-burn section of the Simonson run, but it will explode in greatness in the future.

  Magik, New Mutants: The Demon Bear Saga and Warlock's introduction are both very nice. I was not too fond of what was done to Illyana Rasputin with the whole Limbo/Belasco/Sym storyline.

  Captain America: decent and creepy

  Fantastic Four #267-268: I always like seeing Doc Ock and She-Hulk, so these were fun.

  West Coast Avengers: Nice start, but things get better later

  Incredible Hulk #300: Hulk is shown to be a big threat here, and Strange's solution has the benefit of being fairly innovative. Unfortunately, Hulk is not destined to find lasting peace and happiness anywhere.

  Amazing Spider-Man #258: This issue of troubles involving the alien costume is highly recommended, and the follow-up in Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man #96 is also worth a read.

  Uncanny X-Men: These issues are just okay to me. However, Forge becomes a big part of X-Men history later, so it is good to see his first appearance.

  The Fantastic Four, Galactus, and John Byrne stole the show for me in 1984. Doctor Doom gets an honorable mention for being so audacious in Secret Wars.

  • Great picks! Totally agree with you on Secret Wars, I think it's a blast. Doom's audacity alone is one of my favorite super villain schemes in all of comics!

• Not that I'm going to, but let's say that I wanted to vote for secret wars 12 for issue of the year. Isn't it awkward for a comic published in 1985 to win for 1984? We'll probably see this at some point so why not address it now.

  Also I hate the depiction of the X-Men in secret wars. Especially Wolverine.

  • It's a bit strange, yes, but I'm carrying over a handful of stories that roll over by a few months.

    As this becomes more and more common, I'll be splitting up stories more frequently. Starting... well basically now :)

    In other news, Wolverine does try to cold assassinate molecule man and Cyclops stops him, which is always an enjoyable dynamic. But yeah, Shooter doesn't handle the X Men particularly well at all. He does have Proffesor X behaving abhorrently, so points there.

• You gotta look at Amazing Spider-man 252. If only for the cover...

• I'll tell you right now Bill Sienkiewicz is getting my vote for artist of the year.

  • Good golly that opening splash in NM #18.

    He's got at least 2 votes :)