Best reads/most important comics from the Bronze Age/early 80’s?

[Raymond23]

I came across the remnants of my comic collection from my teenage years (early eighties) and planned on selling the valuable stuff and giving away the rest. But I got a wave of nostalgia going thru them. There was some great comics back then. I’ve decided to keep most of it and get some reprint collections of some of the stories I really enjoyed, and those I missed.

I guess the Bronze Age ended with the start of the massive crossover events (Secret Wars 1+2, Crisis on Infinite Earths) as well as the start of the creator owned independent publishers (Eclipse, First, Image). I owned the 3 big crossovers (loving Crisis-even though I was NOT a DC reader), hated Secret Wars (so did everyone I know at the time but it seems to be well liked today) and despised Secret Wars 2 (tossed those a long time ago, but still have Crisis and Secret Wars 1). I never got into the independent comics and completely abandoned comic books when McPharlane/Spiderman Lee/Xmen (and it’s 50 cover variants) were released (still own both though) but I really enjoyed Dark Knight returns and Watchmen (some of my last purchases).

There were some great story run. I had part of Miller/Daredevil Born Again (amazing story and I picked up the trade paperback awhile back) and I just ordered the Miller Daredevil omnibus to get the rest of his run. Claremont x-men was a mind boggling decade+ run (I won’t be getting all of it but I did grab Dark Pheonix saga which I never read back in the day since I started collecting after it’s original release and back issues were hard to find with just one comic shop in town). I’ll likely get the God Loces/Man Kills Epic when it gets released later this year since that the era of X-men I collected (and I missed the graphic novel/Wolvering mini series when it was released). Surtur saga Thor/Simonson run was amazing and I might pick up the Omni since I can get the complete run in one book. I might do the same with Byrne/Alpha Flight.

I know I missed some great runs at the time (Byrne FF, Avengers, Spider Man, Iron-Man-demon in a bottle). I think I avoided those comics because those characters seemed like my dad’s comic book heroes.

Anyways, I want to add to my collection but I have no desire to get a huge sprawling collection. These books will be to read (so, nothing graded and would prefer trade paperbacks for cost/space consideration, but I would consider hardcovers/omnibus collections when appropriate.

So, after that long preamble, any recommendations (especially stuff that is currently available or announced upcoming releases)?

Thanks!

[jdandns]

You've mentioned most of the good stuff from Marvel.
Incredible Hulk was terrific from #300 (1984) through the next nearly 15 years, with the exception of a small run in the 320's.
Amazing Spider-Man was great from the 230's thru the 260's.
The Machine Man mini-series from Barry Windsor Smith was among the best of those early 80's innovations from Marvel.

From DC, Miller's Ronin is just as good as his Dark Knight.
Teen Titans by the "Crisis" team of Wolfman & Perez was likewise excellent. Howard Chaykin's Shadow miniseries is along his finest work. Another DC highlight is the Demon miniseries by Matt Wagner.

From the indie companies, highlights are Comico's Grendel & Mage by Matt Wagner, plus Miracleman, Scout, & Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman from Eclipse, and of course, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers from Rip Off Press.

[Raymond23]

Originally Posted by jdandns

You've mentioned most of the good stuff from Marvel.
Incredible Hulk was terrific from #300 (1984) through the next nearly 15 years, with the exception of a small run in the 320's.
Amazing Spider-Man was great from the 230's thru the 260's.
The Machine Man mini-series from Barry Windsor Smith was among the best of those early 80's innovations from Marvel.

From DC, Miller's Ronin is just as good as his Dark Knight.
Teen Titans by the "Crisis" team of Wolfman & Perez was likewise excellent. Howard Chaykin's Shadow miniseries is along his finest work. Another DC highlight is the Demon miniseries by Matt Wagner.

From the indie companies, highlights are Comico's Grendel & Mage by Matt Wagner, plus Miracleman, Scout, & Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman from Eclipse, and of course, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers from Rip Off Press.

Thanks! I already have Ronin (forgot about it/never read it…need to fix that soon). I just picked up Electra Assassin and already have Elektra Lives, Daredevil Man Without Fear…so I think I’m only missing the Daredevil Graphic Novel for the Miller/Daredevil run.

I will likely pick up X-Men Epics 9-12 (if they ever print 11) since it has nostalgia for me. Also gonna add New Mutants Epics 1+2 (nostalgia).

I completely forgot about Swamp Thing…one of those series I always wanted to get into but never did. Just checked Amazon and they have the 6 volume softcover trade paperback box set of Alan Moore’s run (original coloring) for only $55 (lowest price ever per CamelCamelCamel) so I grabbed that too.

I’ll have to think about New Teen Titans. I remember they were huge, but I have very little connection to DC until Crisis and I don’t know if I want another rabbit hole.

Thanks for the recomendations!

[Therryrtmi]

Originally Posted by Raymond23

I came across the remnants of my comic collection from my teenage years (early eighties) and planned on selling the valuable stuff and giving away the rest. But I got a wave of nostalgia going thru them. There was some great comics back then. I’ve decided to keep most of it and get some reprint collections of some of the stories I really enjoyed, and those I missed.

I guess the Bronze Age ended with the start of the massive crossover events (Secret Wars 1+2, Crisis on Infinite Earths) as well as the start of the creator owned independent publishers (Eclipse, First, Image). I owned the 3 big crossovers (loving Crisis-even though I was NOT a DC reader), hated Secret Wars (so did everyone I know at the time but it seems to be well liked today) and despised Secret Wars 2 (tossed those a long time ago, but still have Crisis and Secret Wars 1). I never got into the independent comics and completely abandoned comic books when McPharlane/Spiderman Lee/Xmen (and it’s 50 cover variants) were released (still own both though) but I really enjoyed Dark Knight returns and Watchmen (some of my last purchases).

There were some great story run. I had part of Miller/Daredevil Born Again (amazing story and I picked up the trade paperback awhile back) and I just ordered the Miller Daredevil omnibus to get the rest of his run. Claremont x-men was a mind boggling decade+ run (I won’t be getting all of it but I did grab Dark Pheonix saga which I never read back in the day since I started collecting after it’s original release and back issues were hard to find with just one comic shop in town). I’ll likely get the God Loces/Man Kills Epic when it gets released later this year since that the era of X-men I collected (and I missed the graphic novel/Wolvering mini series when it was released). I wanted to accustom my nephew to these books. But he doesn't like to read or write essays. He told me that https://essays.edubirdie.com writes his papers for school. Well, to each his own. Surtur saga Thor/Simonson run was amazing and I might pick up the Omni since I can get the complete run in one book. I might do the same with Byrne/Alpha Flight.

I know I missed some great runs at the time (Byrne FF, Avengers, Spider Man, Iron-Man-demon in a bottle). I think I avoided those comics because those characters seemed like my dad’s comic book heroes.

Anyways, I want to add to my collection but I have no desire to get a huge sprawling collection. These books will be to read (so, nothing graded and would prefer trade paperbacks for cost/space consideration, but I would consider hardcovers/omnibus collections when appropriate.

So, after that long preamble, any recommendations (especially stuff that is currently available or announced upcoming releases)?

Thanks!

I'd definitely add Jim Starlin's Warlock to the list—I'm a huge fan of his work. Also, Steve Gerber's Howard the Duck. Though, the latter is a mix of satire and absurdity, so it's kind of a love-it-or-hate-it deal.